The move to level 3 has seen some hustle and bustle return to Rotorua - but is everyone following the rules?
Traffic volumes were up on roads and at popular exercise routes, as people enjoyed the fine weather.
Rotorua logging truck driver Greg Turner said a lot of freight trucks were out on the road on this afternoon, along with many other vehicles. He was travelling from Rotorua to Taupō on State Highway 5.
Traffic was busy on Lake Rd on Thursday. Photo / Andrew Warner
"I have noticed quite a lot of cars that most probably shouldn't be on the roads. I followed [one] from Rotorua, with kids in the back, all the way to Taupō," he said.
"There is not the same amount of cars you would have during a normal day, but there is still quite a lot of cars for the conditions that we are under."
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Rotorua Lakes Council civil defence emergency management controller Stavros Michael said there had been a "noticeable increase" in local traffic at level 3.
People making use of the lakefront boardwalk on Thursday. Photo / Andrew Warner
He put this down to many businesses resuming work, providing contactless goods and services.
Michael said while residents were encouraged to support these local businesses, they also needed to follow alert level rules while making purchases.
The council's Safe City Guardians were "out and about" providing businesses with information on how to safely operate under the alert levels.
Image 1 of 9: People waiting at McDonald's Fenton St this morning. Photo / Ben Fraser
"Restrictions are in place to protect the community from the risks of Covid-19 and people are still advised to stay at home as much as possible," Michael said.
Matai Restaurant owner Ryan Gregorash said Rotorua locals had been well behaved during level 3.
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Gregorash had rolled out a new takeaway menu and said staff were raring to go after two weeks off.
"We had amazing success with our lockdown takeaway menu [on Tuesday]."
Cars parked at Longmile Rd during level 3. Photo / Andrew Warner.
Gregorash said the restaurant was making about 25 per cent of what they normally make on a standard day.
Asked how other businesses around the restaurant were going, Gregorash said the multi-national companies like KFC, McDonald's, Carl's Jr and Pizza Hut were the busiest.
Matai Restaurant owner Ryan Gregorash in busier times last year. Photo / Andrew Warner
Terry and Raewyn Hardy ventured out for two and a half-hour cycle along the lakefront on Thursday and stopped to enjoy lunch at Third Place Cafe overlooking Ohinemutu.
The Christchurch residents were visiting friends in the North Island when the level 4 lockdown started and have been unable to return home.
"When they bought in level four, we couldn't drive home because we weren't allowed to go on the ferry," Raewyn said.
She said it was "beautiful" cycling along the lake edge, passing just "a few others" who were also enjoying the outdoors.
"I am sure everybody was sticking to the rules as best they can."
Terry and Raewyn Hardy taking a break while biking in Rotorua. Photo / Andrew Warner
Despite being eager to go home, she said they had been "very lucky" to stay with family during the lockdown.
"It is just the way it is, there is nothing you can do it."
Mountain bikers also appeared to be out in force. The Rotorua Daily Post counted 48 cars parked on Longmile Rd, and 13 at the Waipa Carpark this afternoon.Rotorua police area commander Inspector Phil Taikato said people were now allowed to drive to the forest to mountain bike, but police would be monitoring the roads — including State Highway 5 and 30 — to ensure people weren't coming from out of Rotorua.
Taikato said riders were only permitted to use the grade one and two tracks. Tracks grade three and above were off-limits as there was too much risk riders would get injured and need emergency services.
He said it appeared a lot of people were making use of having more freedom, counting nine cars at the entrance to Longmile Rd today. Longmile Rd still has a gate across preventing vehicle access.
Cars parked at Waipa Carpark during level 3. Photo / Andrew Warner
He said despite regulations allowing people to drive to the forest, the idea of level 3 was to allow more essential services and local businesses to open.
"We would still like to keep traffic off roads so if you can bike to the forest, please do so."
University of Waikato professor of population health Ross Lawrenson said it was important for people to exercise over lockdown but it needed to be done sensibly.
"It's a matter of not going too far from your home and not contacting with other people, especially if you're without a mask," he said.
Lawrenson thought there was no chance the Bay of Plenty would move to level 1 before a stop in level 2.
"The test will be when we go to level 2 and we'll need to be sure there's no risk of community transmission before we do that."
Police were not able to provide data about compliance in level 3 in the Bay of Plenty.
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