The Prime Minister is warning this is only the first wave of Omicron and there will be more waves and new variants coming.
Cabinet ministers will today decide whether Covid-19 restrictions should be eased through a move to an orange alert level.
Jacinda Ardern told Morning Report vaccine mandates and the traffic light system had made a big difference, but not so much anymore.
"The point we used them [vaccine passes] was at a really critical point. We were, in Auckland back when they were introduced, trying to exit a lockdown based on Delta. We knew that the impact that vaccines had on transmission was significant, and the protection they provided significant, and it was also a way of protecting the unvaccinated against high-risk environments.
"The equation has changed quite a bit since then, but in those four months, they have made a big difference to us and getting through that period."
Ardern said the public should keep in mind restrictions may be loosening, but the pandemic is not over.
"You'll see in our consideration today where, we will be weighing up, where we're at in this current peak. And I say current because the one of the points that we'll need to keep making is this will be our first wave and not our only wave. And this is our current variant, not our only variant."
Mask exemptions
Ardern said mask wearing would remain mandatory, and she has received advice around the system for ensuring mask exemptions are valid, but the situation was complicated.
"If you create a system where there's a very stringent enforcement regime, you'll also capture those, you will have continually questioned those who have legitimate reason not to. It is one of the things we've been looking at and are looking at and will likely talk about a bit more soon, because we've been looking at how we can get that balance right, and whether or not there are improvements we can make. But I can tell you in reading multiple briefings on this issue, it is very tricky."
She asked people to consider those around them when making decisions around mask wearing.
"Regardless of your views on Covid please just acknowledge that, for many people, this is an important sign that that they can come out safely when there are cases in the community."
