Despite a return to level one with some workers returning to central Auckland, small businesses are expecting fewer people in the city as some utilise their new arrangements and keep working from home.
Auckland's Queen St. Photo: RNZ / Amy Williams
Auckland's eight week long restrictions came to an end last night, joining the rest of the country at level one.
Today the city showed more signs of life, but a full recovery isn't expected straight away.
Tim Goatley runs Altezano Coffee on the ground floor of a high rise corporate office. He wasn't banking on pre-pandemic levels of business any time soon.
"Throughout the series of lockdowns... this building's probably had 30 percent occupancy. I think the new working from home practices will continue probably for some time."
He hoped nearby businesses would eventually bring their people back, which would help everyone.
"People have realised that having your teams together, that has a certain value that [doesn't happen] when they're working from home. We're hoping that things come back to having people in the office."
Scott, an office worker, was just happy to back at his desk and seeing his coworkers.
"I think that's been quite a big part that I've missed, being at home, not around my work colleagues. You don't get the same vibe working from home. I'm definitely looking forward to that."
But one telecommunications worker said working from home - to some extent - was here to stay.
"I think people have got the working from home thing down now. Many more people have set themselves up from home. It's changed the way we work, quite a bit actually."
Health authorities, while celebrating the achievement, are cautioning vigilance. Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield, was very clear in his message.
"Hopefully the soundbite of the day - alert level one is not alert level none."
Shop workers said the city has been busier today, and pointed to the Monday coming as the one to watch, once the school holidays are over.
