Backed-up drive-throughs, busy cafes and an influx of online orders have brought businesses "huge relief" but despite the boost level 2 can't come fast enough, a business leader says.
After two weeks of strict level 4 restrictions, many businesses were able to partially re-opening for contactless pick-up, delivery or drive-through on Wednesday.
Priority One's chief executive Nigel Tutt said level 3 was expected to bring in around 10 to 15 per cent more activity compared to level 4, with big sectors like construction and manufacturing now able to work.
"The economy is well placed to bounce back, and we'll need locals to support local businesses to help with that."
He said businesses had adapted better to lockdown so far, and more hospitality businesses were keen to operate under level 3 than last year.
"In saying that, level 2 can't come fast enough."
Image 1 of 5: Some early birds were at 11th Ave McDonalds first thing this morning. Photo / George Novak
Alimento Café co-owner Kira Soeburg said they were busier than when they moved to level 3 last year but it was a far cry from usual.
Soeburg said they were fortunate that the snap lockdown came before three orders from three suppliers were due, meaning they did not have a large volume of fresh produce go off.
She said people seemed happy to be out and about.
"We've had a few people say 'thank you for being open', which I think is so lovely."
Cafes weren't the only businesses bustling.
Select Lawn Mowing Tauranga owner-operator Adam Fenech was under the pump, with a "hell of a catch-up" on untouched lawns.
Fenech said being able to work again was "a huge relief".
He will be able to do 10 to 13 lawns as "the day is still as long as it was before lockdown".
Schools also opened their doors to the children of essential workers at level 3.
Ōtūmoetai Primary School deputy principal Marcus Hughes said moving to this was "a breeze" compared to last year, as all the systems were already in place.
The majority of the children on the roll of 568 were still learning from home but the school had 30 children at school in three learning bubbles. Each bubble had its own gate to enter, classroom, toilet and area to play. Family bubbles were kept together.
He said the school was making being on-site as fun as possible, with students' wellbeing at the forefront.
Hughes said they were fortunate that the school grounds were large.
"I really feel for the smaller schools that have a lot of essential workers."
Mount Maunganui Concrete Cutting owner Brett Morrison said the phones were flat out today with people trying to re-book their jobs but there was 14 days of missed work that needed to be caught up on.
He said all the cutters knew each other and were sharing the load of the backlog.
Morrison and his pregnant partner were also meant to move house on the Friday after lockdown was announced, and he had been living in his packed-up house with no internet, and buttering bread with his eftpos card because he couldn't find the knives.
He worked half a day today so they could move to the new house.
Mount Maunganui's Brent Holmes headed to the water at 8am to get in a hydrofoil surf to clear his head before a busy day.
Holmes said it was busy considering the conditions weren't the best and it was "exciting" to be able to get back in the water. Holmes went from the waves to a house viewing and auction.
Mount Maunganui's Tania Graham-Brown forgot that it was level 3 until a friend sent a picture of herself having a coffee at Tay St Cafe.
She was out walking her dog, Nalu, and detoured past her go-to cafe.
She said it was really nice being able to have a chat with people she had been seeing on her walks during lockdown.
Sunny Bay Florists had been "very busy", with orders matching pre-lockdown levels by midday.
Owner Trish Rowe said people continued to try and book during the lockdown and it was a relief to finally be open again.
Robyn's Cottage sells embroidery, haberdashery and sewing supplies in Greerton, and owner Robyn Parker had nine orders by this morning.
She said a lot of her work now involved making face masks, and baby clothes as she needed to be creative to bring in revenue.
She said the hardest part about level 4 was the hassle of applying for the wage subsidy.
Parker said her supply chain has been disrupted since last year's lockdown and many of the supplies are from Auckland as well as overseas.
Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Matt Cowley said being able to partially trade was a "relief" for some businesses as it would allow them to pay for their fixed costs.
He said a day would have been successful for small businesses if they had recovered the costs of opening.
Businesses were on site as soon as they were legally allowed to on Tuesday to prepare for level 3. They were putting in the right safety protocols, making sure staff knew the rules and advertising was keeping businesses busy, he said.
"You will see life come back to the city, especially as people physically distance themselves outside of eateries for their takeaways."
Tauranga City Council people and engagement general manager Susan Jamieson said the
Te Maunga Transfer Station opened today, experiencing high traffic volumes.
She said added safety measures meant that users experienced long delays, as expected.
"We expect delays to continue and remind residents that they should only use the transfer station if essential," she said.
"No doubt some people will be diving into DIY projects and spring cleaning. However, residents are reminded that the transfer station should only be used if completely necessary."
In a statement, a police spokeswoman said police would continue to randomly stop people across the Bay of Plenty to ensure movement is for essential purposes only, and they were urging people to stay in their region at level 3.
She said police would still take an education-first approach but move to enforcement action quickly where needed.
"For the safety of our communities, it is absolutely vital that everyone continues to adhere to the restrictions in place."
Data about compliance will be made available today.
• 75 new community cases and one MIQ case today;
• 687 total community cases in New Zealand;
• 32 cases in hospital, with eight in ICU including three on ventilators;
• 54 per cent of the eligible population have received one dose of vaccine;
• More than 85 per cent of people aged 65-plus have one dose;
• 34,832 contacts identified in latest outbreak;
• 22,158 virus tests completed in the 24 hours before the update. More than three million in total;
• No unexpected wastewater detections discovered.
Western Bay of Plenty District could have fewer councillors to vote for next election.