Malls, cafes, bars, barbers and schools can open under alert level 2, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says. Kiwis can expand their bubbles to include friends and family and travel "safely" around the country, Ardern said.
Hawke's Bay celebrants are eager to get weddings back up and running in alert level 2 after countless cancellations.
On Thursday Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that weddings would be able to be held when and if New Zealand moves down an alert level.
Ardern said indoor and outdoor gatheringswill be possible with a 100-person limit, while continuing to follow space, hygiene and contact-tracing guidelines.
Jo Smith, a celebrant based in Te Awanga, said her income has dropped significantly during the pandemic.
"Being a celebrant needs a lot of patience and while my income has dropped, my professional experience has taught me timing is everything," she said.
The Hastings-based celebrant has been advising couples to cancel their marriage licence and get a refund, before their three months' expiry date.
Megan Banks said Hawke's Bay was fortunate the nationwide lockdown fell towards the end of the wedding season. Photo / Supplied
The Hits Broadcaster and wedding celebrant Megan Banks said the Hawke's Bay wedding industry is "close knit" and eager to be doing what they love.
"It's devastating and very stressful for our couples because they have been planning their big day sometimes up to two years in advance," she said.
"We also have a huge number of couples come from overseas so that could have a major impact going forward as they might not be able to get married in Hawke's Bay as they had dreamt of."
Banks said the region is somewhat fortunate the nationwide lockdown fell towards the end of the bulk wedding season, despite bookings still coming in.
"I think lockdown has really made people think about their life and their future, and realising that you just don't know what's around the corner," she said.
"May and June have still become pretty busy for those couples wanting to get married soon and on a much smaller scale."
Wedding and funeral celebrant Jo Smith said she had conducted two funerals and zero weddings in alert level 3. Photo / Supplied
Smith, both a wedding and funeral celebrant, said although weddings have been put on hold, memorial services continued throughout alert level 3 – albeit on a smaller scale.
"I've done two funerals with 10 people attending during alert level 3. Physical distancing of two metres was emotionally hard on families though.
"However, saying goodbye supersedes that in all respects.
