Hair salons and barbers were the busiest premises of the lot in the region as they responded to a wave of customers amid the move to alert level 2 on Wednesday.
"I think we are one of the most missed services," hairdresser Caroline Blinkhorne, from AmbienceHair Studio in Hastings, said.
She said they were "packed to the rafters" with appointments and were rapt to have clients back through the door.
Hair 2 Go in Hastings owner Tessa Corby said she expected her staff to be busy for the next few weeks catering for a backlog of clients.
"That is not a fun part of coming back, but the rest is great."
Napier City Business Inc general manager Pip Thompson said people should get out and support local businesses and shops following the drop to alert level 2, particularly buying ahead for Christmas.
Hardware stores were busy on Wednesday. Pictured is Mitre 10 Napier. Photo / Paul Taylor
Elite Fitness Hastings owner Meryn Hemmingsen said it was great to reopen on Wednesday, and they had received multiple inquiries from people during lockdown wanting to join the gym.
She said others were just happy to be back working out.
"They are really happy to get on with it and get back."
Hemmingsen said she expected it would take a while for people to get used to early morning gym routines again.
"Being lockdown, people have been sleeping in and it takes them a while to get back into early morning workouts."
The streets were busy with customers and clients in Hastings on Wednesday. Photo / Warren Buckland
Rosie O'Grady's Irish Pub in Hastings general manager Sam Cunningham said they opened the pub just two weeks before the lockdown, so were excited to be up and running on Wednesday.
"It was our first lunch service on the Tuesday when the lockdown was announced."
Cunningham said they were fully stocked including with plenty of Guinness, which they expected would be a best seller this week.
Cloud 9 Aesthetics in Clive owner and registered nurse Claudia Heaps said the lockdown meant plenty of clients were eager to come in and make the most of their beauty services.
"We are going to have a really busy period for the next three months."
She said she was rapt to see clients face-to-face again on Wednesday and their most popular service since returning to work was Botox - helping clients look "smooth and wrinkle fee".
She said they were extremely grateful for the government subsidies which had helped immensely with wages and business costs.
The Local Cafe in Hastings manager Segan Cupido said it was busier than expected on Wednesday, with sit-in customers permitted under the new restrictions.
"It's very nice to have people through the door again.
"Everyone is still cautious but it looks like everyone is happy to be out and about.
"We are busier than expected. Last year it was much quieter, I think people know what to expect."
