Countdown has imposed a restriction on a number of essential items that can be purchased from Auckland stores after shoppers crowded the stores just before the country went into lockdown last night.
There are limits of six items on toilet paper, flour, bags of rice, dry pasta, UHT milk, frozen vegetables, baby formula and pet food.
In an email to shoppers, Countdown urged people to only buy what they need.
"There's plenty of food and groceries for everyone, but we know that when some people stock up, it means others can't get what they need."