Covid 19 coronavirus Delta outbreak: Rotorua mask-makers in high demand

Rotorua businesses are responding to a steady demand for reusable masks and one local craft shop is dealing with hundreds of orders.

Rozcraft Ltd sales manager David Hunt said he had been working until 8pm all weekend to keep up with orders.

"We've been here all weekend packing them up. I think there are 264 orders that we're trying to pack up ... before the courier comes in," Hunt said on Monday.

He said there were fewer large corporate orders this year.

"Last year there was one lady who bought 600 face masks in one go. This time the biggest order we've had was for 18. So it's not as mad as last year."

Six Rotorua employees were making the masks, which they also supplied to Ranolf Pharmacy.

"There are a lot more masks available now," Hunt said.

Rotorua businesses are responding to a steady demand for reusable masks. Photo / File

The family-owned business has been operating since 1976 and until last year the company made gifts and souvenirs.

"Before lockdown, we saw people coming in from overseas who needed face masks and tourists were buying them. So we said to some of our people, 'Stop making kete bags and start making masks'."

According to the Ministry of Health, wearing masks and face coverings were "most useful" when there was community transmission of Covid-19.

On Tuesday afternoon it was revealed there were 41 new cases of Covid-19 in the community, bringing the total since the outbreak began to 148.

While at level 4, the use of face coverings are mandatory for all employees and customers at businesses and services open to the public, including supermarkets, pharmacies and petrol stations.

"We encourage you to wear a face covering and keep two metres distance from others when leaving your home." the ministry said online. "Especially if it is difficult to maintain physical distance from others.

"Current exemptions for face coverings include for people aged under 12 or with illness, conditions or disabilities that make wearing them unsuitable."

Hunt said by the time the country went into lockdown in March last year staff were set up to manufacture the masks and they hadn't stopped since.

Hunt said they would have to wait and see if Rozcraft could keep up with demand if lockdown was extended.

Rotorua-based makeup and tattoo artist Sara Fitzell started making masks for her three children before the first lockdown.

Before she knew it, Fitzell had made matching masks for herself and her daughter. Then the rest of the family wanted masks too.

Fitzell posted photos of her family wearing the masks on Facebook and "then it just blew up after that", she said.

Mask making has now completely taken over Fitzell's business and she said any surplus stock from last year had already been sold.

"We made a little too many last year so we had heaps ready to go. Now all of a sudden everyone wants one again.

"We would have sold more than 100 in the last week and we're still sewing more to keep up."

Mask maker, mum and makeup and tattoo artist Sara Fitzell (right) with her children. Photo / Supplied

This time around instead of selling the masks to order via Facebook, Fitzell has set up her own website.

"I think the demand [for masks] will always be there.

"From last time I've learned to just be prepared. Even if we go down a lockdown level masks are going to be required for a while."

Rotorua Unichem Central Pharmacy's David Honore said even if the lockdown was extended he did not foresee any problems with supply.

"There's plenty of hand sanitiser and plenty of masks in the country now."

Honore said although he had the feeling people had kept their reusable masks from last year, there was still a demand for both reusable and disposable masks.

However, the demand for masks was currently less than in 2020, he said.

"Last time we were really cut short and we had to get them flown in straight from China which made them expensive.

"Prices for [masks] have come down now. They're much more affordable and we've got plenty in stock."