Auckland stores ‘bustling’ on day one of traffic light system

After almost two years of Covid-19 alert levels, shops opened their doors to the Government’s new traffic light system yesterday.

Central Auckland felt some lockdown relief as restaurants and cafes reopened to dine-in customers, too.

‘‘It is bustling in the stores at the moment and there is a very positive vibe,’’ said Edward Caughey, the managing director of Smith & Caughey’s.

The department store is operating under the red setting, which is in place in Auckland, Northland, and an area across the centre of the North Island from Whanganui in the west, through Taupō and to the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne in the east.

The rest of the country is under the orange setting.

At both red and orange, shops, including outdoor farmers markets and banks, will have capacity limits based on the 1-metre distancing rules. They can choose to use the vaccine pass system or not, but that will not change the capacity limits.

Smith & Caughey’s had opted to require all customers to show their vaccine pass on entry – but it had not hindered business, Caughey said.

‘‘We are choosing to operate as a vaccine pass business to provide the highest level of protection and peace of mind for our staff and customers alike. In addition, as a destination department store with a number of hospitality, close-contact services, and eventing elements within, we need to operate as a vaccine pass business in order to be able to operate these things effectively.’’

Its online store and contactless click-and-collect service remained open for all customers.

Maria O’Halloran, the chief executive of Canterbury department store Ballantynes, said vaccine passes would not be required to enter its stores in Christchurch and Timaru, which are in orange.

But they will be required at the on-site Kin Bistro and Winebar, the Tearooms and JB’s Cafe, Solace Hair and Beauty, Ballantynes’ tailoring and alteration services and for brow services at the Benefit counter.

Staff in those areas would be responsible for checking and scanning customers’ vaccine passes, O’Halloran said.

Viv Beck, the chief executive of Auckland’s city centre business association, Heart of the City, said yesterday was a great day for the city centre after 108 days of restrictions.

‘‘By 9am our pedestrian counts were up 20 per cent on last Friday, so that’s a good start.’’

She hoped to see a buildup of customers throughout the day and over the weekend. ‘‘While we are realistic that the city is not back to normal yet, we remain optimistic and invite Aucklanders to get out and about and support businesses over the coming weeks.’’

First Retail Group managing director Chris Wilkinson said retail was particularly busy on Thursday across the country, as shoppers stocked up.

‘‘We’re expecting some trepidation over the next few days as shoppers come to grips with the places they will need to use their vaccine passport, like cafes, and those they won’t, like many retail stores.’’