Business leaders, employees split on ditching mask mandate as decision looms

As the government debates whether to drop masks, business leaders are voicing their support.

Last week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the traffic light system was under review, amid swirling rumours that the country would exit the orange setting.

But Ardern clarified that a decision had not been reached, and the decision from the review would be revealed next week.

Masks have been compulsory in many locations across the country for much of the pandemic. New Zealanders are supposed to wear them in most public settings, like in supermarkets, shops and on public transport.

Although business groups have been calling for their removal, some employees were unsure.

"Spring only just started, and lots of people are still getting sick," said one retail worker.

"I've been sick [with the flu] for the past two weeks. Maybe closer to summer it would make more sense to lift it."

Retail NZ chief executive Greg Harford was among a number of business leaders who said mask requirements had run their course.

"It's actually well past time that the mask requirement was removed from retail stores," he said.

"Around the country, only about a third of retail customers are still wearing masks."

An internal survey by Retail NZ suggested more than two-thirds of customers were coming into stores without masks, even though there was a fine for doing so.

"It's not enforced," Harford said. "The government has created a huge loophole whereby anyone can declare themselves exempt."

But microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles said ignoring the virus for the sake of convenience would not make it go away.

"With the virus still circulating, we can't give up the public health measures that are keeping people safe," she said.

"If we're not going to use masks as one of them, we need to use something else."

Newmarket Business Association chief executive Mark Knoff-Thomas said a lot of places had stopped enforcing the mask rule, with fears for potential violence against staff.

The "team of five million" had dissolved, and the public had turned against the government, Knoff-Thomas said.

"It would be almost impossible for the government to enforce a mandate," he said. "They've well and truly lost the room."

He said most people were fatigued after two years of restrictions.

"The horse has bolted," he said. "I've just been out shopping now, and probably fewer than half the people were wearing masks."

Retail workers said increasingly, more people were keeping masks in their pockets.

"I feel like they should keep [the mandate] for a bit longer, but I don't think it'll make much of a difference," said one worker. "About 50-60 percent of our customers come in without a mask on."

"Most people will have them, but a lot of people are used to not wearing them for some reason," said another.

Harford said frustrated shoppers would often take it out on staff.

"Over the last several months, we've had many instances of nastiness, aggression, and even threats of violence," he said.

"In fact, WorkSafe, the government's health and safety regulator, has asked retailers not to enforce the rules because it creates a health and safety risk."

On its website, WorkSafe warned businesses to perform thorough risk assessments before enforcing masks. It told owners to "consider how you will mitigate the risk of violence or aggression toward workers".

But some workers still felt safer in a mask, and without government backing it may become harder to enforce such policies. The result is a dilemma for vulnerable workers.

"I have a volunteer, she's 80 years old," said the owner of a Ponsonby store, "when she's here with me, people have to wear masks".

Cabinet is expected to make a decision on whether New Zealand will move to the green traffic light setting next Monday.