For some Aucklanders, the shift to level 2.5 has offered the chance to flee the city.
Travellers arrive at Queenstown Airport. Photo: RNZ
Auckland Airport was crowded with people getting on flights early this morning, taking advantage of the drop in travel restrictions that have kept them penned inside the Super City limits.
Queenstown has welcomed the return of visitors from the north.
The resort town is in the midst of Winter Pride festival - which started on Friday - but this year isn't bringing in the huge crowds it usually does.
By early morning, white caps started forming on Lake Wakatipu - MetService issued a gale warning ahead of the return of the first Auckland flights into Queenstown.
Liz and Keith were among the first Aucklanders to return, arriving just before 10am.
Their family shouted them a trip south for their 50th wedding anniversary last month.
"The timing was beautiful. Come out of lockdown last night at midnight and here this morning. It's wonderful," he said.
Aucklander Josh landed ready to hit the slopes with his family.
"We were lucky actually. We had this in the diary for months and we thought we weren't going to get on the plane ... I think cos we were in a bubble of four, we managed to not be the ones kicked off with all the new social distancing stuff so we found out we were on the flight last night and everything was normal. We just had to wear a mask," he said.
The airport's corporate and community affairs general manager, Sara Irvine, said six Auckland flights were scheduled to touch down today after they were cut during Level 3.
"There's been issues for people who have been either trying to return to Queenstown or get back to Auckland ... so we have had people who have been waiting on those flights to come back so that they can actually get where they need to go. But yes, it has had an impact here," she said.
Rainbow flags fluttered around the airport to support the Winter Pride Festival.
"During Winter Pride week, it is a busy week and obviously with the ski season, it tends to be a pretty busy time of the year for us so it is noticeably quieter. Absolutely. But it's nice to have a little bit of activity."
Fergburger Group general manager Stephen Bradley said Queenstown businesses took a hit when the Auckland market was cut off.
"It was another difficult time. It was almost an immediate handbrake. We saw it straightaway. Lucky everyone's spirits were certainly better that we had a little bit of almost normality, but once again a little bit scary and obviously much more difficult to trade in," Bradley said.
He was hopeful Winter Pride would attract more visitors.
Photo: Supplied
"It's a fun week. I think it's fun for all the town. I think it affects us a little bit but I think more more than that it just brings in energy the town and puts everyone in a great mood people for the prior week and people in general. So we hope to see just some energy in town and some good vibes."
NZSki chief executive Paul Anderson said Aucklanders had been missed around Queenstown with ski field day passes dropping by 30 to 40 percent during the city's Level 3 lockdown.
"I was wandering back from a coffee before and looking down the street I said to the person who is with me this is not what what the last day of winter usually looks like in Queenstown. So we are excited to get the Aucklanders back," he said.
Paul Anderson said the Remarkables ski field was opening for extra days to take advantage of the extra numbers in town.
He had hoped to welcome Winter Pride revellers to Coronet Peak today for its dress like a hero event but the ski field closed for the first time this season as wind gusts topped 100km/h at the top of the chairlift.
The good news is an extra 20 centimetres of fresh snow is expected to fall on the ski field overnight, in time for tomorrow's rainbow race.
"The snow's arrived on cue so they've got a day to enjoy the sights and sounds in town today. And with the snow coming out and they are going to have some great skiing for the rest of the week, so that's fantastic."
Queenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult was pleased to see Aucklanders arriving.
"Auckland's now our most important market without any international folk. What do we got one half million people around the greater Auckland area," he said.
"We know they love this part of the world. They will come down here, we've still got really good skiing. (Queenstown's) supposed to get some more snow tomorrow. Can't wait to see them here. They will enjoy themselves."
For the few people disgruntled with the return of Auckland flights, he has this message:
"For anybody who's critical of Aucklanders coming here well, Auckland is actually part of New Zealand and New Zealanders can travel anywhere in the country they want to travel, and we certainly need them here."