They're lovin' it! Hundreds queue up and camp out in tents outside McDonald's from MIDNIGHT as fast food restaurants reopen following strict New Zealand lockdowns
- McDonald's in New Zealand has reopened its doors following weeks of lockdown
- Hundreds of customers queued up at numerous drive-thrus across the country
- The fast food restaurant reopened at 5.30am, offering limited menu items
- In Christchurch, dozens of cars queued around the restaurant before sunrise
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Hundreds of hungry Kiwis have queued up to get their first McDonald's fix in weeks after the fast food restaurant reopened its doors following a strict COVID-19 lockdown.
McDonald's is among the dozens of businesses set to reopen in New Zealand this week as the country's coronavirus clampdown moves from level four to level three.
The fast food restaurant, which has been shut for over a month, reopened its drive-thru service at 5am on Tuesday, but eager customers were seen lining up as early as midnight.
Hundreds of Kiwis lined up to get their first McDonald's fix in weeks, after level four coronavirus restrictions were eased in New Zealand. Pictured: Dozens of cars wait in line in Christchurch
Eager customers were seen lining up before dawn. The fast food chain reopened at 5.30am on Tuesday
McDonald's workers were seen preparing food for drive-through customers after it reopened
In Gisborne, in the North Island, the district council was forced to create a McDonald's 'queue lane', designed to help keep traffic flowing in the area after dozens of cars lined up at a local McDonald's to celebrate the end of their brutal lockdown.
Residents even went as far to launch a Facebook group titled 'How long's the line at Maccas Gisborne' to share updates on the momentous occasion.
Footage posted online showed cars wrapping around the drive-thru before sunrise.
Similar scenes unfolded at McDonald's restaurants in Christchurch and Auckland, where queues began at midnight.
In New Plymouth, customers began lining up at 3.30am with 40 cars wrapping around the restaurant, according to local reports.
Footage posted online showed cars wrapping around the drive-thru before sunrise in Gisborne
Hutt South MP Chris Bishop celebrated the reopening of McDonald's tweeting a photo of himself
At McDonald's in Porirua, about 21 cars were waiting on line by 4.40am.
MP Christopher Bishop shared a photo on Twitter after getting his fix on Tuesday, tweeting: 'What a morning.'
The reopening proved to be quite an event with customers letting out cheers once the drive-thru finally opened for business, the NZ Herald reported.
McDonald's delivery is available in addition to the drive thru service, for a limited number of menu items, including favourites such as Big Macs, Quarter Poudners, cheeseburgers and Happy Meals.
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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said about 400,000 Kiwis would return to their workplaces on Tuesday with the lessening of the country's clampdown.
The shift has only a small effect on the social lives of New Zealanders, who are still being asked to stay home and to practice social distancing.
But the change is vital for business, with many industries severely sidelined over the last month.
Ms Ardern has maintained a health-first approach to fighting COVID-19, arguing a drastic short-term action would benefit the economy in the long run.
In Mangere, customers were seen waiting on long queues as early as 4.43am
In Gisborne, in the North Island, the district council was forced to create a McDonald's 'queue lane', designed to help keep traffic flowing in the area
The result has produced remarkably low case numbers.
On Monday, health officials reported the country's 19th death from 1,122 confirmed coronavirus cases.
The latest death was a woman aged in her 90s, linked to the St Margaret's residential aged care facility in Auckland.
All of New Zealand's deaths have been elderly people, with a majority from clusters linked to either the St Margaret's home or Rosewood rest care home in Christchurch, with 10 deaths.
Hospitalisation rates have shown the strength of New Zealand's public health response; fewer than 90 people have been to hospital with the disease.
Ms Ardern thanked Kiwis for persisting with a month-long lockdown which included 'the strictest constraints paced on New Zealanders in modern history'.
'There is no widespread underlying community transmission in New Zealand. We have won that battle,' she said.
'It's worked and we've done it together.'
With case numbers low and a health system operating within capacity, Ms Ardern knows the time is right to see many Kiwis back in their jobs.
Businesses are still being asked to work from home if they can do so, and any workplaces which require close physical contact are not re-opening.
Similarly, retail operations are not returning to business as usual, only allowing
That shift has produced the biggest morale-booster of the lockdown - the return of takeaway food.
Restaurants have been shut down for the past five weeks but can open from Monday at 11.59pm for delivery, drive-through or contactless takeaway.
