Massives queues were seen around Auckland fast-food outlets after New Zealand's coronavirus lockdown measures were eased on April 28.

Footage shows scores of vehicles waiting for both KFC and McDonald's causing massive congestion.

"The council had to send traffic management out to two McDonald's restaurants because of hefty queues of people lining up for takeaways," the filmer said.

There were 104 lockdown breaches recorded by police on the first day of New Zealand's lockdown de-escalation.

Massive lines going around blocks as people go to KFC and McDonald's after NZ Lock down 4 lifted. WE are now in lockdown 3. The council had to send traffic management out to two McDonald's restaurants because of hefty queues of people lining up for takeaways on Tuesday.

The easing of Covid-19 restrictions has seen Kiwis flock to fastfood outlets, including McDonald's drive-throughs, across the country.

The demand for fastfood in Christchurch was so massive that Christchurch City Council's transport operations centre sent traffic management "to help the situation" at the Lincoln Rd, Spreydon and Ferry Rd, Woolston restaurant sites.

There were also "long queues" of cars outside the Colombo St, Sydenham restaurant. "We recommend holding off on that Big Mac at the moment," a spokesperson said in a statement.
In Wellington, one queue for Newtown's McDonald's stretched up the road and into a bus lane.

In Hamilton, 24 cars were counted queueing up at the KFC in Ulster St at 1pm as it opened.

While more than 30 cars were queued for McDonald's at Christchurch's Eastgate mall at 11am. The queue snaked around the shopping centre's parking lot.


Angel Ihaka was waiting in the queue and said it was her second feed from McDonald's for the day. She said her children were sleeping when she went the first time, and when she got home, they wanted to get some too.

Ihaka said watching people line up was "entertaining" and getting McDonald's was worth the wait. "McDonald's are the best I think".

At the Quay St McDonald's in Auckland students Richard Aleni and Andy Vaái were all smiles on Tuesday morning as they emerged with their back seat entirely occupied with four ShareBoxes.

All up, their haul netted 16 burgers, including Big Macs, McChickens and Quarter Pounders, as well as fries and drinks.

Hospitality NZ chief executive Julie White said she was "not surprised" about the queues at McDonald's, because it had a takeaway model in place already, whereas most local businesses did not.

White said it was "fundamental" that people support local businesses whenever they could, adding that it was really important because it would save jobs.


"Stay local, eat local," she said. She believed only 10 per cent of the hospitality industry would open under level 3 and the measures in place on businesses were "very prohibitive".

"It just doesn't work for the majority of hospo people".

She also believed local businesses opening under level 3 were taking a risk due to "the quantum of the unknown" about how many customers would actually pick-up or get delivery.

McDonald's has released a limited menu.

The "favourites" are front and centre: the Big Mac, cheeseburger (in all of its variations), McChicken and Fillet-O-Fish, Quarter Pounder and McNuggets will be available, as will the breakfast menu.


Managing director David Howse talks about what to expect from McDonald's on opening day.
Only hotcakes, the Bacon & Egg McMuffin, Chicken (& Bacon) McMuffins and hash browns will be available as all-day breakfast. For the NYC bagel, sausage McMuffin and Massic McMuffin hunger buster, you'll have to get in before 10:30am like the old days.

As for what you can't get, shakes, sundaes, McFlurries and frozen cokes are off the list for opening day. "We're still waiting on deliveries of our shakes and sundae mix," said McDonald's spokesperson Simon Kenny.

Waiting in line at 4.45am for McDonald's in Timaru to open are Bailey Johnston, Chloe Kinsman and Shayle Haumu.
But he expected them to arrive by Wednesday or Thursday.

The other key category to fall off the limited menu is the gourmet creations burgers, including the Almighty Angus and the Chicken Bacon Deluxe. "The burgers that have the different patties and the different buns have been left out because we've been prioritising with our bakery and our patty supplier to get the core buns and burgers. They've had to ramp up to restock us," Kenny said.

McDonald's planned to have staff handing customers' food, cash and receipts when it reopens under level 3, which will be a breach of Covid-19 risk mitigation rules, a union says.

Unite Union national director Mike Treen said a draft plan for level 3 sent to the union by McDonald's appeared to breach alert level 3 settings and public health requirements.

Training material given to staff tells them to pass product directly to customers in drive throughs at a distance of closer than two metres and requires them to handle cash, he said.

McDonald's spokesman Simon Kenny said its number one priority in reopening was the safety of staff and customers.

"We have sought advice through official government channels and had third party auditors review our plans," Kenny said.

Last week the fast food giant invited Unite Union to observe in person its changes but had not had a response.

Cash would not be handled at the same window as food was given out, he said.

New protective screens would be placed at drive through windows, he said.

"As with everyone, we are working in a live situation and will continue to seek out expert advice to ensure we have interpreted alert level 3 guidance correctly."