Retailers pressure Government to move to coronavirus alert level 1 after massive protest in Auckland

The mass gatherings at the Black Lives Matter marches across New Zealand have prompted businesses to question whether there are double standards.

While protesters were allowed to gather in their thousands, businesses are still having to struggle with social distancing.

There were reminders of social distancing at all the marches but COVID-19 calls appeared to go largely unheard as people focused on another message - racial inequality. 

New Zealanders gathered in huge numbers to show solidarity with victims of police brutality in America following the death of George Floyd after a white police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes.

Ricardo Menendez March, the Auckland Action Against Poverty (AAAP) coordinator, attended the Auckland protest.

He says the organisers did their best to keep people safe from the virus. 

"I felt that the organisers did the best that they could within a 24-hour period to keep everybody safe and there's lessons but ultimately what was really important is for us to be present in this historic time."

But this time is historic for another reason - a global pandemic that requires social distancing.

On Monday Auckland's Queen Street was filled with thousands of people, marching in solidarity. On Tuesday businesses are adhering to strict level 2 restrictions, and they're asking why they should have to.

Greg Harford from Retail New Zealand says the distinctions are illogical. 

"I think if it's ok for protesters to be close together then logically it should be ok for people to be close together in retail stores as well."

Shoppers on Tuesday continued to queue, and businesses continue to struggle with limited capacity and social distancing.

Michael Barnet from Auckland's Chamber of Commerce says it's a clear double standard.

"I think it would have been different if the gatherings standards had been enforced, but they weren't and so business is sitting back and saying well, 'we've obeyed the rules, we've put our business at risk' - it is a double standard."

The Government says it will review the rules next week, but after Monday's protest there's increasing pressure to do it now.