Streets were empty and testing centres were packed as Aotearoa awoke to its first day of COVID-19 alert level 4 since the pandemic began in 2020.
Tuesday's shock discovery of a community case thrust the country back into level 4, with a subsequent six cases being identified on Wednesday.
In Auckland, cars lined up at testing centres, with roads near Northcote's community testing centre becoming gridlocked.
Despite the heavy traffic near these locations, the usually packed motorways were almost empty as New Zealanders stayed home to combat COVID-19.
But not all Aucklanders were so accommodating. Approximately 100 anti-lockdown protesters converged outside TVNZ's Auckland office with the failed politician and conspiracy theorist Billy Te Kahika at the helm.
Te Kahika told the crowd the COVID-19 pandemic and level four lockdown response was a 'hoax' - and was then arrested by police.
People also flocked to get tested in Coromandel - where the first positive case and his wife (who has tested negative) spent a weekend while possibly infectious.
Nurses in full personal protective equipment could be seen testing locals.
Further afield in Wellington motorways were cleared. Although the capital has not yet recorded any COVID-19 cases, it too is under stringent lockdown conditions.
Parliament was also deserted with people working from home to slow the spread of the virus.
Despite reassurances from health officials, supermarket officials and the Prime Minister herself that supplies will not run out, Kiwis still rushed to supermarkets to buy out the toilet paper supplies.
In Christchurch, the Rolleston Countdown shelves were bare.
Under level 4, all playgrounds are strictly off-limits, meaning embattled parents must find other ways to entertain their cabin-fever stricken children.
A photo of an empty Dunedin playground contained a chilling reminder of the times - the word Delta emblazoned on the side of a now-untouchable swing.
