It's New Zealand's first weekend at the orange traffic light setting and Kiwis right around the country are out enjoying the eased restrictions.
The change, which kicked in on Thursday, is a huge relief for those in the hospitality sector.
Indoors, un-masked and enjoying some Easter family fun. This is the new reality under the orange traffic light setting.
"So good, so good, I love it," one person said.
"I'd rather green, but all good," another said.
"Feel free," said a third.
And although summer was behind us the sun was still out, making it the perfect day to spend at the beach, on the water or just strolling the streets.
"It's such lovely weather, it's great to be out and it's nice to see everybody else out too," one person said.
"Fantastic that it's easing up finally," said another.
A sentiment echoed by those in hospitality.
"Tonight will be the night, I'm sure it will be pumping," Auckland Soul Bar manager Bailey Mullin said.
That's because dance floors are back.
Restaurants and bars no longer need to follow the seated, separated and single server rules.
For workers at places like Auckland's Soul Bar, it makes life a lot simpler.
"Having people who can come in, just have a drink, stand at a leaner and not having to enforce these rules all the time, it's definitely gonna take a lot of time off our hands that's for sure," Mullin said.
"I don't think people realise what a difference it is for most bars between red and orange, it's like night and day," Ding Dong Lounge and Infinity Nightclub owner Mat Jorgensen said.
But for Jorgensen, it may have come too late.
"If I had to pay all my debts tomorrow that'd be the end of me," he said.
The hospitality sector is hoping there's no turning back and we stay on track to green.
"I mean fingers crossed. I just really don't wanna go back to all that sorta stuff," Mullin said. "Hospitality needs to get back to normal."
After a crazy few years, cheers to the long weekend and our new normal under orange.
