Restaurants and takeaway outlets are scrambling to get everything in place to open next Tuesday.
Under alert level 3, which begins at 11:59pm on Monday, food outlets can trade but only for drive-thru, contactless takeaways and deliveries.
McDonald's is expecting an onslaught of customers when they open their doors under level 3, as Kiwis may be desperate to eat food cooked by someone else.
"We're making sure we've got the right amount of staff, making sure they're aware how busy we're going to be," managing director of McDonald's NZ Dave Howse says.
The fast-food giant can open under COVID-19 rules, and Howse confirmed there will be "no contact with another human".
But it isn't just fast food outlets that are preparing for level 3 - Christchurch's slow BBQ restaurant Smokey T's is also in planning mode for takeaways.
"We got pretty excited yesterday to hear that we can get back into it, so now we're getting ready to push play," owner Tristan Anderson says.
They're one of many local restaurants and pubs working out how to operate both practically and economically under the level 3 regulations.
Sumner pub The Village Inn is also planning to deliver food but say that's not financially sustainable for long.
"We are a pub so we need the people to come into the business, but yeah it will supplement enough to keep us open another day," Aaron Tumata says.
Uber Eats will also be operational again with contactless deliveries, but many local restaurateurs are urging Kiwis to order and pick up directly from outlets where possible so 100 percent of the profit goes into their pockets.
They say restaurants at this time can't afford to pay commissions to someone like Uber Eats who take around 30 percent of the total bill.
