Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is calling for Kiwis to continue wearing face masks as Auckland shifts to alert level 1 at 11:59 pm on Wednesday.
Ardern announced the level change during a press conference on Monday.
While it is no longer mandatory for people to wear masks on public transport during level 1, Ardern urged people to be vigilant.
"We all want to avoid more restrictions but to stay at level 1 relies on all of us to continue to be vigilant and play our part."
"We do want to create a culture of people willing to use masks, but we haven't got an order for them at level 1."
"But what I would encourage people to consider, is the ongoing use of all the tools that we've learnt along the way that make a difference to people," she said.
"So scanning QR codes - please continue to scan into everywhere that you visit, if you're having a social gathering, make a note of the people that you are with, wash your hands, and definitely, without question, stay at home if you are sick, and get a test."
University of Otago senior lecturer in primary health care and general practice Lesley Gray says it is still necessary to continue wearing face masks on public transport.
"I have observed that mask-wearing on trains (for example) has dropped to very low numbers."
"I think the right decision will be a move to level 1 for Auckland this week, although, given our experience with unanticipated community transmission in August, I do feel that mask-wearing on public transport should be required at all alert levels."
Auckland will be moving to alert level 1 at 11:59 pm on Wednesday, October 9.
This means that from Thursday, people in Auckland can gather with as many people as they want, and there are no extra restrictions on businesses, according to the COVID-19 website.
Businesses, workplaces and public transport legally must continue to display QR codes.
The Ministry of Health reported one new imported case of COVID-19 on Monday in Government's managed isolation.
It's been 10 days since a case of COVID-19 was reported in the community in Auckland on September 25.
