Businesses around the country, except for Auckland and Northland, are gearing up to partially open to the public once again on Wednesday.

From 11.59pm on Tuesday, most of New Zealand will shift from alert level 4 to alert level 3, which means slightly looser rules around what people can and can't purchase.

Cafes, restaurants and takeaways can open at alert level 3, but only for contactless pick-up, delivery or drive through.

Shops, such as hardware stores, can open for contactless pickup and delivery but customers cannot be on the premises — unless it is a supermarket, dairy, butcher, fishmonger, greengrocer, petrol station, pharmacy or permitted health service.

Food delivery services, such as GIMME and Uber Eats, can also operate at alert level 3.

McDonald's restaurants will not be opening as soon as the alert level shifts at midnight but throughout Wednesday. Times will vary depending on gaining access and deliveries.

A restricted menu will be in place initially.

85 restaurants will be reopening under the restrictions. They will provide Drive-Thru and, where available, McDelivery.

"From the moment our restaurants closed under alert level 4, we began planning for their reopening. It's a huge logistical task, and our franchisees and supply chain partners have plans in place to ensure restaurants are cleaned, re-stocked and ready to operate safely for customers and staff," the spokesperson said.

"We thank customers in advance for their patience as we reopen and then operate under the alert level 3 conditions."

Butcheries are also gearing up for the reopening, Christchurch-based Peter Timbs Meats says it will be using a click and collect type ordering system as well as over-the-counter contactless payment with a limited number of customers in-store at a time.

"We of course have strict hygiene standards that we can replicate for customers, such as hand sanitiser and bench sanitiser as required, while also using the serve-over shield between customers that we had prepared last year at level 3," a spokesperson said.

Only the store in Edgeware will be open, the Bishopdale store will remain closed.

The company's online delivery system will continue to operate.

"Being a community-based store, most customers are on a first-name basis. We are very keen to get back to serving the community and great Christchurch region, as well as helping our suppliers be another avenue for sale, which then helps our farmers shift their livestock, and the flow-on effect continues.

"We are very keen to ensure we are hitting three goals over lockdown; being able to supply our customers with quality products to help remove some of the lockdown stress, ensuring our suppliers are able to move their items through us, while doing so as safely and securely as we can to provide a safe environment for our community."

At Mitre 10, a wider product range will be available for online order for regions at alert level 3 only.

Customers will be able to choose between contactless click & collect, with managed time slots for pick up, and delivery.

In Nelson, Burger Culture co-owner Zoe Williams was happy to be reopening even with the stricter rules.

"Face masks to be worn at all times, always wearing gloves and if they touch anything that someone else might have touched or touched their face, then those gloves have to go and a new pair go on or wash their hands," Williams said.

"We kind of have a policy where you have to wash your hands or change your gloves every 15 - 20 minutes or 20 - 30 minutes."