Praise for an easing of restrictions from our retail sector.

Covid-19 restrictions have been scrapped almost completely, with only aged care facilities and hospitals still requiring masks.

Retail NZ Chief Executive Greg Harford says it takes away a lot of tension and confusion around exemptions that retail workers had to deal with.

He told Kate Hawkesby he doesn't expect many retailers to ask their customers to mask up.

Harford says many workers were on the receiving end of verbal abuse and even violence after asking people to mask up.

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