Auckland's Longroom is back open for business , with social distancing rules in full force.

New Zealand's lockdown period has been particularly tough for bar owners: delayed by 10 days compared to their restaurant and cafe counterparts, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern imposed the later opening date because bars and their standard settings were deemed the biggest risk in spreading coronavirus.

According to the Restaurant Association 2019 Hospitality Report, clubs, bars and taverns make up about 12 per cent of hospitality outlets in the country.

Co-owner of Auckland's Longroom Richard Bagnall told Mike Hosking they'll still be able to accommodate about a hundred people, but other venues will struggle to make a profit while the rules remain in place.

"We are lucky that we have a reasonable amount of space. But there are a lot of others who won’t be able to do that for the time being."

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