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Although they said they were relieved to be in alert level 2 now, they were not out of the woods yet.
The latest level 3 lockdown has interrupted the Pride and Fringe festivals, with thousands of events quickly moved online, rescheduled or cancelled.
Auckland Pride Festival director Max Tweedie said when he watched the announcement, it was a shock.
"The adrenalin just kicked in, and my head just kicked straight into contingency plans, and I don't think it really sunk in at all at that time until a couple of days.
"It was our worst nightmare."