The retailer said the change would allow customers more time to shop and help ease queues. Countdown's priority shopping hour for emergency services and medical personnel will now move to 7am, so that they can continue to get their food and groceries before the store opens to the general public. This priority shopping hour is available to NZ Police, Fire Service, ambulance paramedics, DHBs, hospital and medical personnel with proper ID. This has in some instances led to queues but we're hoping extended trading hours will help ease this a little. We also hope the earlier start time of our priority shopping hour will work better for those emergency workers and medical personnel working shifts.

Source: Stuff April 13, 2020 22:52 UTC