As the government debates whether to drop masks, business leaders are voicing their support.

Last week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the traffic light system was under review, amid swirling rumours that the country would exit the orange setting.

But Ardern clarified that a decision has not been reached, and the decision from the review will be revealed next week.

Masks have been compulsory in many locations across the country for much of the pandemic.

New Zealanders are supposed to wear them in most public settings, like in supermarkets, shops and on public transport.

Although business groups have been calling for their removal, some employees are unsure.

"Spring only just started, and lots of people are still getting sick," says one retail worker.

"I've been sick [with the flu] for the past two weeks. Maybe closer to summer it would make more sense to lift it."

Retail NZ chief executive Greg Harford is among a number of business leaders who say mask requirements have run their course.

"It's actually well past time that the mask requirement was removed from retail stores," he says.

"Around the country, only about a third of retail customers are still wearing masks."

An internal survey by Retail NZ suggested more than two-thirds of customers were coming into stores without masks, even though there was a fine for doing so.

"It's not enforced," Harford says. "The government has created a huge loophole whereby anyone can declare themselves exempt."

But microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles says ignoring the virus for the sake of convenience will not make it go away.

"With the virus still circulating, we can't give up the public health measures that are keeping people safe," she says.

"If we're not going to use masks as one of them, we need to use something else."

Newmarket Business Association chief executive Mark Knoff-Thomas says a lot of places have stopped enforcing the mask rule, with fears for potential violence against staff.

The "team of five million" have dissolved, and the public have turned against the government, Knoff-Thomas says.

"It would be almost impossible for the government to enforce a mandate," he says. "They've well and truly lost the room."

He says most people are fatigued after two years of restrictions.

"The horse has bolted," he says. "I've just been out shopping now, and probably fewer than half the people were wearing masks."

Retail workers say increasingly, more people are keeping masks in their pockets.

"I feel like they should keep [the mandate] for a bit longer, but I don't think it'll make much of a difference," says one worker. "About 50-60 per cent of our customers come in without a mask on."

"Most people will have them, but a lot of people are used to not wearing them for some reason," says another.

An internal survey by Retail NZ suggested more than two-thirds of customers were entering stores without masks, even though there was a fine for doing so. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver.

Harford says frustrated shoppers will often take it out on staff.

"Over the last several months, we've had many instances of nastiness, aggression, and even threats of violence," he says.

"In fact, WorkSafe, the government's health and safety regulator, has asked retailers not to enforce the rules because it creates a health and safety risk."

On its website, WorkSafe warns businesses to perform thorough risk assessments before enforcing masks.

It tells owners to "consider how you will mitigate the risk of violence or aggression toward workers".

But some workers still felt safer in a mask, and without government backing it may become harder to enforce such policies. The result is a dilemma for vulnerable workers.

"I have a volunteer, she's 80 years old," says the owner of a Ponsonby store, "when she's here with me, people have to wear masks".

Cabinet is expected to make a decision on whether New Zealand will move to the green traffic light setting next Monday.

-RNZ/Felix Walton.