Being able to offer essential items online is offering a few Tauranga businesses some relief from the lockdown restrictions.

Mount Maunganui based women's clothing retailer Repertoire received approval this week to sell essential items online.

Repertoire has a store in the Tauranga CBD, one in Mount Maunganui and seven other stores around the country.

Managing director Meghan Maher says they're very lucky to be able to trade and have the continued support of their customers.

'It means that we can trade in some capacity because we went very quickly to level four and just closed all of our shops, and that's no income coming in for us.

'We're very lucky that we have an online store but it's a very small fraction of what we would do in terms of income and sales and trade than if our stores were open.

'It just gives us another opportunity to get our business up and running and bring in some income and also keep connected to our customers.”

Repertoire's Tauranga store prior to lockdown. Image: Bruce Barnard/SunLive.

Some customers have continued to purchase non-essential items but are happy to wait until the restrictions change to receive their orders, says Meghan.

'We've had a lot of love and support from our customers.”

They have been very selective in what they are selling as essential items to ensure they adhere to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment requirements.

'The ruling from MBIE is saying that we need to be respectful of what an essential item is. So we've been very strict in our take on this.”

Downtown Tauranga is also trying to support businesses in the Tauranga CBD by adding a page to their website listing all those that can offer essential services.

Some of the businesses in the CBD that can trade online as essential services are moochi, Clever Kids, Little Trooper and Cabbages and Kings.

Downtown Tauranga manager Millie Newitt says the COVID-19 lockdown is a challenging time for everyone.

Downtown Tauranga manager Millie Newitt. Image: Daniel Hines/SunLive.

'We empathise with the people who can't or are unable to get government approval to be an essential business.

'But for those businesses who can, it's our priority to support all of our members and whoever has been given permission to sell essential services online, we're encouraging people to support local and look within our community for the essential services they need to stay safe in their homes.”

The MBIE relaxed the rules around essential services during lockdown earlier this month to enable people to buy goods such as heaters, appliances, computers and tablets, warm clothing and blankets.

The items must be purchased online or via the phone and be dispatched according to public health measures with contactless delivery. Store fronts still need to remain closed during alert level four lockdown.