Non-food retailers are heaving a sigh of relief after the government stopped short of forcing shopping centres and retailers selling non-essential goods to close because of the COVID-19 crisis.

But Wesfarmers' Kmart chain, Domino's Pizza, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, Adairs, and Nick Scali will have to shutter stores in New Zealand, and Bunnings' New Zealand stores are only open to trade customers after a further crackdown by the Ardern government there.