New Zealand is dismantling the legislative framework for most of its COVID-19 restrictions, but keeping its seven-day isolation and limited mask-wearing provisions as cases start to uptick again.

In a milestone in New Zealand's fight against the virus, Jacinda Ardern's government is paring back the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act, passed in 2020, and revoking the epidemic notice.

That means the legal basis for lockdowns, quarantine, vaccine obligations - including job mandates, passes and scanning in - are all gone.

Visitors to New Zealand will also be spared a travel declaration from Thursday, a move which follows the removal of all pandemic border controls through the year.

"The government has been clear that the measures used to contain the spread of COVID-19 need to be proportionate to the risk of the virus, so it's appropriate to wind down many of the extraordinary powers that are no longer needed," acting COVID-19 Minister Chris Hipkins said.

New Zealand is keeping a smaller number of rules, including self-isolation and mask rules.

"Cabinet agreed (on Monday) to follow health advice and retain the seven-day isolation period for cases and mask-wearing requirements for visitors in certain healthcare settings for the time being," Mr Hipkins said.

"These core measures remain important, with indications of an upward trend in cases and growing concern about new Omicron subvariants that are driving waves of infection overseas.

"We have seen a slight uptick in cases and hospitalisations in the last couple of weeks.

"For now, these tools continue to prove effective in dampening the impact of the virus on the health system and in protecting the most vulnerable."