Serious crashes mar holiday as road toll stands at 11

Two people were taken to Waikato Hospital with serious injuries after two cars collided at the intersection of State Highways 5 and 28. Photo / Supplied

Traffic is building again as drivers flee the capital and a number of people are in hospital after serious crashes around the country today.

Two people were taken to Waikato Hospital with serious injuries after two cars collided at the intersection of State Highways 5 and 28.

Due to a crash at the intersection of SH5 & SH28 at Tapapa expect delays. https://t.co/WpYjpxePZa ^LT pic.twitter.com/KabKwgCIuM

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Waikato/BoP (@WakaKotahiWaiBP) December 27, 2016

The crash at the busy south Waikato intersection was cleared around 1pm.

Update: The crash at the intersection of SH5 & SH28 in Tapapa has been cleared. ^LT

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Waikato/BoP (@WakaKotahiWaiBP) December 27, 2016

And a man has died after being critically injured when his car and a milk tanker collided in South Taranaki.

Police said the truck rolled into a paddock just after 9.30am near the intersection with Ohangai, Tawhiti and Ararata roads in Hawera.

The road was closed while the Police Serious Crash Unit investigated.

Diversions were in place around the crash at Ohangai and Turuturu roads.

Meanwhile, heavy traffic is building up heading out of the capital for a second day running.

Motorists are facing delays of around 30 minutes as long queues form heading north along the coastal State Highway 1 route out of Wellington.

AREA WARNING: There is CONGESTION on #SH1 Pukerua Bay to Otaki due to holiday traffic. Please expect up to 30min delays. #DriveSafe ^EL pic.twitter.com/8hVQXiTvCr

— Waka Kotahi Wellington (@WakaKotahiWgtn) December 28, 2016

The New Zealand Transport Agency says traffic is moderate to heavy in the Mana area and motorists could expect delays of half an hour.

The agency asked motorists for patience as they head off on holiday over the New Year period.

Yesterday motorists faced a two-hour delay to reach Otaki as Wellington traffic crawled along State Highway 1 bound for northern destinations.

Traffic was also expected to be heavy in both directions at a number of known hotspots throughout the North Island, including Puhoi to Wellsford, sections of Auckland's Southern Motorway, from Huntly to Taupiri and at Maramarua.

The Transport Agency warned the highways in these areas would be especially busy today and to expect the journey to take more time than usual.

The holiday traffic toll stands at 11.