It's been a disastrous night on Auckland's Southern Motorway with three crashes, one resulting in the death of one person.
New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) is warning drivers to take extra care because traffic is backed up in both directions on the motorway.
Police confirmed a person had died after suffering a medical event that caused a northbound vehicle to crash just north of Papakura shortly before 5pm.
It is not yet known what caused the medical event.
As a result of the crash, traffic is crawling between Papakura and Takanini. Witnesses said the vehicle had crashed into the middle barrier of the motorway and members of the public were holding up a tarpaulin blocking people from seeing the victim.
A witness said directly opposite the crash two cars travelling south had also collided.
"It looks like they might have been gawking at the crash and lost control themselves.
Two ambulances, one fire crew and police attended the initial crash. NZTA tweeted that it had now been cleared but that traffic was still slow.
NZTA later said in a tweet two more crashes - one blocking the left lane southbound between Market Rd and Greenlane, the other blocking the right lane southbound by Ellerslie Panmure Highway off-ramp - have also been cleared, NZTA reports.
Elsewhere, NZTA reported that a breakdown blocking the left lane southbound on the Victoria Park Flyover, just after the exit to Fanshawe St, has also been cleared.
And a breakdown on the Auckland Harbour Bridge during rush-hour delayed traffic before being cleared.
More to come.