Holidaymakers are being diverted from a major highway connecting Auckland to the Coromandel after a truck crash that has left several people injured.
As the summer travel season enters full force and traffic builds up, a car and truck collided on SH25 in Orongo, at the Hauraki Rd intersection leading to Turua about 11.50am.
The crash has caused delays and detours around the bridge that crosses Waihou (Thames) River.
Police, Hato Hone St John and Fire and Emergency New Zealand are attending the scene.
Hato Hone St John said three ambulances, a helicopter and a rapid response vehicle responded to the crash, with five people taken to hospital in various conditions.
One seriously injured has been transported by helicopter to Auckland’s Middlemore Hospital, and another by ambulance to Waikato Hospital.
The remaining patients were taken to Thames Hospital, with two in moderate condition and one in minor condition.
Motorists are asked to avoid the area, and diversions are in place.
“Stop-go traffic management is in place. Expect delays,” NZ Transport Agency said.
Holiday traffic is increasing on key North Island highways today, with NZTA anticipating the heaviest congestion in Auckland, through the Waikato, and at Wellington’s northern gateway.
The single biggest pressure point is predicted to be on the Southern Motorway between Manukau and Bombay.
Southbound traffic on Christmas Eve is forecast to reach its heaviest levels between 10.30am and 3.30pm.
The notoriously busy stretch of road is expected to remain so through Christmas Day (heaviest between 10am and 1.30pm) and Boxing Day (10am and 11.30am).
Northbound lanes are also expected to slow for long periods as travellers head to Auckland for Christmas.
North of Tāmaki Makaurau, SH1 between Pūhoi and Wellsford also looks to be busy across all three days, with Boxing Day emerging as the worst as holiday-goers head to Northland for the summer break.
Northbound traffic is expected to be busy from late morning through to early afternoon that day, peaking between 11am and 2.30pm.
Further north, congestion is projected to form near Kawakawa for an hour in the afternoon.
Waikato will also see sustained pressure, particularly on SH1 between Tīrau and Karapiro, where traffic will steadily build over the coming days and peak northbound on Boxing Day around midday.
The eastbound route of SH2 between Pōkeno and Maramarua is forecast to see its heaviest congestion on Boxing Day from mid-morning through to early afternoon, as people move towards the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty for New Year’s.
Traffic volumes are also expected to stack up at the northern edge of Wellington as motorists come off Transmission Gully, with a chokepoint at Ōhau, near Levin, creating traffic both ways.
The worst congestion is expected northbound on Boxing Day from 10am to 12.30pm, while steady traffic is forecast southbound as people return to the capital.
On the Kāpiti Coast, traffic between Peka Peka and Ōtaki is anticipated late morning on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day, while northbound queues on SH2 through Petone will most likely be seen between 11am and 12.30pm today.
Elsewhere in the North Island, SH29 through the Kaimai Ranges between Waikato and Tauranga will be busy on the mornings of Christmas and Boxing Day, both ways.
Aside from traffic on SH1 through Timaru, which is expected to continue both ways until midday today, much of the South Island should remain relatively clear until Boxing Day, when congestion begins to spread across popular holiday routes.
SH1 northbound through North Canterbury and Kaikōura, and from Ashburton to Christchurch, will be busy from late morning into the afternoon, while traffic heading into Queenstown via SH6 is projected for much of Boxing Day.
“Every holiday period and long weekend, we see large numbers of people heading out of the main centres to popular holiday destinations,” NZTA said.
“This can cause queues and delays.”
NZTA’s advice for safe travel includes planning well in advance, avoiding peak travel times where possible, allowing extra time for journeys and taking regular breaks.
Tom Rose is an Auckland-based journalist who covers breaking news, specialising in lifestyle, entertainment and travel. He joined the Herald in 2023.
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