A breakdown near the top of the harbour bridge in a centre lane earlier added to the headache with traffic forced to squeeze around the vehicle.
The vehicle has since been pushed clear of the lane.
Traffic remains at a crawl on sections of the Southern and Northern motorways with long queues forming at 6.30am between Drury and Takanini.
A car crash on the Southern Motorway at 6.45am on the right lane just before the Te Irirangi Dr overbridge added to the commuting woes with traffic banked up through Manukau.
While the vehicles involved in the crash had been removed motorists were being warned to expect delays.
Just before 7.30am motorists heading north on the Northwestern Motorway were warned to avoid using the Lincoln Rd onramp after a multi-car pile-up left lanes blocked.
Traffic was down to a crawl between Te Atatu Rd and Lincoln Rd, and forced to squeeze through the middle to navigate past the three crashed vehicles.
The NZ Transport Agency is warning drivers to allow extra time for their journey today and drive to the wet conditions which have left some parts of the motorway with patches of flooding.
NZTA said rain-slicked surfaces and areas of shallow flooding meant drivers needed to be patient and keep a safe following distance.
