NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Huge queues as thousands head out of main centres for New Year

NZ Herald
28 Dec, 2018 11:12 PM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Long queues are building as thousands head away for New Year celebrations. Photo / File

Long queues are building as thousands head away for New Year celebrations. Photo / File

Huge queues have built up on roads out of the main centres, as thousands head away for New Year.

The Transport Agency says there is about a 10km tailback heading out of Wellington, between Waikanae and Otaki.

Traffic heading north from Auckland is also backed up about 5km from the end of the Northern Gateway toll road.

Those queues have also spilled onto the Hibiscus Coast route, as far back as Waiwera. A truck breakdown on SH1 near Warkworth is also causing heavy congestion in the area.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

SH1 WARKWORTH, NORTHBOUND – BREAKDOWN – 1:15PM

Due to a truck breakdown near the intersection with Whittaker Rd, the left lane is BLOCKED. There is currently heavy congestion in the area. Please avoid the area or delay your journey if possible. ^CR pic.twitter.com/zNz9EPwwo7

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) December 29, 2018

An accident on State Highway 2 to the Coromandel means traffic is tailed back to the Bombay Hills.

Exactly where and when are likely to be the busiest times on our country's main roads has been calculated by the New Zealand Transport Agency to help motorists plan and avoid delays.

Northland

SH1 at Whangārei is expected to be busy northbound from 11am to 5.30pm, and southbound from 10am to 1pm.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Because of a truck breakdown on SH1 near Warkworth, near the intersection with Whittaker Rd, the left lane is blocked. There is currently heavy congestion in the area. Please avoid the area or delay your journey if possible.

Because of a slip on SH12 north of Te Pahi River Dr, near Paparoa, there is a lane closure in place. Motorists are advised to take extra care and follow instructions of staff on site.

SH12 PAPAROA, NORTHLAND – SLIP – 11:15AM
Due to a slip on #SH12 north of Te Pahi River Dr, there is a LANE CLOSURE in place. Please take extra care and follow instructions of crew members on site. ^CR pic.twitter.com/cLOpNitpWV

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) December 28, 2018

Auckland

Traffic between Puhoi and Wellsford is expected to be at its heaviest between 11am and 5pm today heading north, and at Takanini from 9.30am until 5pm.

Discover more

New Zealand

One critical, another serious following serious SH1 crash

27 Dec 05:30 AM
New Zealand

One dead, four injured in Palmerston North crash

28 Dec 12:13 AM
New Zealand

Motorcyclist killed by 72yo driving wrong way on motorway

28 Dec 10:11 PM
New Zealand

Serious crash unit at scene of head-on crash near Taupō

28 Dec 11:46 PM

Waikato

Busy areas are expected to be SH1 at Karapiro, south of Cambridge, between 10am and 6pm, at Taupiri, north of Hamilton, from 9.30am to 6pm, and on SH2 at Maramarua from 9am to 2pm.

Because of an earlier crash, traffic eastbound is congested near the Waikato Expressway. Please take extra care and expect delays.

SH2 POKENO TO MANGATARATA, WAIKATO – CONGESTION – 11:25AM
Due to a prior #crash, traffic eastbound is CONGESTED near the Waikato Expressway. Please take extra care and expect delays. ^CR pic.twitter.com/F7OsGOqtOr

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Waikato/BoP (@WakaKotahiWaiBP) December 28, 2018

Bay of Plenty

The areas to look out for in the Bay of Plenty are SH29 in the Kaimais from 11am to 5.30pm, SH2 between Paeroa and Waihi from 11am to 5pm, and between Tauranga and Katikati from 12am to 6pm.

Napier

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

State Highway 5 at Te Pohue, north of Napier, is expected to be busy from 1.30pm to 4.30pm.

Taranaki

State Highway 3 at Mount Messenger will be busy from 9.30am to 1pm.

Manawatu-Wanganui

Congestion in the central North Island is expected to hit SH3 at Whanganui between 11am and 4pm, on SH1 between Taihape and Waiouru from 9.30am to 5pm, and on SH2 from Norsewood between Hastings and Woodville SH3 from 11.30am to 4pm.

Wellington

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The capital is expected to experiencing heavy traffic on SH1 at the Kapiti Coast from 8am to 6.30pm, and on SH2 at Rimutaka Hill between Wellington and Featherston, which is expected to be busy until 4.30pm.

Congestion on SH1 south of Paekākāriki has eased and is now free flowing, but traffic remains congested between Waikanae and Ōtaki, with the queue starting south of Peka Peka Rd. Please continue to expect significant delays.

Strong winds on Remutaka Hill have eased. and the warning has been lifted.

UPDATE 1:20PM
Congestion on #SH1 south of Paekākāriki has EASED and is now free flowing.
Traffic remains CONGESTED between Waikanae and Ōtaki, with the queue starting south of Peka Peka Rd. Please continue to expect significant delays. ^CR https://t.co/r8zZWx4kEh

— Waka Kotahi Wellington (@WakaKotahiWgtn) December 29, 2018

FINAL UPDATE 1:05PM
Strong winds on #Remutaka Hill have EASED and the warning has been LIFTED. Drive safe. ^CR https://t.co/52ptLVdrnB

— Waka Kotahi Wellington (@WakaKotahiWgtn) December 29, 2018

Nelson-Marlborough-Tasman

Heading south, traffic is expected to begin building on SH6 at Murchison between 11.30am and 4pm, on SH63 at St Arnaud between 11am and 4pm, and on SH6 between Nelson and Blenheim from 9.30am to 4.30pm.

State Highway 60 at Motueka is likely to become problematic between 2pm and 6.30pm.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

West Coast

West Coast traffic is forecast to build on SH6 from 9.30am to 12pm.

Canterbury

In Canterbury, State Highway 1 is expected to get congested at Waipara from 9am to 5pm, at Timaru from 12pm to 4pm, between Ashburton and Christchurch from 9am to 5.30pm, at Waimakariri from 10am to 6pm and at Kaikoura from 11.30am to 3.30pm.

Congestion is also expected on SH75 at Akaroa Peninsula from 9.30am to 5.30pm, on SH79 at Geraldine from 10.30am to 3pm, and on SH73 through Arthur's Pass from 10am to 4.30pm.

Otago

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

SH8 east of Wanaka will be busy between 12pm and 6pm and SH6 at Queenstown between 10.30am and 6pm.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

Crime

Baby killing Mobster loathed being called 'kid killer' in prison, so he murdered again

18 Jun 12:40 AM
New Zealand

KiwiRail charged over Aratere ferry grounding

18 Jun 12:33 AM
New Zealand

Person critically injured after being run over by own vehicle

18 Jun 12:30 AM

Jono and Ben brew up a tea-fuelled adventure in Sri Lanka

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Baby killing Mobster loathed being called 'kid killer' in prison, so he murdered again

Baby killing Mobster loathed being called 'kid killer' in prison, so he murdered again

18 Jun 12:40 AM

Donovan Duff was already serving a life sentence. He was handed another one today.

KiwiRail charged over Aratere ferry grounding

KiwiRail charged over Aratere ferry grounding

18 Jun 12:33 AM
Person critically injured after being run over by own vehicle

Person critically injured after being run over by own vehicle

18 Jun 12:30 AM
Premium
Has Tory Whanau's experience put women off running for mayor?

Has Tory Whanau's experience put women off running for mayor?

17 Jun 11:59 PM
Help for those helping hardest-hit
sponsored

Help for those helping hardest-hit

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP