Holiday traffic hits Auckland as motorists return home from Queen's Birthday weekend

Traffic is starting to build at key spots around the country. Photo / file, Dean Purcell.

Traffic has hit key routes in and around Auckland as long weekend holidaymakers head for home.

NZTA is warning of congestion on State Highway 1 southbound between Wellsford and Puhoi.

There are also long delays for those driving north on SH1 from Taupiri to Huntly, and through Rangiriri.

On SH2 it's a slow drive through Mangatawhiri, and again from Ramarama to Takanini.

Further south, the traffic has now cleared.

Earlier this evening congestion was causing delays of up to 20 minutes on SH1 southbound, from Levin to Otaki.

The holiday road toll currently stands at two, with the official toll period ending at 6am tomorrow.

The first person died near Napier, after a pedestrian was hit by a car on SH2 just north of Napier Airport.

Last Queen's Birthday weekend 11 people lost their lives on roads around New Zealand. It was the highest toll for a Queen's Birthday weekend in 27 years.

However, while this weekend's road toll is lower, 2017 has been an overall deadlier year on the roads.

A total of 138 people have been killed on the roads as of June 2, 2017, higher than the 124 killed by the same date last year.