The Pasifika Festival, which began today at 10am in Auckland's Western Springs Park, is expected to draw thousands of locals and visitors from around the country.
The Kumeu Show, one of the country's largest rural field-days, also began this morning.
On Thursday, Auckland experienced its worst traffic gridlock in years caused by an extra squeeze of pressure on a stretched transport network after a serious crash closed all four southbound lanes of the main motorway out of town.
Meanwhile, a man was killed by a train near Te Awamutu early this morning.
Police said in a statement the incident occurred in the countryside south of the town about 4am.
A man in his late 20s or early 30s died. He was yet to be identified.
The death had been referred to the coroner although it was not considered suspicious.
Are you stuck in the traffic today? Please send your story, photos or video here.
