“Our thoughts are with the person’s family and friends at this time. Everyone deserves to be able to return home from work safely,” the spokesperson said.
Police said inquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.
The expressway was closed southbound from the Te Kauwhata and Rangiriri on-ramps while the Serious Crash Unit conducted a scene examination.
Motorists were advised to avoid the area and expect delays.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesperson said it received a call to the incident at 7.11am and responded with three crews, one from Te Kauwhata and two from Huntly.
“We just assisted police and ambulance. No one was trapped.”
St John Ambulance referred all comment to police.,
The crash comes days after a pedestrian was hit and killed on a Wellington motorway, with NZTA workers nearby at the time.
Angela Brooks had exited her car after a minor crash when she was fatally struck by a passing vehicle on SH2 near Horokiwi.
Brooks was a passenger in the car being driven by her adult son before the incident occurred.
NZTA confirmed staff were present at the time, dealing with a separate crash.
