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Bernadette Courtney / Things
Tourists are leaving Wellington for the long working weekend, and traffic is already picking up on State Highway 1 near Peka Peka on the Kāpiti coast.
Queues in cities have narrowed after previous congestion hampered drivers heading into Labor Day weekend.
Traffic began to reverse on State Highway 1 north of Auckland, between Hatfields Beach and Pūhoi, around noon on Friday.
The New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi traffic map showed that the journey between Silverdale and Wellsford was taking approximately one hour and eight minutes, almost double the normal travel time.
The agency said traffic was heavy on most of Auckland’s motorway network around 4 p.m.
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The Automobile Association traffic map showed congestion heading south from the North Shore to Papakura around 4 p.m.
NZTA / Supplied
Traffic was heavy heading south from Auckland around 4pm.
Traffic congestion around Taupō was building up from at least 4 p.m. Friday, as weekend arrivals mingled with those finishing work and heading home before the long weekend.
Meanwhile, the transportation agency said there were already “significant” northbound delays on State Highway 1 between Plimmerton and Ōtaki on the Kāpiti coast around noon.
NZTA / Supplied
Traffic was moving slowly in both directions around Auckland’s Greenlane at around 4pm.
“[They] they are not expected to decrease until 8 pm tonight, ”said NZTA.
However, by 7pm, congestion had largely abated to the north and south from Auckland, and live traffic cameras from NZTA showed the highway network flowing freely.
Previous hour-long delays from Silverdale had been reduced to just a few minutes.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH / YouTube
Dr Ashley Bloomfield provides an update on the Covid-19 community case affecting Auckland.
Traffic on State Highway 2 between Tauranga and Katikati, SH1 between Ashburton and Christchurch, and on the Kāpiti coast between Peka Peka and Ōtaki was also expected to be heavy on Friday afternoon from 4 pm to 6 pm
On Thursday, Chief Health Officer Dr. Ashley Bloomfield reminded Kiwis to be vigilant and to continue to practice safe measures for Covid throughout the long weekend.
“Remember, this virus doesn’t take breaks,” he said.
“Wherever you go and whatever you do during Labor Weekend, record it. If you see a QR code, scan it.
NZTA / Supplied
Auckland traffic was dragging through the city center around 4pm.
“This is particularly important as many people may be moving around the country and then they may not remember the names and places of all the places they visit if they are away from home.”
Hot and humid weather is forecast for the weekend in much of the country.
Monique Ford / Stuff
People are asked to keep logging in with the Covid Tracer app over the long weekend. (File photo)
The most attractive places will be Canterbury Plains and Christchurch.
Timaru will hit 28 degrees Celsius on Sunday, and Ashburton and Christchurch will hit 27 degrees Celsius.
AA Roadwatch / Supplied
Congestion spread around 4pm across Auckland’s motorway network.
The North Island will have a lot of clouds, but MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said temperatures would still be mild.
“Those with outdoor plans will be happy to know that afternoons seem brighter with sunny spells, however some places might see a fleeting rain or two.”
Some rain is forecast for the western side of the South Island on Saturday night and Sunday, with the possibility of some stronger drops on Monday.
Makgabutlane said the rest of the South Island would remain in summer mode until Monday, when a colder air mass would move, causing a sharp drop, between 10 and 15 degrees, in daytime temperatures.
