Commuter chaos: Christmas traffic increases on motorways to cities

One person has suffered serious injuries after crashing into a vehicle towing an empty horse-drawn cart on State Highway 5 near Iwitahi.

The vehicle crashed into a bank around 1.30 pm and emergency services closed a lane of the road.

NZTA says there is a stop / go system and motorists traveling between Taupō and Napier are asked to slow down and wait for delays.

North of Auckland, motorway traffic between Wellsford and Warkworth has slowed after an accident this afternoon.

However, there are several road work sites throughout the Dome Valley, and road users are asked to take special care in the area.

NZTA has asked motorists to follow instructions from emergency services at the scene.

The holiday road toll, which ended at 6 a.m., ended at 11 a.m., seven more than in the same period last year.