Waitangi Day: Drivers warned to plan ahead and expect delays this long weekend

Thursday, 4 February 2021

What led to the signing of the most important document in New Zealand's history? (Video first published 2021)

With Waitangi Day this weekend, tens of thousands of people will be heading off on holiday.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) is advising drivers to plan ahead and expect delays when travelling from or around the major centres.

There is heavy congestion heading away from the cities this Friday and expected to continue on Saturday, then coming back on Monday.

Queues are expected heading out of Auckland through Takanini in the south and Pūhoi in the north.

NZTA is advising drivers to check its online holiday journeys traffic prediction tool, so they can plan ahead and avoid delays.

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The tool shows predicted traffic flow based on previous years’ travel patterns.

“Congestion and delays are inevitable at peak times, so people may like to consider avoiding travel during these periods to make their journey safer and more enjoyable,” Waka Kotahi’s Auckland operations manager Rua Pani said.

“Because predicted peak times can change based on incidents, weather or even driver behaviour, motorists should also check our journey planner just before they head off, which provides traffic information and updates on delays, road works and road closures in real time.”

Police and NZTA are reminding everyone heading away for the long weekend to remember the road safety basics.

“Wear your seatbelt, stay within the speed limit, drive to the conditions of the road, put your phone away, always make sure you are alert, and keep a safe following distance,” national road policing centre director Superintendent Steve Greally said.

“We know people want to get the most out of a long weekend, however speeding and bad decision-making on the road can have devastating consequences.

“There will be traffic and there will be hold-ups, so it’s important to stay calm and patient. How you act on the roads impacts everybody else around you.

“The important thing is to arrive at your destination alive.”

Here’s what you need to know.

Auckland

Traffic is congested both northbound and southbound this Friday evening. Travelling up north via SH1 and SH16 is taking longer than normal. It takes over an hour and a half to get to Bombay from central Auckland via SH1, SH20 and SH16.

NZTA is advising travellers to plan their journeys ahead of time. (File photo)

For drivers heading northbound out of Auckland, the stretch of State Highway 1 between Pūhoi and Wellsford will be busy from 12pm-8pm on Friday and 8am-3pm on Saturday.

NZTA said motorists should consider taking SH16 as an alternative route to Wellsford. Electronic signs on SH1 will display estimated travel times via both highways.

For drivers heading south, the southern motorway between Manukau and Bombay will be busiest from 9:30am to 7pm on Friday and 7am and 1.30pm on Saturday.

Heading back to the city on Monday, traffic through Bombay and Manukau will be heavy from 10.15am to 9.15pm, and traffic through Wellsford and Pūhoi will be heavy from 9am to 9pm.

Wellington

Wellington motorways are congested, taking over three hours to get to Whanganui and over two hours and half to get to Palmerston North.

Events at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds are expected to draw big crowds all weekend.

The worst congestion is expected on State Highway 1, north of Wellington on the Kāpiti coast.

The busiest times for drivers heading away will be from 9am-8:30pm on Friday.

The busiest times for drivers heading back into Wellington will be between 10:15am-8pm on Monday.

Christchurch

Delays are expected on SH1, heading through Waipara. Northbound, the busiest time will be between 6.45am-8.15pm on Friday, and southbound, the busiest time will be 9.15am-7pm on Monday.

Southbound between Ashburton and Christchurch, expect delays between 7:15am and 7pm on Friday, and northbound, expect delays between 9:45am to 7pm on Monday.

Whangārei

Expect delays northbound out of Whangārei between 7:30am and 7:30pm on Friday.

There will also be delays southbound into Whangārei between 6:15am and 4:45pm on Friday and 9:15am and 6:45pm on Monday.

Heading towards Waitangi, expect delays on SH1 northbound between 9:30am and 9:30pm on Friday and 8:45am to 4:45pm on Saturday.

The busiest time southbound from Waitangi is expected between 8:30am and 6:30pm on Monday.

Coromandel

Drivers heading northbound on SH2 from Tairua can expect delays between 12.30pm and 10pm on Friday and 9.15am and 4.45pm on Saturday.

Heading southbound on SH25 towards Tairua, the busiest times will be between 10am and 9:45pm on Sunday and 8:15am to 8:30pm on Monday.