Easter traffic crush well underway

There are already delays of up to an hour on State Highway 1 between Puhoi and Warkworth, the NZ Transport Agency has advised.

The agency is encouraging drivers heading north, from Auckland to Wellsford and beyond, to use SH16.

"The distance to Wellsford via SH16 is similar to SH1; but it's a more enjoyable drive with free flowing traffic and is around half an hour faster at peak periods during long weekends," said the NZTA's Tommy Parker.

SH16 links western and northern Auckland with Wellsford and can also be reached from the Silverdale interchange on SH1.

Further south, conditions on the Desert Road in the central North Island are reportedly treacherous, with sleet and snowy showers falling.

Motorists there have been advised by Police to take extreme care.