Drivers face an excrutiating hour-long 15km crawl along a major highway north of Wellington as they try to escape the city for a summer break.
The NZ Transport Agency says holiday congestion is so bad motorists should expect delays of up to 60 minutes on SH1 between Waikanae and Otaki.
Holidaymakers heading out of Auckland are experiencing similar disruptions.
The agency tweeted earlier that northbound traffic on State Highway 1 from Puhoi to Wellsford is heavy.
