KEY POINTS:
Huge traffic jams around the North Island yesterday ensured many people's holidays got off to a slow start.
Not for the first time, the biggest bottleneck was the single-lane Kopu Bridge near Thames.
At the mid-afternoon peak of the chaos, about 2000 eastbound cars were backed up 10km along State Highway 25, many of them heading for the Coromandel Peninsula.
Driver Thorton Williams said his hour-long wait to cross the bridge was "ridiculous".
"This is the 21st century and we have a one-lane bridge with stop and go lights. It really is an embarrassment. What would an international tourist think?"
Transit New Zealand plans to replace the 81-year-old Kopu Bridge by 2010-2012.
In Auckland, motorway traffic between Tristam Ave and Upper Harbour Highway was heavy about noon.
Further north, cars were at a standstill between the Silverdale motorway off-ramp and Orewa, and queues of northbound traffic formed south of Warkworth.
Traffic on the Desert Rd across the Central Plateau built steadily in both directions and delays were reported between Waikanae and Otaki, north of Wellington, about 1pm.
Inspector Ken Climo said Wellington Police were receiving reports of poor driving, such as tailgating and dangerous overtaking, as drivers became frustrated.
Roadworks between Horokiwi and Petone on State Highway 2 are expected to cause delays over the next three days.
Drivers are advised to use SH1 and SH58 instead.
