A six-car crash on State Highway 22 north of Paerāta in Pukekohe forced all the lanes to close, causing commuter chaos while emergency services worked to free those involved.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi posted online that all lanes of SH22 north of Paerāta between Crown Road and Glenbrook Rd have now been reopened after being closed for more than an hour.
The agency asked motorists to consider delaying their commute and expect serious delays.
Auckland Transport said bus route 394 was detoured.
“All bus stops on Paerāta Rd between Heights and Glenbrook Drive, as well as all stops on Jonah Lomu Drive missed, due to detour,” the agency reported on social media.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) said in statement that two fire trucks were at the scene. Crews with rescue gear are working to free one “partially trapped” person.
Earlier, a nearby three-vehicle crash blocked a lane on the southern motorway.
Police said the crash on State Highway 1 near Ramarama occurred at 5.30am. A lane was blocked for nearly two hours but has since reopened.
There were no serious injuries.
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