KEY POINTS:
Auckland
11.50am
Auckland Police say traffic is returning to normal in the central city, including Queen Street.
It's estimated about 2,000 trucks converged on the CBD from about 7.30am and, while Queen St was clogged with heavy vehicles over the ensuing hours, disruption to traffic flows were "minimised", a police spokeswoman said.
She added: "While there are still some trucks making their way into the city on the southern motorway, they're relatively few in number and are not expected to impact heavily on the city traffic."
Auckland
10.52am
Trucks are leaving the CBD and are blaring their horns as they go.
Not everyone is happy. One reader has written:
"Okay, enough is enough. The protest was supposed to stop at 9am. Horns are really annoying at 10.45am."
Dunedin
10.41am
Central Dunedin is returning to normal as truckers disperse after this morning's slow-rolling mass protest over road user charges.
Demonstration organiser Peter Sutherland, of Dunedin, said between 110 and 115 trucks from Otago, Canterbury and central Southland converged on Dunedin 's CBD this morning. Drivers were told to obey road rules and instructions from police prior to the demonstration. (Otago Daily Times)
Wellington
10.27am
Three hundred protesting truck drivers have now cleared the Wellington CBD and traffic has returned to normal, police said.
Inspector Simon Perry said that by 10.15am the trucks had cleared Molesworth Street to head north out of the city or resume their daily operations.
"We're very pleased with the cooperation we've had from everyone," Inspector Perry said. "Early advisories through the media and other emergency services and transport operators let everyone know in advance what to expect.
"There were some delays but overall commuters coped extremely well and we appreciate the response."
He says roads were a lot busier than normal between 6am and 7am with people travelling early or making alternative arrangements.
Hamilton
10.25am
Truckies in Hamilton have dispersed from the central city.
Waikato area manager for Road Transport Forum Garry Masters said drivers are now getting on with their days duties.
Mr Masters said: "we are absolutely fabulously proud of our efforts".
He estimates they had in excess of 300 trucks - 150 of which drove down Hamilton's main street. Despite a couple of glitches he said police are pleased with how it all went and there have been no reported altercations.
What's more, he said, the Transport Minister Annette King's announcement that a working party will be formed to examine road user charges made drivers' feel they "have been listened too" he said.
"They feel they have achieved something".
Christchurch
10.05am
There have been no problems reported in Christchurch due to the truck protest, police said.
Sergeant Les KcKay said: "We've had no complaints from the public either. The truck drivers have all acted very responsibly and for that we thank them."
The last of the trucks are heading into Moorehouse Avenue and it is expected to be another hour before they all clear the city.
Auckland
10.05am
A Herald reader writes:
"I supported the planned protest today. I was right behind their right to protest and I was right behind the reason for the protest. But it was supposed to be a protest and it was stated it was definitely not a blockade.
"I left home at 6.30am and arrived at work at 9am because the protest started far earlier than the 7.30am time stated, and because truck drivers were deliberately blockading the motorway. On the southern motorway, heading into the city, I saw drivers deliberately travelling at 5-10km/h with clear road in front of them. I saw drivers stop their trucks on the motorway and get out. I saw drivers deliberately blockading south bound traffic also. Where was this part of the protest?
They forget that we car drivers have paid our tax at the pump, so while truck drivers stop their trucks and incur no miles (and so pay no tax) we sit there with our engines running and are paying that tax.
While I supported the protest you can believe that I have no sympathy for them any longer."
Whangarei
10.04am
And another reader eyewitness account; this time from Whangarei.
"Whangarei came to a crawl for a few hours as the three main arterial routes came to a virtual standstill. The city centre came to a crawl as the trucks were around and around. Several hundred trucks converged from all over Northland and roamed in packs. They are dispersing now."
Hamilton
10.03am
Reader Cassandra Swan sent her account from Hamilton:
"It didn't really affect me until we reached Victoria St. I waved and gave thumbs up as I support them all the way."
Auckland
10.03am
A Herald reader filed this report:
"Normally it takes me 30-45mins to get to work but today it took me 2 and a half hours leaving at 7am from Howick to North Shore Takapuna.
"Trucks are blocking the lane and cars are unable to go pass. Signs were put up to ask trucks to stay on the left lane but angry truckers are blocking all three lanes on the Southern Motorway.
"Three helicopters are in the sky circling around and police car with their siren on having Tvone news filming in the police car live! Truckers are smiling and having their thumbs up at each other."
Rotorua
10.02am
A Herald reader in Rotorua filed this eye-witness report.
"The Rotorua truck drivers in convoy were well-behaved. It was still going up Fenton St at 9.05am."
Auckland
10.01am
There are still trucks sitting on feeder roads awaiting their turn to drive onto Queen St.
Police say the congestion may take some time yet to clear.
Auckland
10.00am
A Herald reader reports that the Southern Motorway into the Auckland CBD remains slow with still trucks coming into town.
Auckland
9.59am
A Herald reader filed this report of the protests:
"At around 8am I saw trucks parked on all lanes on the Newmarket Viaduct on the Southern Motorway into town. There was no traffic in front of them traffic backed up."
Wellington
9.57am
Wellington Police have praised commuters for their patience and co-operation during the truck protest.
Wellington
9.56am
In Wellington police estimated around 300 trucks converged from two points into the city, encircling the main arterial routes into the CBD. The first of the truck convoy was by 9.30 heading north out of the city while the tail end of the convoy was still southbound in The Terrace tunnel.
South bound commuter traffic was backed up but motorists seem to have heeded appeals to avoid the CBD as much as possible.
Auckland
9.54am
There is some anger at the behaviour of truck drivers who blocked all lanes on the Southern Motorway, then drove slowly to back up traffic.
One Herald reader said: "This is not simply driving into town to protest; this is deliberately blocking all motorway lanes. I am surprised you don't write this."
Whangarei
9.53am
A staff member from Farmers retail store in Whangarei said "dozens and dozens" of trucks rolled down Bank St, Whangarei's main road, this morning.
He said there were trucks everywhere and they "certainly outnumbered" cars.
Trucks have now dispersed from the central city.
Auckland
9.42am:
There are still trucks on Queen St but one bystander describes the spirits as high with many commuters tooting the truck drivers.
Tauranga
9.34am
The trucks have begun to disperse in Tauranga. The trucks left the CBD after driving through Devonport Road. The numbers have exceeded what organisers expected.
Herald reporter, Juliet Rowan, estimated the number of trucks in the protest in the city at around 250 - well up on the 160 trucks organisers had received commitments from last night.
Traffic is now flowing freely around the central city.
Auckland
9.33am
The organisers of the truck protest are now estimating that 3000 trucks took part in the protests around Auckland.
Auckland
9.32am
There are reports that at least 60 more trucks are on their way from the Waikato to Auckland but have not yet crossed the Bombay Hills.
Auckland
9.31am
Truckies in Auckland are being told that the protest is over and they should leave the city.
Trucks from Pascoes in Papkura made it as far as Mt Wellington before turning back, but hundreds of trucks remain in a queue heading northbound, some of them two abreast, and congestion is likely to conintue for some time.
Wellington
9.22am
Wellington police say the truck convoy protest has now encircled the main arterials forming a loop around the CBD.
According to a police press release, motorists are strongly urged to take extreme care on the motorways and in the inner city. If you are travelling south into the city, please try and exit at Aotea Quay or the other exits and avoid The Terrace tunnel.
The first of the convoy is now into Molesworth Street passed Parliament while the tail of the convoy is back in loop towards the ferry terminal, still making their way south.
Commuter traffic is backed up behind them.
Auckland
9.18am
While much of the protest in Auckland has centred on the Southern Motorway, large parts of the North-Western Motorway have been unaffected.
A Herald reader writes:
"I hope they protest every day. It took me 7 minutes to get from Te Atatu to Newmarket. I left at 8.50am and was at work at 8.57am. Thanks Truckies!"
Auckland
9.17am
Protest organisers are telling Auckland motorists who had delayed their journey into town in the hope the roads would free up soon after the protest ended, to think again.
Police said it would take several hours for the congestion to clear after the protest ended but with nearly 1000 trucks still heading into the city at 9am, the roads were expected to be jammed well past midday.
Wellington
9.16am
Watching the protest outtside Parliament is Road Transport Forum chief executive Tony Friedlander. He said he did not know what the outcome of the protest would be with Transport Minister Annette King but he would be "very happy to talk with her".
Auckland
9.15am
Reports from helicopters above Auckland say that the Southern Motorway was worst hit by the truck protest.
Alan McDonald, from the Road Transport Users Forum in a helicopter over the city, said the tail on the Southern Motorway stretched all the way back to Manurewa and Papakura.
Two lanes on the Harbour Bridge are also very slow and the tail starts around Constellation Drive.
Wellington
9.12am
About 200 protesting trucks are now streaming passed Parliament in an extraordinary display.
Tauranga
9.11am
More than 200 trucks have now gone down Cameron Road in Tauranga, filling all four lanes, and are continuing to cross the Harbour Bridge from Tauranga towards Mt Maunganui.
Wellington
9.10am
There's been a paste-up of anti-truck posters around Parliament buildings on trees and lamp posts.
They bear the words: "Let me on, I want a free-ride too"
Parliament's gates have been closed and it looks unlikely the trucks will be allowed onto the forecourt.
Auckland
9.04am
The Symonds St off-ramp on the Southern Motorway is at a standstill with dozens of trucks stationery but blowing their horns.
Auckland
9.02am
Queen St at the lower end is now completely blocked as a fire alarm at the BNZ Tower is answered by fire appliances.
Auckland
8.58am
A Herald reader reports the "clearest run ever" this morning from Mt Albert to Ponsonby via Meola Rd as drivers stay home.
Wellington
8.57am
Wellington Police are urging motorists heading south into the CBD from the Urban Motorway to use the off ramps at Aotea Quay through to The Terrace offramp.
Police say traffic in the CBD is now very busy with trucks in Taranaki Street, Vivian Street and banked up through The Terrace tunnel.
Police urge motorists to take care. The truck convoys - about 184 from Seaview and 100 from the McKays Crossing side of the hill - are travelling in one lane.
Dunedin
8.56am
The attendant at the BP on George Street says that trucks have packed out the Octagon.
Two police cars outside the petrol station are trying to keep traffic moving.
Dunedin
8.55am
A worker at the Hoyts Octagon in Dunedin describes seeing a "heck of a lot of trucks".
The trucks are going round and round the Octagon and through the carriage way, "circling like eagles"
Wellington
8.55am
Our Herald reporter says that the first of the trucks in Wellington have just reached the Beehive.
Auckland
8.51am
Generally most Aucklanders seem to support the trucking protest but at least some found the slow commute frustrating.
One Herald reader has just written to say:
"It took two hours to get to work this morning. I left at my usual time - 6.40 (because the news said the protest would start at 7.30). Well I drive from Papakura to the City each day, by the time I got to where the South Eastern Highway enters the Motorway, it was gridlock!
I support the truckies 100%. Just a bit frustrating being stuck in traffic. I imagine it's frustrating for the truckies with the increase in charges too."
Another Herald reader said:
"What is with blocking all three lanes on the Motorway around the Ellerslie/Greenlane motorway? When did their symbolic protest "convoy" turn into a deliberate block of every car trying to get into town? I think that goes against the spirit of the message they were trying to send."
Hamilton
8.50am
The convoy of trucks in Hamilton has reached the centre of the city without causing much disruption.
Members of the public lined the streets waving and cheering and calling on drivers to sound their horns.
Wellington
8.50am
In Wellington, the trucks are about a quarter hour away from Parliament, travelling at 30km/h. Police say traffic is about a third down on normal so is flowing freely.
Auckland
8.47am
A Herald reader reports from the truck protest.
"I just went up to the corner of Queen and Victoria Streets in Auckland. What an amazing sight! Pedestrians are supporting the truckies and are cheering them as they drive (aka. crawl) along. I even saw some enterprising group hand out coffees and magazines to the drivers.
This is a fantastic display of a NZer's right to protest. Go Truckies!"
Auckland
8.46am
One News is reporting that truck drivers on Auckland's Southern Motorway pulled over to let a car through carrying a pregnant woman in labour to Auckland Hospital.
Auckland
8.45am
The weather in Auckland remains squally but rain is holding off so bus passengers have been amenable about having to walk further to work.
One Herald reader reports:
"Not a problem getting to work this morning. I catch the 966 from Beach Haven to Newmarket and get off in K Rd. The Harbour Bridge and Ponsonby Road was fine, though instead of taking K Rd and Symonds St to Newmarket we were asked if we minded walking from the end of Ponsonby rd and along so that he could divert straight to Newmarket. It's a nice day and not very far so none of us minded."
Wellington
8.44am
A Herald reader in Wellington filed this report:
"From my house at the top of the Ngauranga Gorge in Wellington I can see the first of the trucks heading down. So far, traffic not too bad but bound to change very quickly."
Auckland
8.43am
A Herald reader is on the Auckland Harbour Bridge, which he says is flowing freely. He says the trucks are "still coming in like ants".
Christchurch
8.41am
Christchurch truckies have turned out in numbers three times greater than expected but the protest has so far been incident-free, police say.
Road policing group Acting Senior Sergeant Les McKay said they had initially been told around 200 trucks would be taking part. Today police estimated around 600 trucks were heading along the city's main highways.
- NZPA
Auckland
8.36am
A Herald reader reports seeing a truck completely blocking the Queen St/Mayoral Drive intersection by running a red light.
"He did this right in front of a Police motorbike waiting on Mayoral Drive. The Policeman on his green light, slowly weaved his way around the back of the truck and drove off."
Dunedin
8.35am
A Herald reader in Dunedin reports that all trucks are being blocked from entering George St and police are patrolling every intersection along George St.
Trucks are choking both main arterials through Dunedin.
Traffic going North is backed up from the city Centre, right back to the Southern Motorway.
Trucks are allowed to pass through the Octagon from Stuart St & Princess Sts. Police have provided some escorts for some trucks. Many supporters gathering in the Octagon which is being treated as a turning area for the trucks to go back along Princess St and onto the One Way system.
Invercargill
8.32am
The truck protest in Invercargill is getting underway.
Hamilton
8.31am
Rolly Frost, Transit's GM of operations, says commuters appear to have come into work earlier, the traffic peak has been earlier and the truck drivers have been well behaved.
National webcams all jammed up as people try and have a look at traffic.
Wellington
8.31am
Police say the first of the heavy trucks heading into Wellington from Seaview are now approaching The Terrace tunnel with the tail back at the Ferry Terminal.
Trucks heading in from SH1 are a few minutes away from Ngauranga Gorge stretching back to Churton Park.
General commuter traffic is travelling well. Wellington Police are impressed with the way motorists are responding.
Dunedin
8.28am
Dunedin's north and southbound one-way streets are clogged with up to
100 trucks this morning and traffic has slowed to about 20kmh.
The disruption has come as Otago transport operators take part in
nationwide protests at increases in road user charges.
Police are manning every major intersections and attempting to manage
traffic flow.
The truckers, who left in simultaneous convoys about 7.30am from the
north and south of town, are allowing cars on to the road but commuters
are being forced to travel at a slow pace.
The first trucks are now starting to circle the Octagon.
- Otago Daily Times reporter
Auckland
8.21am
The trucks on Queen Street range from milk tankers to logging trucks. Drivers are honking horns and members of the public are doing the same.
Wellington
8.21am
The horns are also being sounded in Wellington, where a convoy of hundreds of trucks has reached the Terrace tunnel.
Tauranga
8.20am
In Tauranga a convoy of about 50 trucks, most of them big rigs, is now on Cameron Street. Members of the public are waving at the convoy and showing their support.
Wellington
8.15am
Wellington Police say the 75 trucks in the SH1 convoy are now on the Tawa straights with very little commuter traffic behind them.
The 160 trucks from SH2 are now at the Hobson Street overbridge. There is a gap in this convoy and the tail is still well back onto SH2.
Police are liaising with the drivers to ensure the gap is closed.
The CBD is expected to get busy shortly as the convoys get into the inner city Vivian and Taranaki Streets, Jervois and Customhouse Quays, Whitmore Street and Molesworth Street.
Auckland
8.13am
A Herald reader writes:
"I drive from Pakuranga to Grafton via Ellerslie Panmure Highway. Normally I join the motorway at Ellerslie but went up Great South Road instead. No traffic. Don't go on motorways and you should have a great trip into work."
Timaru
8.12am
There are initial reports of traffic problems in Timaru as a pincer movement of trucks - north and south into the city - converges on the CBD.
Tauranga
8.12am
Two convoys - about 10 trucks in each - are now on Tauranga harbour bridge, one from the Tauranga side, the other from the Mt Maunganui side. Commuters are caught up in the convoy.
Local radio reports traffic at a standstill at Katikati near ot one of the meeting points.
Christchurch
8.12am
It took half an hour for all trucks to leave Riccarton racecourse as they headed for the CBD for the protest.
People are enjoying watching the protest - lining sides of roads, clapping, taking pictures, waving.
Rotorua
8.11am
The road in from the Rotorua airport is moving very slowly as the trucks move into the CBD.
Auckland
8.11am
People are stopping their cars on motorway overbridges to get out and have a look at the protests.
On Queen St at the Auckland Town Hall, mayor John Banks has emerged to watch the protests.
Hamilton
8.11am
Bakery workers in Hamilton have been handing out pies to drivers.
Hamilton
8.10am
Herald reporter James Ihaka is on a convoy in Hamilton.
He filed this report:
We've got a massive queue of about 80 trucks heading southbound from Te Rapa into city travelling about 20km/h.
There's widespread support with people on the roads clapping. The support is "overwhelming", road workers have been blasting out music, people have come out onto the streets in their nightwear, waving and asking truck drivers to toot their horns.
Logan Maniapoto, a sheet metal workers told the Herald: "We're absolutely behind these truck drivers, I'm sure most New Zealanders are".
"From what's being proposed it's obvious we're all going to feel the pinch very soon we need truck drivers."
Reports are coming from Cambridge and Morrinsville of trucks bringing traffic to standstill, blocking lanes and driving at 5km/h.
More trucks are descending on the CBD from Te Awamutu with at least 300 trucks expected in the city centre in the next few hours.
Streets are generally quiet, looks like motorists have heeded police warnings and are avoiding the main arterial routes.
Auckland
8.09am
A logging truck is now heading down Queen St - porbably the first logging truck on Auckland's main shopping strip in years.
Auckland
8.08am
In Auckland's Victoria St a motorbike with a sidecar is handing out coffee to truck drivers, says a Herald reader.
Auckland
8.07am
Traffic on Auckland's Southern Motorway has now stopped between Grafton Road and Khyber Pass and is close to stopping between Khyber Pass and Gillies Ave.
Auckland
8.06am
A Herald commuter says they have never had such an easy run today as people must have changed their driving patters. They were driving from Virginia Ave to Blockhouse Bay at around 7.40am.
Wellington
8.05am
Seventy five trucks are on SH1 - the lead ones now at Porirua with the tail reaching back at least 1km.
North bound traffic is flowing well, and the general southbound traffic appears in many places now to be quieter than usual.
Wellington
8.04am
Wellington Police say traffic on the main arterial highways and urban motorway is now flowing with many commuters getting into the city early - or choosing to delay their journey.
Inspector Simon Perry, Wellington Police Emergency Response Manager, thanks commuters for their planning and patience.
Police say 160 trucks are now on the urban motorway south of Ngauranga Gorge interchange although the convoy tail is back to the Petone Bridge.
Hamilton
8.03am
A reader reports that he got from west Hamilton to east hamilton in record time this morning. He says that trucks are not causing a problem for west-east traffic.
Wellington
8.02am
Police say the lead trucks travelling in the convoy protest from Seaview are now just south of the Ngauranga interchange although the tail of the convoy stretches back to Waione Street Petone.
Trucks coming in on SH1 are at Paremata.
The two highways are extremely busy.
Auckland
8.01am
The inside lane heading south on Queen Street outside the Auckland Town Hall is completely blocked by parked trucks and a short while ago an ambulance with lights flashing and siren on was forced to go onto the wrong side of the road.
Protest organiser Chris Carr said: "That is our worst nightmare. We don't want to block those guys."
Auckland
8am
The Auckland harbour Bridge still appears to be flowing - slowly but still moving.
Hamilton
8am
Trucks are coming in from three different areas - Te Rapa, Cambridge and Morrinsville. Trucks are slowing coming down Anglesea street.
People waving to truckies and honking horns
Auckland
7.59am
Three trucks have now taken up position across all lanes of the citybound Southern Motorway at around Highbrook, Otara and east Tamaki to slow traffic down.
Auckland
7.58am
Three truck drivers are now blocking all three lanes of the south-eastern highway bringing traffic to a standstill, reports a Herald reader.
Auckland
7.57am
Truck drivers are now doing laps around the Auckland Town Hall, using a circuit of Karangahape Road, Queen St and Mayoral Drive.
Traffic is flowing slowly but freely.
Auckland
7.56am
Many of the country's webcams for traffic monitoring on government and local body websites appear to have collapsed under the strain of so many people trying to access news.
Auckland readers are reporting that the Transit webcams are now down.
Dunedin
7.55am
Dunedin supporters of the truck protest are reporting that there are far more trucks taking part in the protest than expected. The protest in the city is divided into two - one from the north, the other from the south.
The southern protest convoy is now entering the CBD. There are some toots of support.
Dunedin
7.54am
Dunedin police are out in force. Around 35 extra officers are on duty and will try to divert traffic away from the the protest route.
Wellington
7.50am
Police say the 160 plus trucks in the Seaview convoy are now out onto State Highway 2 heading south from the Petone interchange.
Traffic is still bumper to bumper with lots of motorists trying to beat the early morning rush into the city.
Wellington
7.49am
Police say 60 trucks are heading south along Mana Esplanade on SH1. They will be stopped for lights on Mana Esplanade but police will marshall them through with pointstaff on the Whitford Brown interchange.
Where there are traffic gaps police officers will signal for other motorists to go through.
Once through the interchange the trucks will be travelling in the 'fast' lane to try and keep feeder lanes free for commuters.
Auckland
7.48am
An Auckland commuter texts nzherald.co.nz to say that they have seen a huge convoy of trucks heading down Victoria St. "It's like a fleet of bumble bees".
Wellington
7.47am
Herald video producer Steve Orsbourn in Wellington reports that police are in place outside Parliament awaiting the arrival of trucks there.
Tauranga
7.46am
Traffic is currently flowing freely acros the Tauranga Harbour Bridge where Herald reporter Juliet Rowan says a convoy of trucks is likely to arrive at about 8am.
Auckland
7.45am
On the Birkenhead ferry in Auckland it is standing room only where it is usually only half full, reports nzherald.co.nz's Eveline Jenkin.
Christchurch
7.43am
Traffic is now banking up with a tail of 2-3 kilometres as a pair of trucks move past Hagley Park at a crawl.
Auckland
7.41am
Herald reporter David Eames is with a convoy of 12 trucks from P and I Pascoes in Papakura which is currently on the Southern Motorway at Takanini. He says the drivers are "fired up" for the protest, but reports traffic is still flowing.
Auckland
7.40am
The Northern Motorway into the city is down to a crawl due to the truck protest. The run between Constellation Drive and Onewa Road is especially slow.
The St Mary's Bay section of the motorway is very congested.
Auckland
7.39am
Two garbage dump trucks have joined the trucks protest on Queen St, reports an Auckland commuter.
Wellington
7.38am
One trucker has told nzherald.co.nz that the protest in the capital is "bigger than Ben Hur" as trucks roll into the central city.
Police say most motorists have followed police advice and are trying to keep off the main arterials.
New Plymouth
7.36am
Truck drivers have decided not to bring the centre of New Plymouth to a standstill. Instead today they will reduce their speed by 20km an hour to show their anger at the rise in road user charges.
Auckland
7.35am
Avoid the corner of Queen Street and Karangahape Road. Traffic is now down to a crawl as truck drivers park outside the Town Hall on Queen St.
Wellington
7.31am
Wellington Police say 130 heavy trucks have left Seaview near Petone and another 60 are travelling south towards Pukerua Bay as at 7.20am heading into the capital city.
Police report that State Highway traffic is moving very slowly. Traffic is travelling around 27kph on the Petone Esplanade and 26kph through Pukerua Bay.
Auckland
7.30am
A convoy of trucks, honking their horns, is now rolling through Penrose on the Great South Road.
Nationwide
7.27am
Police are asking motorists to be courteous and let emergency services like ambulances, fire appliances and police cars through the gridlock that is beginning to build around the country.
Wellington
7.26am
Wellington commuters have hit the roads early this morning and already the main arterials into the city are crawling, report the police.
About 60 trucks were at 7.05am assembled at McKays Crossing and another 60 at Seaview ready to leave Petone.
Auckland
7.20am
Newstalk ZB is reporting that some big rigs on Auckland's motorways are travelling at less than 10km an hour.
Auckland
7.19am
The best advice for Aucklanders now is to avoid the motorway system.
The Southern Motorway between Manurewa and Greenlane is barely moving in parts. Elsewhere the best it gets is a crawl.
Auckland
7.18am
Aucklanders are continuing to report trucks on the move into the city.
Nationwide
7.17am
Truck drivers have been asked by the protest organisers to be courteous and well behaved in the face of any anger by frustrated commuters.
Auckland
7.16am
Aucklanders are reporting big rigs driving the Southern Motorway very slowly.
Auckland
7.15am
The Southern Motorway into the city in Auckland is now down to a crawl.
The worst areas are around the Greenlane on and off-ramp and teh Newmarket viaduct.
Auckland
7.10
A gale force warning is in place for parts of the Auckland region so not a wonderful day to be walking to work.
Christchurch
7.02am
Newstalk ZB is reporting that 100 trucks have gathered tyre to tyre at the Riccarton Racecourse in preparation for their drive through the suburbs and into the one-way system of the central city.
A further 80 trucks have gathered at Kaiapoi.
Auckland
7.01am
About 30 trucks are now parked up between Auckland's Karangahape Road and Queen St around the Auckland Town Hall.
Nationwide
7am
Trucks are now beginning to gather at points across the country in anticipation of the 7.30am start of the protest.
Auckland
6.55am
There are now 20 trucks parked at the Town Hall, Queen St, Auckland, though traffic is flowing freely.
Tauranga
6.45am
Traffic on the harbour bridge linking Tauranga and Mt Maunganui is heavier than normal, reports Herald reporter Juliet Rowan.
About 40 trucks have already begun to gather in downtown Tauranga for protests as occasional rain falls in the city.
Auckland
6.27am
Eleven trucks have already gathered around the Town Hall on Queen St, Auckland.
The northbound lanes on Queen St, heading down to the waterfront, are now reduced to one lane as the big rigs have parked outside the Hall.
Auckland
6.25am
It's a squally day in Auckland with heavy rain falling in bursts, making it unpleasant for people walking to work.
Auckland
6.24am
Traffic has begun to build in Auckland early, reports the New Zealand Press Association.
By 5.30am traffic on the three motorways heading into Auckland was well up on normal rates and by 6.20am it had started to build as police and protest organisers urged people to leave home early, take the day or use public transport.
Auckla
