Trucks, utes and even dogs descended on city centres around the country today, as farmers took part in a huge protest.
The Howl of a Protest event, organised by Groundswell New Zealand, has seen thousands of farm vehicles rumbling through cities in protest against what farmers say is increasing interference from the Government, unworkable regulations and unjustified costs.
The protests took place in 55 cities starting from Kaitaia to Southland.
Auckland
Hundreds of farmers hit Auckland CBD after taking to the Southern Motorway in tractors, heavy farm equipment and utes to participate in the protest.
The area around Drury and Ramarama was gridlocked at 9.30am as the convoy made their way to the motorway.
Auckland motorists travelling on the Southern motorway were told to expect delays as scores of tractors and utes travel towards the city centre this morning.
The New Zealand Transport Agency warned motorists heading into the city on the Southern Motorway to consider using alternate motorways and avoid the protest.
It said traffic was heavy between Drury and Manukau as slow vehicles ventured north on the Southern Motorway. Motorists should consider detouring via SH20, SH16, or be prepared for delays.
One video clip shared on Facebook shows large farm vehicles lining a main road in Franklin. The man who captured the footage called it a great turnout.
One huge tractor carried a big sign at the back, reading: "No farmers, no food."
Several tractors have the New Zealand flag flying from them.
Another video showed a long line of tractors snaking down the northbound slow lane.
"We want to remind motorists to keep a safe following distance between vehicles and to be patient and considerate of others on the road,"police said.
Police were at every on-ramp from Sylvia Park to the Wellesley St exit guiding traffic.
The convoy then made its way down Auckland's Queen Street.
Northland
More than 200 vechiles - mostly utes but also trucks and contractors vans - were at the Kerikeri protest as well as 25 tractors, causing traffic gridlock.
More tractors and utes streamed into Kerikeri Sports Complex.
The first fleet of utes returned from their circuit of the town.
"We're a group of people who don't usually do this sort of stuff. You don't usually see farmers standing up to something unless it really is a problem."
Tractors then left Barge park and travelled to Whangarei town.
Northland Federated farmers president Colin Hannah said, "the mood in Northland has changed over the last few months and will not bode well with the current government. I am here to show my support to the farmers.
"There is an avalanche of regulations coming our way, targeting the farmers and that will affect the farmers, financially and mentally. All this will just increased the food cost and farmers will bear the blame for that too."
Dairy farmer Daryl Barge, from Pipiwai, has spent 41-years of his life farming. He said, like everyone else here, he's fed up with being told what to do in a setting where farmers are silenced.
"There is a long list of things that the Government has done to rural New Zealand. We've had enough."
Barge said the Government had made rural New Zealanders livelihood "very, very difficult". "The mental stress of being told constantly that you're polluters, that you are bad for the country…I really feel for the younger generation of farmers. It's pretty tough."
Barge said even though his children loved the farm, none of them wanted to pursue it as a calling.
"I'm glad they don't, I wouldn't want to see them go through this." He said farmers had been let down by mainstream media, whose voices are not accurately or fairly voiced.
"We don't feel our side of the story is ever heard."
Barge hoped media coverage of today's protest would be a fresh start.
Joan Kairuz who was present at the protest said "we own a plumbing business and we need a ute. You do not expect us to carry sewage on the back of our EV utes. That is just not practical."
There was continuous tooting of horns from traffic on State Highway 2 south of Katikati for protestors gathered south of the township.
Tauranga's Ingrid Raath said she was taking part in the Katikati demonstration because what affected farmers also affected the wider community and it was important to listen to their concerns.
"I'm fully in support if the farmers because they supply food to not just themselves but to all of us."
Supporters stood on the side of the highway cheering and holding signs.
Rotorua
Tractors are travelling along State Highway 5 into Rotorua
Whanganui
More than 500 people were at the protest in Whanganui, which saw a convoy of more than 150 utes, tractors and heavy vehicles circle the city.
Hundreds of Hawke's Bay farmers have rolled into Hastings for a Howl of a Protest.
Traffic was at noon building on State Highway 51 kilometres back to Pakipaki as the Groundswell NZ protesters congregated near the Hastings racecourse.
Two hours beforehand, vehicles were already lining up on Hastings' Railway Rd. They were expected to convoy through Hastings via Omahu Rd and the Hawke's Bay Expressway about 12.30pm, before parking up at the Showgrounds Hawke's Bay Tomoana.
Signs including 'Black Utes Matter' and 'Bureacracy is the art of making the possible impossible' could be seen on the backs of vehicles.
A reporter at the scene said the Railway Rd meet-up already had hundreds of vehicles parked up as at noon.
Levin
A large convoy of tractors, farm machinery and utes are making their way down Oxford Street, Levin during the Howl of a Protest through the Horowhenua town.
Those protesting in Canterbury will make their way from the Canterbury Showgrounds soon and weave their way to the city centre.
One farmer said he's tired of burying too many mates who couldn't handle it anymore.
The Herald understands a protest planned for Christchurch has been moved out of Cathedral Square as organisers were expecting a large number of participants.
Some protesters have been diverted to other Canterbury towns.
Canterbury farmer Bob Paton said for too long the community and the country haven't valued and appreciated what the farmers are doing.
Coordinator for Christchurch Aaron Stark says he is blown by the amount of people who have turned up for the protest.
"We had people turning up at 9.30am. I'm blown away with the amount of urban people, the amount of tradies, electricians you name it.
Stark said he expects about 200 Utes to take part and there could be up to 500 tractors.
"We're doing this because of unworkable regulations, we've got to a point now where the whole industry is hurting."
Over 800 protestors are heading to Ashburton domain from the South side of the town. Hokonui FM's Phill Hooper said there is the same amount if not more coming from the north side.
Otago
More than 100 tractors and countless utes are making their way from Mosgiel to Dunedin's Octagon.
Doug Kamo told the Herald there has been a huge response to the protest.