Congestion continues as people make their way out of Auckland ahead of New Year's Eve.

Traffic has been crawling on the Auckland Motorway - spurred by a combination of minor crashes and holidaymakers heading in and out of the city.

Holidaymakers are queuing on routes out of Auckland today as the busy season on the roads continues.

Holidaymakers looking to escape Auckland might want to hit the road sooner than later, transport authorities say.

State Highway 1 is down to one lane between Taupo and Turangi after a serious crash this afternoon, which initially closed the road completely.

People leaving Auckland for Christmas face the usual commuter delays this afternoon, while those heading out of Wellington should allow extra time.

A snapshot of highway routes around the country where traffic congestion may be heavy over the festive season.

A woman died after her car and a truck collided near Feilding.

Traffic mayhem ensued when the pod of about six or seven orcas were spotted between Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki, north of Wellington this afternoon.

Scaffolders used road cones to block off a lane of a busy Auckland arterial route at the height of this morning's commuter rush.

Significant lane restrictions would also have an impact on drivers using the Te Atatu interchange

A multi-car prang on Auckland southern motorway is causing long delays for weekend commuters.

Auckland commuters using the south western motorway face potential delays this morning.

Authorities are urging Halloween travellers to avoid the Basin Reserve and Mount Victoria Tunnel this evening.

Sunshine awaits most of New Zealand tomorrow, while Auckland battles with traffic today.

The crash on the Southern Motorway between the Ellerslie-Penrose and Mount Wellington interchanges has been cleared and all lanes are now open.

If you thought the traffic was bad in New Zealand then spare a thought for the poor motorists who were left stranded in this 50-lane traffic jam.

A crash involving four or five cars has blocked multiple lanes on a motorway in Auckland this evening.

Drivers have been warned to avoid State Highway One near Lake Karapiro as emergency services keep battling to clean up a chemical spill.

One person was trapped in a car after the vehicle rolled on State Highway 1 in Auckland this morning.

A man has described how a group of truckies helped smash a window, freeing a trapped truck driver from a cab in a fast-moving creek.

A few showers are expected to remain in the Gisborne area today, as residents begin to clean up the damage caused by yesterday's floods.

A truck driver who escaped after crashing into a cold, fast-flowing creek is "a lucky boy", firefighters say.

Rising rivers have caused State Highway 2 to be closed overnight between Napier and Wairoa.

A 4-wheel-drive came off the road at an intersection - plunging down into the backyard of a home, narrowly missing the kitchen window.

A serious collision between a car and truck has forced State Highway 1 to close through Te Horo, south of Otaki.

Motorists are being advised to expect delays after an earlier crash on the Northwestern Motorway.

Auckland Transport has done a 180 on more than two dozen fines issued in a 2am parking blitz.

A car has hit a pole in a crash that closed a part of State Highway 1B near Gordonton.

He was 44-year-old Pradeep Edirisinghe of Sri Lanka.