Motorists heading out of the city are being urged to be patient following a four-car crash on Auckland's northern motorway.

Massive earthworks sprawling across parkland through two Auckland suburbs are a prelude to the country's largest transport project - the 4.8km Waterview connection.

Holidaymakers driving home have been urged by police to "take it easy'' on the roads and plan the return journey to ensure they get home in one piece.

A 15-year-old drink driver was on a 24-hour curfew when he allegedly stole his friend's father's car and was spotted driving with no headlights on Saturday.

Editorial: The reactions of Len Brown and Gerry Brownlee when the City Centre Future Access Study was released made it seem barely conceivable they had read the same report.

A new motorway is being constructed near Hamilton, coming into the city from the north; many kilometres are near completion.

Not even a $2.86 billion rail tunnel will stop morning traffic in downtown Auckland from grinding down to half its current speed within a decade, a study says.

A tourist route where an American honeymooner died has been identified as one of the country's riskiest roads to drive on.

A police traffic officer has been charged with careless driving after he crashed his patrol car into a tree.

Former Cabinet minister Dover Samuels has defended a traffic ticket for driving in a bus lane, claiming country drivers don't know city rules.

Letters threatening stern action for non-payment are being sent out by debt-collecting agency Baycorp.

Cows caused traffic chaos on a major motorway south of Auckland after a cattle truck overturned this afternoon.

A man who left his four-year-old child home alone then tried to evade a police checkpoint is one of 17 facing drink-driving charges after a Bay of Plenty crackdown.