Traffic is flowing smoothly in and out of the country's main centres as holidaymakers return home from their long Anzac weekend.

Hundreds of invited guests have gathered at Britomart this morning to board the first electric train from the city.

Thousands of train enthusiasts will ride into Auckland transport history when passenger-carrying electric trains roll along the city's rail network for the first time.

New electric trains could become a quiet, fast-moving hazard for the unwary when they start running in Auckland on Monday.

Security is being boosted for the school holidays on Auckland's trains, amid concern about more attacks on rail staff.

Acoustic engineers have been trying to soften the air-conditioning noise on Auckland's new electric trains with a week to go before they are rolled out for commuter use.

Police hope to keep this year's Easter road toll at three as they crack down on speeding, distracted and alcohol-fuelled drivers as holiday makers head home.

It is conceivable that one day, the Labour Party's plan to ban trucks from the fast lane on three- and four-lane motorways will be implemented.

A woman had to be saved from raging floodwaters in north Otago as a wild Easter storm ripped through the South Island, blowing roofs off houses and demolishing buildings.

Labour's truck ban could cover 0.7 per cent or 7 per cent of New Zealand's motorways - depending on who you listen to.

As many Kiwis prepare to head away for an Easter break, research shows motorists support the lower speed tolerance during holiday weekends - but are less accepting of it at other times.

Rates relief has been suggested as one way of compensating central Auckland businesses for disruption from construction of a $2.86 billion underground railway.

New Labour Party transport policies have been met with a mix of praise and scepticism.

Labour admits its new transport policies - scrapping trucks from fast lanes and motorhome rego fees - are 'small', while the Transport Minister labelled them a 'joke'.

While paying a small fine at the local library for an overdue book, I started wondering - does the council keep figures on how much money in library fines it gets and, if so, what do they use the money for?

Transport planners were accused yesterday of trying to limit access to an 18.5-kilometre extension of Auckland's Northern Motorway to make it easier to toll drivers.

Trucking companies say they are being forced to import drivers from overseas because of a desperate shortage of Kiwis.

Warkworth's maddening turnoff to eastern beaches will be worsened by a $760 million motorway extension past the town, a retired senior engineer warned a board of inquiry yesterday.

Interislander's replacement ferry, the Stena Alegra, is out of action while surveyors assess damage caused yesterday afternoon to the ship's hull.