Holiday congestion into Auckland and Wellington 

Source: ONE NewsTraffic

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Holidaymakers on their way back to Auckland from the north after the long Labour Weekend break are experiencing a grindingly slow run.

Traffic is backed up for 19 kilometres heading into Wellsford.

It is also slow going northbound south of Auckland on State Highway Two between Maramarua and Bombay.

On Friday, the queue of slow-moving traffic was 7km long, as motorists made the great escape north.

Motorists were advised to get past traditional Auckland holiday congestion areas by using SH16 as an alternative route to Wellsford and further north.

Traffic north of Wellington is building.

A pig hunt in Upper Hutt backed up traffic for blocks on Monday afternoon as curious motorists returning from holidays slowed down to look at the bagged animals.

The dozens of kills, laid out in the car park of the Rimutaka Tavern for judging, caught the eye of drivers returning from their holidays, causing traffic delays on State Highway 2.

Hunters bagged 42 pigs, seven deer, 15 goats, and "a stack of possums, hares and rabbits" from the hills around Upper Hutt, hunt organiser Gerry Veneberg says.

The police are calling for returning holidaymakers to be cautious.

"We're urging drivers to take care. Heavy traffic flow is predicted, so motorists should watch their speed and following distances," says Sergeant Steve Perris of Orewa Police.

"Bad weather and heavy rain is also predicted, so allow extra time for your journey."

Motorists would be kept up to date by electronic roadside messages.

Five people have died on the roads so far this weekend.

Get the latest traffic information on the TVNZ Travel Watch page.