
The commencement of the long holiday weekend has unfortunately been marred by a series of highway incidents, leaving two people dead and at least five others injured.
In the aftermath of three severe collisions on major roads, certain sections of two state highways found temporary closure. However, to alleviate highway users, authorities have since reopened both. Nonetheless, another stretch of highway experienced significant delays.
The traffic snarl in Auckland was due to a vehicular mishap that bottlenecked a southbound lane of State Highway 1 after Greenlane at around 5:15pm. Not long after, at 5:45pm, traffic authorities announced that all lanes had been promptly cleared.
The tragic consequence of another crash emerged at the intersection of State Highway 1 and Shoemaker Road at Waipū in Northland, slightly before 2pm, where sadly, one person lost their life. According to police, four other individuals involved in the incident were hospitalized with varying injuries and conditions, ranging from severe injuries to minor wounds.
The said section of the highway, located about 40 kilometers south of Whangārei, was momentarily closed for investigation by the Serious Crash Unit. The road has now been declared open, albeit with warnings of potential residual delays for motorists traveling through the area.
A second fatality was reported from a collision involving two vehicles on State Highway 3, between Maxwell Station and Pukerimu Roads near Pākaraka, Whanganui, around 1:30pm. This incident claimed the life of one person, while another sustained severe injuries necessitating immediate hospital treatment.
By 6:30pm, State Highway 3 was functional again with traffic returning to normal.
Another unfortunate incident unfolded on State Highway 1, near Taihape, where people sustain serious injuries due to a tragedy that occurred a little before 3:40pm. The highway, initially closed about 5km south of Taihape, has reopened. However, holiday travelers are alerted to anticipate a slow drive through this area.
News of these tragic incidents comes on the eve of a much-anticipated long weekend. Residents, eager to enjoy the last three-day break before Christmas, must now adapt their plans to accommodate the inclement weather that is forecast for the north of the country.
The start of the surf lifesaving patrols for the year is slated for this weekend. However, the beaches of Auckland are mostly deemed unsafe for swimmers due to the unfortunate sewer collapse last month, leading to a 13m sinkhole that discharged over eight million litres of wastewater into Waitematā Harbour every day. Even now, over a month later, 20 beaches have restrictions on swimming.
Amidst this challenging backdrop, the Labour Holiday Weekend—which marks the significant victory of an eight-hour working day achieved by New Zealand workers in 1840—is kicking off across the country. Despite the tragic news and inclement weather, we hope that these challenges will only strengthen the resolve of Kiwis to come together and commemorate this historic achievement.