Important information for drivers.

King’s Birthday weekend

• More traffic is expected on the roads over the King’s Birthday holiday weekend. Friday and Monday will see traffic volumes peak, and drivers should be prepared for travel delays heading in and out of main urban centres. NZTA/Waka Kotahi has a holiday journey planner that shows when and where holiday congestion is expected. Drivers are urged to use it so that they can plan their travel. Drivers must also take extra care on the roads. More traffic means an increased risk of crashes. Take especial care when passing, share the roads safely, make sure everyone’s seatbelt is fastened, and never drive while tired.
  • Top tips for safe and stress-free King’s Birthday weekend trips(external link)
  • King’s Birthday - Holiday Journey Planner(external link)
  • Driving in the holidays(external link)
• The Metservice has issued a Strong Wind Watch for Wairarapa for Saturday, with westerly to north-westerly winds forecast to approach severe gale in exposed places. Drivers, particularly those of high-sided vehicles (trucks, vans, camper vans), and motorcyclists should take extra care on exposed routes like State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill.
  • Metservice Weather Warnings(external link)
• Metlink has rail closures planned in Wellington over the holiday weekend as well. Buses will replace all trains from Saturday, 31 May, to Monday, 2 June
  • King’s Birthday rail closure – passengers encouraged to plan ahead and expect delays(external link)

Lower North Island

• Rebuild and safety barrier works are ongoing on State Highway 2 Totara Park in Upper Hutt, a road rebuild continue State Highway 2 in Masterton, and recent wet weather means one more night will be needed  next week to complete repairs on the Pukehou Overbridge on State Highway 1
  • UPDATE: State Highway 2 Totara Park works
  • UPDATE: State Highway 2 Masterton road rebuild works
  • UPDATE: Nighttime works State Highway 1 Pukehou Overbridge repairs - Ōtaki to Manakau

Top of the South Island

• Resilience works continue at Howard Narrows on State Highway 63 and also on State Highway 6 Whangamoa. Stop/go traffic management remains in place on State Highway 1 Weld Pass for drainage works
  • Rock scaling works - State Highway 63 Howard Narrows(external link)
  • Improving resilience on State Highway 6 Whangamoa Saddle(external link)
  • Drainage works - State Highway 1 Weld Pass

• Pavement repairs continue this week on State Highway 60 in Motueka. Work is underway Tuesday to Thursday nights, between 7pm and 6am. Stop/Go traffic management will be in place between Fearon and Wallace Streets. Minor delays can be expected.

The details below outline the main planned state highway roadworks occurring in the greater Wellington region and the top of the South Island over the coming week.

Weekly roadworks list as at 30 May 2025 [PDF, 297 KB]

Note: Road works are dependent on weather and other factors. Bad weather can see work postponed to the next suitable night in the works programme.

Further details about regional state highway conditions and roadworks are also published on our website:

• Wellington roadworks
• Wellington Transport Alliance(external link)
• Nelson/Marlborough traffic updates
• Tasman traffic updates