Motorists heading away for Labour Weekend should expect delays

There's heavy congestion on Auckland's Southern Motorway southbound between Newmarket and Takanini, and northbound between Princes St and Khyber Pass road.

There are also patches of heavy traffic in the northbound lanes on the Northern Motorway.

In Wellington, northbound traffic is congested between Peka Peka and Otaki, with queues back to Waikanae.

In Christchuch on State Highway one to Ashburton, southbound traffic is expected.

The Labour Weekend holiday road toll period has begun, and if detected by a speed camera exceeding more than four kilometres an hour, drivers will be ticketed.