We all yearn to head to our favourite holiday spot for some time away over Labour Weekend, which is why many make a beeline to the Matakana area. Although this is a great thing for local businesses and allows more people to experience our wonderful region, it also means that there will be more traffic, and lines at your favourite coffee shop may be a bit longer. 

NZTA has said that the peak traffic hours will be on Friday afternoon as rush hour commuter traffic becomes more congested with the influx of holiday makers on the roads, and also Monday morning as everyone returns home. 

If you are planning on visiting the area or heading elsewhere for the weekend, consider leaving earlier or later to avoid this congestion. Traffic is subject to change depending on the weather and if any accidents occur, so check your route before you leave to ensure that you know what to expect.

The road between Puhoi to Warkworth is notorious for being a dangerous stretch of road, and holiday traffic can make it more so. Labour Weekend 2018 saw 130 crashes resulting in injury, and five deaths across the country. Stay vigilant and safe on the roads.

The weather this year is forecast to be cloudy with isolated showers.