Praneeta Mahajan
Hamilton, March 28, 2024
As Easter weekend approaches, anticipation for travel and leisure surges across New Zealand. However, amidst the excitement, authorities are bracing for a surge in travellers and are doubling down on road safety measures to prevent tragedies on the highways.
Safety first
Superintendent Steve Greally, Director of Road Policing, underscores the critical need for responsible driving behaviour, especially in light of the disappointing road safety statistics earlier this year.
While there has been some improvement in rates of fatalities and serious injuries, Superintendent Greally emphasised that much more can be done to ensure safer roads.
“It is about drivers and road users making simple decisions to keep themselves and others safe or they can expect to be ticketed,” he said.
Heightened Police presence
Police presence will be heightened throughout the country during the Easter weekend, with officers ready to enforce the law rigorously. Superintendent Greally emphasised that this stern approach is necessary to avoid further loss of lives on the roads.
“We urge drivers to consider the safety of others and their own when getting behind the wheel,” Greally adds. “Simple actions like wearing seatbelts, avoiding distractions, and obeying speed limits can make all the difference.”
In a move aimed at easing travel for the long weekend, SH1 Brynderwyn Hills will temporarily reopen, facilitating smoother journeys for travellers heading to or from Northland.
However, this reopening is temporary, with essential cyclone recovery work scheduled to resume after the Easter weekend.
Fabian Marsh, NZ Transport Agency Road Safety Manager, has advised drivers to utilise the Easter Weekend Holiday Journey Planner provided by NZTA Waka Kotahi. This tool offers valuable information on travel times, delays, roadworks, and closures, helping drivers plan their journeys more efficiently and safely.
Travel on everyone’s mind
With travel on the minds of many, airlines are gearing up for a surge in passenger numbers. Air New Zealand alone expects to serve 227,000 customers over the Easter weekend, with Thursday projected to be the busiest day. Domestic destinations such as Queenstown, Wānaka & Central Otago, Nelson-Tasman, and Hawke’s Bay are emerging as favoured destinations for holiday getaways.
Meanwhile, Australian airlines Qantas and Jetstar anticipate flying over 670,000 passengers, with Auckland being a popular choice among travellers.
Wet weather
The long weekend will not just bring travel excitement. It is also expected to bring inclement weather. Much of the North Island is bracing for heavy rain and strong winds, with Auckland already experiencing traffic disruptions due to strong winds on the Harbour Bridge.
NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) forecasts a “moisture-laden” weekend, warning of rain in eastern and northern holiday spots. Strong winds are anticipated, with temperatures dropping significantly overnight. Snowfall has already begun in parts of Otago, signalling a chilly start to the weekend.
MetService forecaster Clare O’Connor cautions that heavy rain and strong winds will hit parts of the North Island on Saturday, with cooler temperatures and southerly winds expected to prevail.
In a social media update, NIWA announced, “There is a chance that a low-pressure system will form near the North Island on Saturday, delivering rounds of rain to northern and eastern parts of the island during the long weekend. This one is worth tracking particularly if you have plans to be in or visit Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, and Wairarapa.”
As travellers gear up for the Easter weekend, authorities stress the importance of responsible driving and staying informed about weather conditions to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday for all.
You can access the Easter Weekend Holiday Journey Planner here.
Praneeta Mahajan is an Indian Newslink reporter based in Hamilton.
