9:35 am today

Is 'March Madness' already hitting Auckland commuters?

From Nine To Noon, 9:35 am today

The spike in Auckland traffic congestion is known as March Madness but travel times are already picking up. 

So is traffic already worse than normal or are Aucklanders just dealing with the normal shock of congestion as everyone returns to work and school? 

Matt Lowrie from transport think tank 'Greater Auckland' unpacks it. 

A car fire shut down the SH1 Khyber Pass off-ramp in central Auckland, on Sunday 8 February, 2026.

'March Madness' already has a very February feel. Photo: RNZ/ Calvin Samuel