State Highway 1 still closed after separate truck crashes, limiting access to Wellington
Road access to Wellington was temporarily down to a windy, hilly road that heavy vehicles can't use after two crashes blocked State Highways 1 and 2.
- Remutaka Hill road on SH2 was closed shortly before midday Friday after two trucks collided, adding further pressure to the road network at the start of Labour Weekend. The road reopened about 1pm.
- An earlier truck crash about 3.45am near Pukerua Bay on SH1 has been blocking the road in both directions. The Mainfreight truck was carrying hazardous chemicals and paint products. The driver received minor injuries.
Motorists have been warned of major delays, and light vehicles can use the Paekākāriki Hill Rd. The section of road between Paekākāriki and Grays Rd at Mana is closed and Police said it could remain this way until late.
Keep up-to-date with the traffic chaos here.
NZTA regional transport systems manager Mark Owen said: "If people are heading out of town they need to think of an alternative at this stage, and it's certainly going to take a lot longer if they take an alternative route."
Police have asked motorists to avoid the area.
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️
Worst Xmas ever?
There's a a lot of planning that goes into Christmas day and sometimes things just don't go to plan. But it can be a good thing - a family mishap or hilarious memory that you can laugh about in Christmases to come.
Whether you burnt the dinner or were stranded at an airport...
Share your Christmas mishaps below!