Data from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency shows a higher number of traffic on the roads compared to the March 2020 lockdown. Auckland, unsurprisingly, was 57 per cent busier than the 2020 lockdown on August 18; that then dropped to 26 per cent more traffic before settling on 32 per cent by Tuesday. 2020 LOCKDOWN VS 2021 LOCKDOWNChristchurchAverage traffic during March/April 2020 - 3,807August 18 - 2,960 or 22% decreaseAugust 24 - 3,575 or 6% decreaseAucklandAverage traffic during March/April 2020 - 24,619August 18 - 38,738 or 57% increaseAugust 24 - 32,394 or 32% increaseWellingtonAverage traffic during March/April 2020 - 9,849August 18 - 14,359 or 46% increaseAugust 23 - 10,617 or 8% increaseHamiltonAverage traffic during March/April 2020 - 7,810August 18 - 10,846 or 39% increaseAugust 24 - 10,730 or 37% increaseDunedinAverage traffic during March/April 2020 - 2,963August 18 - 4,423 or 49% increaseAugust 24 - 3,997 or 35% increaseTRAFFIC DROPComparing week before and first week of August 2021 lockdown:• Auckland 73.2% drop in light traffic, 67.3% heavy traffic drop• Wellington 78.1% drop in light traffic, 65.2% heavy traffic drop• Hamilton 66.2% drop in light traffic, 47.1% drop for heavy traffic. • Christchurch 67.5% drop in light traffic, 60.9% drop for heavy traffic. • Dunedin 74.3% drop in light traffic and a 69.3% drop for heavy traffic.

Source: Otago Daily Times August 29, 2021 23:03 UTC