Traffic congestion up nationwide

New Zealand now has a congestion level higher than Australia according to GPS manufacturer TomTom, who have released their 2017 traffic index. Auckland is the most congested city in New Zealand, with traffic adding an extra 45 minutes to a typical hour-long journey in peak hours. Over one year, this amounts to 172 hours, or the equivalent of four working weeks. This has doubled since 2014, when Auckland congestion added an extra 95 hours, or 12 working days, on the roads. The worst morning congestion is found in Wellington, where drivers face an extra 72 per cent travel time in peak morning period. Overall, congestion has grown four per cent. Over a year, congestion amounts to 166 hours in traffic, or an equivalent 20 working days. In Christchurch, congestion has increased the least, up three per cent. Drivers can expect an extra 29 minutes on the road per day, a combined 112 hours or 2.8 working weeks over a year. Congestion also rose in Hamilton, where drivers are spending an extra 21 minutes a day commuting, which equates to 103 hours of travel time per year, or 12 working days. The largest traffic congestion increase in the country was found in Dunedin, up six per cent on last year to 28 per cent. Drivers are spending the equivalent of 81 hours or 10 working days each year stuck in traffic. For the first time, TomTom has included Tauranga in the traffic index, which was found to be the least congested of the six New Zealand cities studied. Drivers can expect an extra 23 minutes of travel time on their daily commute, which adds up to 87 hours a year. Global traffic congestion has increased 23 per cent since 2008, with Oceania recording the highest increase in the world, up 36 per cent.