A motorist has died in a crash between a car and truck on State Highway 1 near Waikanae, north of Wellington.
State Highway 1 will be closed until midday and traffic using the main route north is being warned to expect major delays. Commuter trains into the capital have also been affected after debris from the wreckage was flung on to tracks.
Emergency services were called to the crash near Greenhill Rd just before 6.30am.
Police said the driver of the car had died at the scene and the driver of the truck had minor injuries.
Police advised people to allow extra time for their journey and to check their train service was still operating.
A diversion using Peka Peka and Te Moana Roads was now in place around the crash.
A police spokeswoman said crash debris on the main trunk line had stopped all trains but the shattered fragments have now been moved off the track and trains can go through the area but at a severely reduced speed.
The serious crash unit was now investigating the crash.
