An influx of tourists is causing massive traffic problems across the Wakatipu Basin, the mayor of the Queenstown-Lakes District says.
The council was setting up a mayoral taskforce on reducing congestion, Mayor John Glover said.
“Our state highway networks are really struggling to cope at peak times … we are seeing some significant gridlock.
“A drive that probably would have taken 10 minutes at times is taking 90 minutes,” he said.
The gridlock was prompting complaints on social media. Those living in new housing developments were struggling to get on to the state highway as well.
“We actually need some traffic control to wave people through in the right places so that traffic can keep flowing,” Glover said.
“Maybe a bit of human intervention to keep things going at some of these junctions might do the job.”
The council is also asking the community to contribute ideas to help deal with the problem on a short-term basis, he said.