Ōtaki Main St appears to have taken on a ghostly quiet on what is one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
The new Expressway has been roundly welcomed by motorists keen to make rapid progress up country during the Holiday season but spare a thought for those who relied on passing traffic.
The challenge for Ōtaki will be to be a destination in itself rather than somewhere you pass through, or now more likely drive around.
Ōtaki is a great little town with superb cafes and plenty of great shops, and plenty of parking.