Police earlier issued a warning as protesters took part in a day of action organised by Destiny Church founder Brian Tamaki and the Freedom and Rights Coalition to cause "major public interruption and disruption".
By noon, some in Auckland had managed to do just that and police had to put in place a traffic block near the Southern Motorway's on-ramp at Newton Gully.
Other protests were planned for Wellington and Christchurch.
In Auckland, several hundred people began gathering in the Domain from about 9am, some holding New Zealand flags.
A convoy of more than 30 motorbikes arrived at the Domain around 9.45am. Members rode on the wrong side of the road once inside the public park - meaning any other traffic going the other way would have to wait for them - before parking up near the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
In West Auckland, vehicles also gathered earlier at Parr's Park for a "Slow Roll" drive to the Domain.
With traffic stopped, hundreds of protesters walked up a ramp and onto the motorway affecting southbound traffic, Shortly after, protesters managed to get onto the northbound lanes near Market Rd, forcing Waka Kotahi/ NZ Transport Agency and police to close those lanes.
Lanes in both directions have since reopened early this afternoon but motorists face lengthy delays, with the Automobile Association calling for calm amongst frustrated drivers.
In Wellington, just over 100 people met at the gathering point in Civic Square. It included motorcyclists revving their engines, while others were blasting 80s pop.
After leaving the square, they initially blocked Victoria St, with motorists beeping their horns in frustration. Traffic was gridlocked in both directions.
Later protesters blocked lanes in Wakefield St and Jervois Quay.
Govt damaging country, say protest organisers
An earlier press release from the Tamaki-led coalition, stated "massive" public marches would take place in main centres in response to what the coalition deemed was Government-inflicted damage on the country.
"It is our intention to cause a major public interruption and disruption. We will likely cause motorway mayhem in Auckland, and chaos in these major cities as we raise public awareness to the damage this Government is causing across this country."
Smaller crowds were at the Wellington and Christchurch protests.
Police in Wellington warned of potential traffic issues in the central city before and after the march.
"Organisers have let police know a march is planned along the Quays between Frank Kitts Park and the Railway Station from 11am," a spokesperson said.
"Police will be present to ensure the safety of all. Motorists should avoid the area, if possible."
A police spokesperson confirmed yesterday that any protest activity in those cities would be monitored over the weekend.
They also recognised the "public's right to protest peacefully and lawfully".
The coalition had organised and supported many protests across the country in the past 18 months, including the 23-day occupation of Parliament grounds earlier this year.
Reasons for the protest cited in the press release included but were not limited to the high cost of living, understaffing of hospitals, GPs being overworked, education problems, three-waters legislation, a mental health crisis and under-resourced first responders.
In January this year, Tamaki was arrested for breaching bail conditions and spent nine days inside Auckland's Mt Eden Corrections Facility.
Prior to that, he had been charged three times over his attendance at Auckland Domain lockdown protests.
The coalition's press release cited New Zealand had been "voted the 2nd worst place to live in" beaten only by Kuwait in the Middle East.
The remark was seemingly a reference to a survey of immigrants who considered New Zealand the second-worst country to move to out of 52 of the world's near-200 countries.
The survey was conducted by expatriate networking organisation InterNations and was informed by responses from nearly 12,000 people of 177 different nationalities, living in 181 countries.
