The holiday road toll has risen to seven after two people died following a two car crash west of Whangārei this morning.
Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Emergency services were called to the crash on State Highway 14 near Wheki Valley at about 9.40am this morning.
Two people died in the crash and three others received moderate to critical injuries.
The road remains closed and people asked to avoid the area and to expect delays.
Last night, a person died after falling from a moving vehicle in Kawakawa Bay south east of Auckland.
The incident happened just before 7pm on Clevedon-Kawakawa Road.
Police are investigating.
Two people died in a two-car crash at Waihola in South Otago yesterday.
On Friday, a motorcyclist died in Canterbury after colliding with a car and a woman was killed when she was hit by a truck in Hawke's Bay.
With seven people dead on the roads this long weekend and more than a day to go, Police are imploring motorists to drive safely.
Director of the National Road Policing Centre, Superintendent Steve Greally said alcohol and speed were likely factors in a number of the fatal accidents this weekend.
"While our investigators work to understand how these crashes occurred, preliminary information tells us alcohol, speed, no seatbelts, distractions and poor decisions are likely to feature, and the consequences have proved to be devastating," Greally said.
"It's already been a horrific holiday weekend on the country's roads and a number of families have been changed forever."
"Any number of deaths is too many, but we don't want the number of deaths or injuries this weekend to get any higher."
Police are expecting the roads to be very busy with a significant amount of traffic and delays across the country tomorrow as people head home from their long weekends.
"Please keep calm and be patient on the road, and accept that some delays are likely on your journey home," Greally said.
The official holiday period ends at 6am on Tuesday morning.
