29 Jan 2026

Serious crash closes State Highway 7 near Hanmer

3:37 pm on 29 January 2026
A police car seen behind a cordon as officers attend an incident.

Photo: RNZ

A key South Island highway is expected to remain closed for some time after a fatal crash.

The crash between a motorbike and a car happened on State Highway 7, between Hanmer Springs and Leslie Hills Roads, at about midday on Thursday.

The motorcyclist died at the scene.

The road is closed near the turn-off to Hanmer, so people can still head west from there, and north of Culverden.

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