The holiday road toll stands at 17 on Monday morning, following the death of a woman in a car crash near Eketahuna in northern Wairarapa.
Police say the 59-year-old was driving from Masterton to Alfredton on Route 52 when her car drifted off the road into an embankment on Sunday.
The official holiday toll is now four more than for the whole holiday period last year.
The holiday period is from 4pm on 23 December to 6am on 4 January.
