(file image) Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
Two people died in separate crashes just hours before the official long weekend holiday road toll began.
One person was killed in a two-vehicle collision between Maxwell Station Road and Pukerimu Road, near Pākaraka in Whanganui, about 1.30pm.
Another person was taken to hospital in a serious condition.
One person died in a crash involving several vehicles at the intersection of State Highway 1 and Shoemaker Road, at Waipu in Northland, about 1.55pm.
The official road toll period began at 4pm on Friday.
Five people died during the Labour Day weekend last year.