Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
Two people have now died on the roads today, as travellers jam highways in the run-up to Christmas Day.
There have been three major crashes in the past few hours.
One person was killed in an accident around 1.30pm on State Highway 32, on Whakamaru Road in the Bay of Plenty.
A second person is now confirmed to have died after a crash between a car and motorbike about 12.45pm on State Highway 25 at the 25A turnoff on the Coromandel Peninsula between Hikuai and Whangamata.
Emergency services were attending a serious single-vehicle crash in Northland on Saturday evening.
Police went to Te Ahu Ahu Road just after 8pm and motorists are asked to avoid the road.
The official 2023 Christmas New Year holiday period began at 4pm on Friday and ends 6am on Wednesday, 3 January 2024.
Last year, 21 people died on the roads over the Christmas-New Year holiday period.
Updates on any road closures are available on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website.