One person has died and three others are seriously injured after a crash on State Highway 3 in Waitomo this morning.
Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Emergency services were at the scene of the crash which happened at 6.15am near the intersection of Mangakowhai Road at Piopio.
Earlier police said three people were seriously injured, since then one person has died.
Police said the road was blocked and diversions were in place. The road had reopened by about 2pm and police were thanking motorists for their patience.
The Serious Crash Unit is examining the scene.
The crash brings the number of deaths on the road during the official holiday period to three, after one person died in a crash on State Highway 3 near Whanganui on Saturday, and a pedestrian was hit by a car in Blenheim on Friday evening.
The official holiday period, which began on Christmas Eve at 4pm, ends on 3 January. Another 10 people died on the roads between 20 December and when it began.
The estimated number of deaths on the roads this year now stands at 351, which is down from 374 this time last year, but does not include any deaths yet to come from crashes that have already happened.