Roads have been closed after accidents in the Waikato and near Queenstown. Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown
Two people have died and a number of others are seriously injured after a raft of crashes across the motu on Thursday.
The fatal incidents come in the lead-up to Christmas, as more New Zealanders and visitors take to the roads over the summer holidays.
Last year, 21 people died on New Zealand roads over the Christmas-New Year holiday period.
NZ Police director of road policing Superintendent Steve Greally said there was no excuse for any driver to be endangering their lives and those of others with unsafe behaviours.
"Our people will be visible right throughout Aotearoa. Our stance on safety remains straightforward."
Drivers needed to know that if they were detected speeding or driving impaired by alcohol or drugs, they would be ticketed, he said.
"The best way to avoid being ticketed is not to speed, not to drive drunk or under the influence of drugs. It's that simple."
Since 1 July, police had conducted more than two million breath tests nationally, so this should be a motivating factor for all motorists to drive safely, Greally said.
NZ Transport Agency urged drivers to use its Journey Planner on the day of travel, as it provided real-time updates on road works and other hazards on the roading network.
Greta Valley, Canterbury
Emergency services were called to the scene of a serious two-vehicle crash on State Highway 1, Greta Valley, just south of the Hurunui River bridge.
It was reported about 7.15pm.
The road was closed while emergency services worked at the scene and drivers had been asked to avoid the area, if possible.
Kingston, Queenstown Lakes
One person died and several were injured after a crash involving a tourist bus and two cars on State Highway 6 between Queenstown and Kingston.
Police said a person from one of the cars died at the scene and at least two others were reported to have critical injuries.
At least two people from the bus were reported to have serious injuries and a number of other people had moderate injuries, police said.
Firth of Thames, Waikato
One person died after a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 25 near the Firth of Thames in Orongo on Thursday morning.
Police said the person died at the scene and two others were seriously injured.
Waioeka Gorge, Bay of Plenty
A serious crash in the Waioeka Gorge area blocked State Highway 2 in both directions on Thursday afternoon.
Emergency services attended a two-vehicle crash on SH2 between Ōpōtiki and Gisborne.
A police spokesperson said initial reports indicated there may be occupants with serious injuries.
Karapiro, Waikato
Meanwhile, a two-vehicle crash in Waikato involving a truck and a car was reported to police just after 11.10am.
The crash near Hickey Road, south of Cambridge, blocked northbound lanes of SH1, delaying traffic.
Tawa, Wellington
A single vehicle crash on SH1 north of Wellington blocked one of the two southbound lanes on Thursday afternoon, backing up traffic for about 3km.
Emergency services were called to the crash near Tawa, just before the Takapu Road turnoff, about 1.45pm.
A Wellington Free Ambulance spokesperson said no one was injured.
At the time, NZTA / Waka Kotahi reported congestion between Tawa and near Porirua where SH1 becomes Transmission Gully.
Karaka, Auckland
Police said one person had died following a serious crash in Karaka.
The crash on Karaka Road involved three vehicles and occurred about 5.20pm.
Four people were taken to hospital with injured, and one person died.
Māngere East, Auckland
Seven people were injured in a crash in the South Auckland suburb of Māngere East about 10pm Thursday.
One of the seven had serious injuries, while another had moderate injuries.
The other five people had minor injuries.
Two people were taken to Middlemore Hospital by ambulance.
Ngongotaha and Stratford crash victims named
Police also named two people who died in separate crashes on Saturday.
They said 17-year-old Asya Leslie James, from Rotorua, died in a crash on SH5, Ngongotaha on 14 December.
Jack William Pellett-Kaye, 22, from Stratford, died after a crash on Mountain Road on the same day.
Inquiries were continuing into both crashes, police said.
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