The horror morning on New Zealand's roads continued after a motorcyclist died in a crash, taking Wednesday's road toll to three.
Police said the crash happened shortly after 10:30am and blocked Luggate-Cromwell Road Rd (State Highway 6) at Mount Pisa.
"Sadly, the rider has passed away at the scene," a police spokesperson said.
The highway was closed while the serious crash init investigated and police confirmed no other vehicles were involved.
Police said diversions were in place via SH8A and 8B.
The motorcyclist had come to the attention of officers earlier in the morning because of the manner of riding, police said.
Officers were investigating to locate the rider when the crash was reported.
The crash on SH6 continued a horror morning on New Zealand's roads, where two other people died in separate crashes. The first fatal crash of the morning was at 3:10am on SH33 at Paengaroa in Bay of Plenty.
Police confirmed a person died while another suffered serious injuries.
The next fatal collision happened a few hours later when emergency services were notified of a two-vehicle crash on Ponatahi Rd, near Carterton, at about 8:35am. A person died at the scene and a second was seriously injured.
Police also reported a vehicle rolled on SH1 in south Auckland, which caused "significant delays" for motorists.
Nobody was injured in that crash, police added.
The latest grim figures come as Aotearoa aims for no road deaths under the ambitious Road to Zero campaign.
"It's not just a number, each person that's killed on the road had a family, a life that's been lost and we see all the devastating consequences that their loved ones will be going through," Brake NZ spokesperson Caroline Perry told Newshub.
With the Christmas and New Year road toll set to begin at 4pm on Friday, road safety advocates are urging people to take care on the roads.
"Every time you get in your vehicle just think about the fact that you are driving and it requires 100 percent of your concentration, 100 percent of the time," Perry said
AA road safety spokesman Dylan Thomsen also urged motorists to take things slow.
"No one should still be thinking they can add on a 10km/h buffer to the limit before facing a ticket. Those days are gone - there is a lot less leeway being given to those driving over the speed limit," Thomsen said.
"People tempted to use that buffer to shave off some extra time should instead budget for a slightly longer journey so they can get to their destination safely and without being hit in the pocket.
"Be prepared to take a bit more time on the road this summer. Expect some roadworks delays, don't let your speed creep up and take regular breaks to stay fresh and alert.
"Aim for an enjoyable and safe journey - getting to your destination with less stress will allow you to enjoy your time with friends and family even more."
He also urged motorists to be mindful of their behaviour around those working to improve New Zealand's roads.
"No one needs to get hurt or worse on the roads these holidays - whether that's those travelling on the roads or the people working on them. Motorists should obey the speed limits through work zones and follow the directions of workers controlling the stop/go signs," Thomsen said.
