Two people have died in a single-vehicle crash in the Far North overnight, taking the road toll to 20 as the holiday period came to an end on Wednesday morning.
In a statement, a police spokesperson said the vehicle collided with a tree on Kaitaia-Awaroa Road, south of Kaitaia, shortly before midnight. Two occupants died at the scene and a third has been taken to hospital in a critical condition.
The circumstances of the crash remain under investigation, the spokesperson said.
The crash has pushed the road toll to 20, the highest in four years, with the holiday period ending at 6am.
