Three people have died in the space of five hours in separate crashes on North Island roads overnight.
It has prompted police to issue a reminder to people to slow down and drive to the conditions as they don't want to be delivering "devastating news" to their loved ones.
The first crash occurred just before 7pm on Wednesday night when a motorcyclist crashed on Hamurana Road in Rotorua.
"Despite medical assistance being provided the rider has died at the scene," a police spokesperson said.
Almost two hours later, police were called to State Highway 5, Tapapa in the Bay of Plenty after two vehicles collided.
A police spokesperson confirmed one person died at the scene and two others were taken to hospital with injuries.
The third crash occurred at 11:40pm when a vehicle went into a creek on Port Road in Whangamatā.
"Unfortunately the driver was located deceased," the spokesperson said.
All the roads involved in the crashes have reopened to the public, police confirmed.
"It is too early to speculate on the cause of these crashes, but it is a timely reminder to everyone to take care when driving," the spokesperson said.
Police issued a reminder to drivers to remember to follow the road rules, drive to the conditions and always focus on the road.
"Police do not want to have to knock on a person’s door to tell them the devastating news that their loved one has been seriously injured or killed in a road crash. Sadly, our officers have had to do that three times overnight," the spokesperson said.
"There are now three families who will be dealing with the devastating consequences of what happens when things go wrong on our roads and our thoughts and sympathies are with them at this difficult time."
