Police are pleading with drivers to take care over the holiday period after five people died in crashes and a pedestrian remains in critical condition after a hit and run.
A 26-year-old man has been charged over the hit-and-run in the south Auckland suburb of Ōtara last night.
The pedestrian was found in a critical condition and tonight remains in hospital.
Police have located the vehicle and today charged a 26-year-old with failing to stop and wounding with intent. The accused is due to appear at the Manukau District Court tomorrow.
Police are pleading with drivers to take extra care over this New Year's because there have been 28 fatal crashes in December alone with five over the official holiday period.
One person died after fleeing a police checkpoint in Whangārei. Another three people were killed in separate crashes on Saturday while a motorist died at the scene of a crash in Ashburton this morning.
AA chief policy officer Simon Douglas said it's not a great start to the holidays.
"The holiday road period only started last Friday and here we are at Christmas Day, only a few days in, and we're already sitting at five," Douglas said.
Police warned the public, officers will be "highly visible" throughout the holidays and have a "no-nonsense approach".
It's not just crashes, crime isn't stopping because of the holidays with workers called on Christmas morning to clean up the nonsense of vandals, who smashed the entrance of a Mount Eden clinic.
"There are changes in people's routines, there's not as many people around to view crime occurring, so it gives greater opportunity for property crime," sociologist and gang expert Jarrod Gilbert said.
Dr Gilbert has written about how as behaviours change in the summer months.
"We talk a lot about drugs in this country, but without question, alcohol is the one that causes the most harm and certainly leads to increases in crime rates."
Alcohol was also identified by the AA as a perennial problem.
"Around 50 percent of crashes on the road are people deliberately disobeying the rules and driving drunk or without their seatbelt or exceeding the speed limit," Douglas said.
