New Zealand has experienced its first road fatality of the new year after a person died in a serious crash near Rotorua on Monday afternoon, Newshub understands.
Police said the crash occurred at about 2:30pm on State Highway 30 between Curtis Road and Lake Ōkataina Road.
Police have confirmed a person died in the crash while two others were injured.
Hato Hone St John told Newshub they responded to the crash with two ambulances, one helicopter, one rapid response unit and an operations manager.
"Our ambulance officers treated and transported two patients in a minor condition to Rotorua Hospital," a Hato Hone St John spokesperson said.
Police said the highway will be closed for several hours while the Serious Crash Unit investigates.
"Motorists are asked to delay their travel or expect significant delays," police said.
The death takes the Christmas road toll to 16. The Christmas/New Year holiday period runs from 4pm on Friday, December 22 to 6am on Wednesday, January 3.
The number of road deaths in the 2022 Christmas-New Year holiday period was 21.
Police put out a warning to drivers on Saturday after the road toll hit double figures.
"During New Year we often see a peak in people driving on the roads, so be patient, keep calm, drive sober and if you are feeling tired - pull over," police said in a statement on Saturday.
