An adult and a 12-year-old died overnight and a further three were seriously injured after a truck and car collided in Christchurch.
Hours later, another person died in a motorcycle crash in the Waikato, and late this morning a cyclist was killed after a crash involving a car near Nelson - bringing New Zealand's road toll for the week to a staggering 26 deaths.
The latest tragedy brings New Zealand’s road toll for the week to 24.
In Christchurch, a police spokesperson said emergency services were called to the intersection of Yaldhurst and Russley roads around 12.20am. Two people died at the scene. The three injured included two children and an adult. The road was closed overnight as the Serious Crash Unit investigated.
In the Waikato, emergency services were called around 7am to the crash between a car and a motorbike in Rotoorangi, Waipa.
The victim died at the scene. The crash happened on Cambridge Road, near Storey and Cox roads.
Diversions are in place at the scene and the road is expected to be closed for some time, police said in a statement.
The third crash, between a car and a bicyclist north of Nelson, happened around 10am.
State Highway 6 has been partially reopened, but the road is down to one lane. Motorists have been asked to avoid the area.
Today's crashes bring the number of road deaths to 110 for the year to date, said Dan Jenkins, manager of analytics and modelling at the Ministry of Transport.
Five people died in a crash near Taupō, three in a crash in Asburton and one person died in an Auckland crash.
That includes 26 deaths since last Friday in 16 different crashes. Monday was the deadliest day on New Zealand roads in more than a decade.
"At any time on our roads, four simple rules can be the difference between a safe trip or a tragic outcome: keep to the speed limit, always wear a seatbelt and don’t drive while impaired or distracted," Mr Jenkins said.
"Road safety is everyone’s responsibility."
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