Five people have died in two separate crashes in North Canterbury over the weekend.
Waimakariri District Mayor Dan Gordon said the deaths will have a "profound" impact on the community.
"I would also like to acknowledge the dedicated work of the emergency services personnel, some who attended both scenes. I know this was particularly difficult.
"These events are a sad reminder of the need to take care on our roads."
The first accident was on Friday afternoon when a car and school bus collided in Waimakariri. Two people died.
On Sunday night, three people died following a two-vehicle crash in Sefton.
One person from each of the vehicles died at the scene, with a third person being rushed to Christchurch Hospital in a critical condition.
That person died in hospital overnight.
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