Police are urging drivers to "slow down, stay alert and make safe choices" after fatal crashes in both the North and South islands.
District Road Policing Manager Inspector Sarah Thorn said there were two fatal crashes in the Southern District between 7am, January 30 and 7am today.
One of the crashes occurred in the Dunedin area yesterday, and another near Queenstown shortly before 5am today.
The Glenorchy-Routeburn Rd north of Lake Wakatipu remained partially blocked this afternoon after one person died in the two-vehicle collision.
One person also died in a separate crash in the North Island this morning.
Emergency services were called to the single-vehicle crash in Gisborne's Anaura Bay shortly after 2am.
"The Serious Crash Unit attended and inquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing," a police spokesperson said.
Thorn said officers had been busy with "several other serious injury crashes that were also attended during this period".
"There are quite simply too many crashes happening on our roads, and the consequences can be devastating," she said.
Police acknowledged that traffic was expected to pick up on Southern roads in the coming week, as Waitangi Weekend travel coincided with the annual Burt Munro Challenge motorcycle festival.
"To help keep people safe, Southern District Police will have dedicated Road Policing staff highly visible across the district, including the use of checkpoints and fatigue stops," Thorn said.
She urged drivers to do their part to slow down, stay alert, and make safe choices including avoiding driving while tired and sticking to the speed limit.
"We remind the public that small decisions can have life‑changing consequences," Thorn said.
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