A driver fleeing police is among four people killed and multiple others injured in a series of crashes across the country overnight and this morning.
Police said one person died following a single-vehicle crash on Howden Rd in Temple View, near Hamilton, around 8.40pm last night.
Despite the efforts of emergency personnel, the person died at the scene.
A second person died following a single-vehicle crash in Southland overnight.
Emergency services were called to Winding Creek Rd around 12.40am, police said.
One person received moderate injuries in the crash and was seen by ambulance services.
The road was expected to be closed for most of the day.
St John said it responded one first response unit, one ambulance, one rapid response unit and one helicopter.
One patient was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital in a serious condition.
A third person died following a two-vehicle crash on Auckland's South-Western Motorway around 6.15am this morning.
One person died at the scene, while two others sustained moderate injuries in the collision.
St John said it responded with three ambulances, one rapid response unit and one manager.
A section of the motorway was closed but had since reopened.
The serious crash unit was investigating the circumstances behind all three crashes.
Driver dies fleeing police in Invercargill
A driver has died in a single-vehicle crash while fleeing police in Invercargill early this morning.
Shortly before 3am, police signalled for a vehicle to stop on Kelvin St.
"The driver failed to stop, and the vehicle fled. It was not pursued," police said.
The vehicle was found a short time later, having crashed at the intersection of Leet and Kelvin streets.
One person died at the scene.
The road would remain closed while the serious crash unit examined the scene and the circumstances of the crash.
The crash has been referred to the Independent Police Conduct Authority, as was standard procedure.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or had CCTV in the vicinity of Wellesley Ave, Avenal St or Kelvin St was asked to contact police.
High volume of crashes affect roads across New Zealand
Serious crashes blocked lanes on two of Auckland's motorways this morning, while two overnight incidents in Southland have also closed several local roads.
This morning's fatal crash in Onehunga left two lanes of the Southwest motorway closed.
Elsewhere in Auckland, a three-vehicle crash on the Southern Motorway SH1, near Ōtara, also blocked northbound lanes.
Police received a report of that crash at about 7.25am.
St John said one patient in a serious condition had been taken to Middlemore Hospital, while two patients with minor injuries were treated at the scene.
Lanes have since reopened in both instances.
Another crash several hours later in Mount Roskill has led to traffic diversions on the east side of Maioro St at the overbridge.
Police said they were called to the two-vehicle crash around 10.30am.
One person sustained moderate injuries in the collision.
Motorists were asked to avoid the area and to expect delays while the scene was cleared.
Meanwhile, Ōhura Rd on SH43/Forgotten World Highway was blocked following a single-vehicle crash.
Emergency services were called to the scene around 11.30am.
Motorists were advised to delay their travel.
Further south, the NZ Transport Agency said SH20 had been closed between the Neilson St and Queenstown Rd off-ramps, with police saying northbound lanes were blocked.
Live traffic cameras showed congestion building at off-ramps in the area where traffic had been diverted.
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