Motorists are being urged to think about what they are doing on the drive home from the Easter holiday break.
The latest of three deaths occurred near Thames on Saturday night.
A 25-year-old woman from Hawke's Bay was killed just after 9.30pm when the BMW she was driving failed to negotiate a slight bend and crossed the centre of the road, colliding with an oncoming southbound Ford Territory SUV.
Police said the name of the woman would not be released until her family, who are believed to be overseas, have been contacted via Interpol.
District road policing manager Inspector Marcus Lynam said although Serious Crash Unit investigators had carried out their preliminary investigation at the scene at Puriri, on State Highway 26 - the Paeroa-Kopu Rd - there was still work to be completed.