A man was killed and four others injured, one critically, when a car hit a power pole in Northland last night.
Police said the crash occurred on Pouto Rd, Te Kopuru, near Dargaville, about 11.30pm.
A male passenger died at the scene.
Firefighters had to wait for lines company North Power to turn the electricity off before they could free the man's body from the wreckage.
Power was out to surrounding properties for several hours following the crash.