Easter holiday road toll: Police urge caution as road toll approaches worst in over a decade

A person has been critically injured in a crash on a SH1 off-ramp in Auckland as the Easter road toll sits at seven. Photo / NZME

Exasperated police have expressed their “utter disappointment” at the Easter weekend road toll, which is approaching the highest number of deaths in over a decade.

They have also warned drivers about “red mist” and pleaded with motorists to be patient to avoid more tragedies on the country’s roads.

The Easter weekend road toll sits at seven tonight and one person is in a critical condition following a crash on State Highway 1 in Auckland on Monday afternoon.

Road policing director Superintendent Steve Greally said seven people have lost their lives and several others are seriously injured in needless crashes over the holiday.

“That’s seven families that will never see their loved ones again, seven Easters ruined and seven avoidable deaths.”

Police this morning confirmed a fourth person had died following a horrific three-vehicle crash on SH8 in Pukaki on Saturday.

Emergency services at the scene of a multi-vehicle accident on SH8 at Pukaki on Saturday.

Three people died at the scene and a fourth died in hospital overnight. Four others were injured in the crash.

Speaking to Newshub, Greally said police’s reaction to the Easter weekend road toll was “one of utter disappointment”.

“It beggars belief I guess that some people just don’t understand the basics even though they are really simple.

“This has blown my mind a little bit, we don’t want any more. This is enough carnage for people to bear,” Greally said.

The official Easter holiday period began at 4pm on Thursday and ends at 6am tomorrow.

It is currently the highest Easter holiday road toll since 2021, when seven people were killed.

The Herald understands it is the second highest number of Easter road deaths since 2010, where 12 people died.

Only one person was killed on New Zealand roads during the Easter period last year and five people died over Easter in 2022.

Speaking to NZME on Monday afternoon, Greally warned holidaymakers that were making their way home to be vigilant on the roads, particularly in areas with high-congestion.

“With that, the potential for people to become impatient and make really bad decisions is very real.

“If you’re one of those people who is affected by the red mist and becomes impatient, probably speak to your boss and grab another date to come home or something like that, have an extra day on holiday and don’t put yourself through that.”

Greally added staff had seen seen drivers overtaking on congested roads and speeding across the country over the Easter weekend.

“Slow down – we can’t say it any other way.”

Easter Holiday road toll at seven

Police this morning confirmed a fourth person had died following a horrific three-vehicle crash on SH8 in Pukaki on Saturday.

Three people died at the scene and a fourth died in hospital overnight. Four others were injured in the crash.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has extended condolences to the families of two Malaysian students who died in a crah in Lake Tekapo. Photo / Facebook

Two of the deceased have been identified as Malaysian students who had been studying at the University of Canterbury.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim shared his condolences to the families of the two students on Facebook yesterday.

“Condolences to the families of two Malaysian students who died in a road accident in Lake Tekapo, New Zealand,” he posted.

A nurse who helped perform CPR on a victim of the horror crash, Bellee Cardeño, said the incident broke her heart.

“I saw a queue of cars on the road, and I immediately thought there had been a crash,” she told the Herald.

Bellee Cardeño, a nurse, helped with CPR and cared for some of the victims at the scene.

She then spotted the wheels of a rolled car and told her father to pull over so she could help.

Cardeño, who is a nurse from the Philippines and is studying for her master’s degree to become a nurse in New Zealand, ran to the scene, passing five cars in the queue ahead of hers.

She described the crash scene as “chaotic”.

A further three people died in crashes in Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Tasman over the weekend.

Another person was critically injured in a single-vehicle-crash on SH1 in Auckland on Monday afternoon.

The crash at the Te Irirangi Dr off-ramp blocked the road as emergency services attended the scene. The Serious Crash Unit was advised of the crash and one patient was transported to Middlemore Hospital in a critical condition.

”Speed is a top contributor to serious injury and death in a crash, and with the Easter weekend traffic and roadworks, speeding is the last thing anyone should be doing,” Greally said.

Waikato police urge caution after swath of tractor crashes

Three vehicles collided with tractors on Central North Island roads in only two hours, leading to calls from police to be more patient.

A crash between a motorcycle and a tractor led to the death of a motorcyclist in Piakonui Rd in Richmond Downs on Saturday.

Ten minutes earlier in Oparure Rd near Te Kūiti, two people were seriously injured after a crash with a tractor.

At 9.45 the same morning, a tractor collided with a car at the intersection of Pond Rd and SH29 in Matamata-Piako district.

“Initial inquiries indicate the tractor had gone through a stop sign and crashed into an oncoming car,” a police spokesperson said.

Four people were in the car and one was injured seriously.

A police spokesperson acknowledged it was “frustrating” being stuck behind a slow-moving vehicle, but asked motorists to be patient.

“Similarly, we’re asking those on agricultural vehicles to be mindful of traffic around them and to pull over and let traffic pass when it is safe to do so.”

Benjamin Plummer is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He has worked for the Herald since 2022.