Holiday road toll climbs to six

The holiday road toll climbed to six last night when a motorcycle and a car collided, killing the motorcyclist, a 47-year-old woman.

The accident happened on State Highway 1 on Johnsons Hill, just north of Orewa, about 8pm.

About 12.30pm yesterday, a 6-year-old Napier girl suffered serious head injuries in a car crash near Reporoa, 42km southeast of Rotorua.

The Tenon rescue helicopter initially flew her to Waikato Hospital, but her injuries were assessed as life-threatening and last night she was to be transferred to the Starship in Auckland.

The 15-year-old passenger killed in Wanganui on Christmas Day when a van rolled repeatedly was Richard Hohipa of Wanganui.