KEY POINTS:
One person is dead after two cars collided near the Waikato township of Whakamaru this morning.
The crash, which happened at 10am, has closed State Highway 30, with traffic being diverted on to SH32.
It is not yet known how many other people were involved in the accident.
The official Christmas-New Year holiday road toll period runs for 4pm today until 6am January 5.
Last year's toll was 18 dead and 65 seriously injured from 16 crashes.
- NZPA
