KEY POINTS:
A husband and wife and another man were the people killed in a motorcycle collision east of Christchurch yesterday afternoon.
Police named the three as Martyn Hartley, 48, Kaye Hartley, 35, and Nigel Hannington, 44, all from Christchurch.
The accident happened around 4.20pm on State Highway 75 between Tai Tapu, about 16km southwest of Christchurch, and Motukarara, police said.
A motorcycle heading toward Christchurch appeared to have overtaken a number of vehicles on a sweeping bend, before colliding with one of three oncoming motorcycles, Acting Sergeant Chris Jones said.
Both motorcycles that collided were carrying pillion passengers.
Mr Hartley and Mr Hannington died at the scene. Mrs Hartley, a passenger, later died at Christchurch Public Hospital as a result of injuries.
Another female passenger remained in a critical condition, Mr Jones said.
The holiday road toll now stands at eight, following a crash in Kumeu, northwest of Auckland, this morning.
The occupant of a vehicle which flipped and left Old North Road was killed, police said.
Inspector Willie Taylor of the police northern communications centre said no other vehicles were involved in the crash.
The official Christmas-New Year holiday road toll period runs from 4pm on Christmas Eve until 6am on January 5.
Last year's toll was 18 dead and 65 seriously injured from 16 crashes.
- NZPA