KEY POINTS:
A motorcyclist was killed after crashing into a lamp post in Halcombe in Manawatu last night, taking the holiday road toll to two.
Emergency services were called at 10.27pm when it appeared the rider had lost control of a Moto Guzzi 1100 while overtaking at a passing lane on Kakariki Road.
The road, near SH1, was closed for two hours.
It was the second death on New Zealand roads during the holiday period, though it remains unclear whether Eric Kozanic, 80, who died in an accident on SH1 at Warkworth on Christmas Day died as the result of a heart attack or not. If the death is counted the toll will be three.
Police today named the man who died at 4.30am on Christmas Day when his car rolled after failing to make it around a bend on SH2 in Waikato.
He was Edward Malcolm Paul, 35, of Mangere.
The holiday road toll began at 4pm on Christmas Eve and finishes at 6am on January 3.
- NZPA
