A leading police officer said today's fatal South Auckland crash demonstrated the tragic consequences if a driver chose not to stop for police.
Today's deaths add to a grim tally with five people dying in road smashes across the country yesterday - including a triple fatality north of Winton, Southland last night.
State Highway 6 was left closed most of the night while the Serious Crash Unit investigated the cause of the collision.
Earlier in the afternoon two people died in a two-car crash north of Te Kuiti and two others were taken to hospital.
Later in the afternoon a person was trapped in a three-car smash in Warkworth.
The injured motorist was flown to hospital in a rescue helicopter in a critical condition and others were treated by ambulance at the scene.
Just before 6am a motorcyclist was killed when their bike collided with a car at the intersection of Thorp St and Glenaven Dr in Motueka.
The Serious Crash Unit was now investigating and diversions were in place.
Police are pleading with drivers to take more responsibility after a lethal weekend on the country's roads.
Assistant Commissioner of road policing, Sandra Venables said this weekend's fatalities will have left families devastated up and down the country.
"Every death is reported as a number, but each number has a face, a name and a family.
"They leave behind loved ones whose lives have been changed forever," she said.
"Those that have been seriously injured can face months if not years of rehabilitation and treatment.
"We cannot continue to tolerate the loss."
She said it was too early to give exact details of the causes of the weekend's crashes but speed, fatigue, losing control and crossing the centre-line were all factors.
"Human beings are fallible, and crashes will occur.
"However, the incidence of injury or deaths can be reduced when we accept, comply with, and share the responsibility for using our roads safely.
"Police are committed to reducing death and injury on our roads and our staff are out there every day targeting unsafe drivers."
However, she said, Police could only do so much. Ultimately safe journeys start and end with driver behaviour.
"Every time you get behind the wheel you hold your life and the lives of your passengers and your fellow road users in your hands.
"Please take this responsibility seriously - wear your seat belt, make sure your passengers are wearing seatbelts, watch your speed and drive to the conditions.
"We have another long weekend coming up when traditionally more people will be out on the roads.
"Everybody needs to focus on getting to their destination and home again safely."
