Two people have been killed in a car crash overnight and two others left with critical injuries in a separate crash in the Auckland region.
There were two serious crashes in Auckland, one at Waitoki in Rodney and another at Takanini.
Police said two people died in the triple-vehicle collision at Takanini.
Officers were called to the intersection of Great South Road and Walter Strevens Drive at about 12.25am, a spokesman said.
A truck and two cars were involved in the crash.
“Two people in one of the cars died, while the driver of the second car had minor injuries. The driver of the truck was uninjured,” the police spokesman said.
“Cordons were in place for several hours, and the Serious Crash Unit attended the scene.”
Hato Hone St John said it took one person to Middlemore Hospital with critical injuries.
St John responded at 12.23am, sending one ambulance, three rapid response units and one manager to the incident, a spokeswoman said.
In Waitoki, St John sent two ambulances, two rapid response units and an operations manager to Kahikatea Flat Rd about 10pm.
Two people were taken to Auckland City Hospital with critical injuries, St John said.
Police confirmed emergency services responded to the crash and said the Serious Crash Unit had attended the scene.
A police spokesman said the two people fighting for their lives were the drivers of the two cars which collided.
Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.
Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Heart of the City Christmas Tree lights up in Auckland CBD. Video / Supplied