Stark horror of NZ's killing fields

The body of the motorist killed in the collision on State Highway 1 near Te Hana, north of Wellsford, is moved into an undertaker's vehicle. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

The country's top roading police officer has slammed New Zealand roads as "killing fields" after three deaths yesterday brought a three-day road toll to 14.

Two people were killed in separate accidents in Meremere and Whenuapai last night.

Earlier in the day, a man was killed and two people were seriously injured after a car running on a temporary wheel ploughed into an oncoming vehicle north of Auckland.

National road policing manager Superintendent Paula Rose said it was tragic enough when there were just one or two deaths during a regular weekend.

The accident north of Auckland happened about 8.30am on State Highway 1 near Te Hana, 10km north of Wellsford. The road was closed in both directions for more than three hours.

It is understood the Indian driver of the car that was in a head-on collision with a hatchback had just picked his father up from the airport and was not speeding at the time.

Police considered whether the temporary wheel - supposed to be used for short periods following repairs - played a part, but attributed the accident to "driver inattention".

Sergeant Stu Kearns of the serious crash unit said the car crossed the centreline into the path of the hatchback.

A St John spokesman said the driver of the car died at the scene.

Another Indian motorist - who helped to translate at the scene for the father of the dead man - had tailed the car from Te Hana and said it never went faster than 50km/h.

Lorraine Hardstaff, who lives near the accident scene, suggested the spare wheel must have played a part.

"It's such a big sweeping corner and it really surprises me otherwise."

The Indian father and the woman driver of the hatchback were in stable conditions in Auckland City Hospital last night.

It is understood a female passenger from the hatchback, believed to be the driver's daughter, was taken to North Shore Hospital with minor injuries.

Meanwhile, the road policing manager for Bay of Plenty, Senior Sergeant Stu Nightingale, said autopsies on five people killed in one crash on Friday near Taupo should be completed today.

He said it appeared the collision occurred after a black Chrysler shunted a BMW, lost control and then crossed the centre line to collide head-on with a van.

Off-duty police inspector Mike O'Leary, who was driving along behind, watched the van spin vertically in the air before barrel-rolling down a bank.

The family vehicle burst into flames and four inside were killed: Lottie Purukamu Taitapanui, 45, her daughter Anna Marie Kemp, 22; her adopted son Ratapu, 3; and Anna Marie's partner Wellis Lauano, 23.

Mr O'Leary is being hailed as a hero after pulling 9-year-old Kawana Kemp and 3-year-old Amethyst Lauano from the burning wreck.

The driver of the Chrysler, Peter De Wildt Pie, 42, was killed and his 11-year-old daughter Kirstin-Leigh was seriously injured. She was in a stable condition in Waikato Hospital last night.

Yesterday, her mother, Denise, said she was deeply sorry for what had happened. "My deepest sympathies go out to the families involved. I'd like to thank the off-duty policeman. What he did was so, so courageous."

Six other people were killed in crashes around the country.