“Police across the North Island and parts of the South are on high alert,” a police statement said.
“[We] have redeployed additional staff to support several operations taking place over the long weekend throughout Aotearoa.”
Meanwhile, New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi regional manager of maintenance and operations Rua Pani said people really need to take care when driving between and around regions.
“Most of our state highways are now open, but the roads and the surrounding land [have] seen a lot of rainfall - it’s sodden, and so the risk of further slips and debris is heightened.
“It’s really important motorists take care wherever they go - take your time, enjoy the long weekend journey and drive to the conditions.”
Crashes covered by theWaikato Herald this month
Gordonton crash
On Thursday, one person died and another was seriously injured after a crash in Gordonton.
A man died following the midday crash near Hampton Downs on June 14, before which he was seen speeding past other vehicles between the left-hand lane and the “cheese-cutter” barrier.
Police later thanked members of the public who performed CPR on the motorist when he was struck by a vehicle after running from his crashed SUV on the Waikato Expressway.
Road fatality figures provided by the Ministry of Transport are provisional and may include deaths or crashes which are subsequently excluded. Reasons for exclusion include the crash being intentional, due to a medical event or not occurring on a public road. Figures include crashes up to midnight.
Maryana Garcia is a Hamilton-based multimedia reporter covering breaking news in Waikato. She previously wrote for the Rotorua Daily Post and Bay of Plenty Times.