Two civilians have died in the Los Angeles wildfires and Parliament is set to discuss an extended deadline for the Treaty Principles Bill submissions. Video / NZ Herald
A young boy has been named as the person killed in a motorbike crash in Murupara last month.
Parahaki Rurehe, 10, of Ōtaki died in a motorbike crash on Main Rd on December 28, police said today.
A second person on the bike remained in Rotorua Hospital in a stable condition.
The circumstances of what happened were under investigation, police said.
Another died following a crash between a vehicle and a bicycle on State Highway 29 at Matamata on January 2 and one person died after a single-vehicle crash on Ihumatao Rd, Māngere the same day.
‘We all need to do better’
Police Superintendent Steve Greally, the director of road policing, said this holiday period road toll was just over half last year’s total of 22.
“While it’s fantastic to have seen this number drop, any death on the roads is still one too many,” Greally said.
“That’s still 13 families who have had their lives irrevocably changed at what should be a happy and festive time of year, and our hearts go out to them.
National road policing manager Superintendent Steve Greally. Photo / File
Police would continue to be out in force across the country this summer, conducting road policing operations and patrols to target unsafe driver behaviour, he said.
“Road deaths and serious injuries are preventable. We all need to do better and stop accepting people dying on our roads is what happens when driving.”
Police said enforcement action has proven to deter people from driving dangerously.
“However road safety was something we must all take responsibility for. We should all play our part to be safe on our roads, because so far, too many families have received tragic news this holiday period.