Easter road toll rises to four after Waikato crash
Photo:
RNZ / Richard Tindiller
The Easter holiday road toll has risen to four after a person was killed in a two-vehicle crash in Mangakino on Easter Monday.
Two others were seriously injured in the crash on Waipapa Road in the Waikato town of Mangakino just after 4pm.
The road remains closed and police want motorists to avoid the area.
Earlier this afternoon, the toll increased to three after a two-car crash in central Taranaki.
Police say emergency services were alerted at 2.30pm to the crash on State Highway 3. It occurred on Wharekauri Road and Mangamaio Road.
One person was killed, two people suffered serious injuries and two others have moderate injuries, a police spokesperson said.
The road is closed and motorists are asked to take alternative routes where possible.
The NZ Transport Agency said via X the Serious Crash Unit was attending and its investigation might take several hours.
SERIOUS CRASH - UPDATE 3:20PM
The road is now CLOSED between Mangamaio Rd and Pukeruhe Rd due to a serious crash. SCU will be attending the scene and their investigations can take several hours. Continue to follow emergency services on-site or delay your journey. ^EH
https://t.co/D4WVno2ChI
pic.twitter.com/kfVTUDW5R4
The official holiday period runs through until 6am on Tuesday.
The first Easter road victim
died at the scene of a single vehicle crash on State Highway 12
in Ruawai in Northland on Good Friday.
In the second incident, one person died in a crash involving a car and cyclist at Haumoana in Hawke's Bay on Saturday morning.
Last year,
seven people died on the roads
over the same long weekend, up from only one in 2023.
This weekend has been marked by high winds and heavy rain brought by ex-tropical cyclone Tam, with Civil Defence authorities warning drivers to take extra care.
MetService is forecasting the bad weather
to ease from here on
.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero
,
a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Two injured after four cars collide in Auckland
Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi Two people have been injured, one moderately and one seriously, after four cars collided in a nose to tail crash in Auckland on Saturday. Northbound motorists are advised to expect delays on the Southern Motorway near the Highbrook off ramp. Police at the scene ask motorists to be patient as there are long queues of traffic at the crash scene. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
1News
a day ago
- 1News
Curious, concerned: Picton residents weigh in on SH1 changes
In a small room in Picton's library, dozens of people have gathered to discuss the intricacies of truck routes, intersections, school crossings, and parking spaces. They pored over stands and wall displays, showing the proposed permanent State Highway 1 route along Kent St to the ferry terminal, instead of through central Picton. The proposed changes have already caused controversy, with one resident calling the changes 'horrible', when they were announced on June 11. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi's pop-up sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday hummed with questions, fresh ideas and a bit of debate. But not from Heather Hopkins, a resident of upper Kent St, who had popped in on Wednesday afternoon to see how the highway would go past her home. She was pretty happy, she said. ADVERTISEMENT Picton resident Heather Hopkins says she has no concerns about NZTA's proposed changes. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting) 'I'm not really affected, I just wanted more information,' Hopkins said. '[I have] no concerns at all, it'll be free flowing once everyone gets used to it.' In the evening session, people were most drawn to the board showing where Kent St met the Wairau Rd/SH1 intersection, which would take ferry passengers and freight trucks from the terminals out of town under the new proposal. Lara O'Brien, who lived around the corner from Kent St, said the intersection's new alignment would would cut residents off from their own town centre during peak traffic. Drivers on SH1 south of Kent St wanting to get into central Picton would need to make a right-hand turn onto Wairau Rd towards Nelson Square. During peak ferry traffic, they would be stuck in a right-turning lane with no gaps, O'Brien said. Changes to the intersection of State Highway 1 and Wairau Rd are proposed as part of a realignment of SH1 through Picton. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting) ADVERTISEMENT 'These people [leaving the ferry terminal] get to just go, but people going to town, when do they get to go?' O'Brien said. 'You get 60 trucks coming out of the ferry terminal ...This is going to be a congestion point for locals coming out of town.' Another group lingered around the board showing the relocation of the Picton School crossing on Kent St. Many of the attendees were reluctant to speak publicly about their opinions on the divisive subject. The loss of roadside parking and problems with trucks parking along the road were common complaints. A truck driver from Levin, whose cousin was a Picton-based truckie, came along to the evening session. He said NZTA did a similar consultation about a pedestrian overpass in Levin, and he was sceptical that feedback would alter the proposal. Graphics supplied by NZTA show the loss of parking on Kent St under the new proposal. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting) A Picton resident praised NZTA for moving the crossing outside Picton School back to its original position, saying he didn't know why it was put there a few years ago. 'They're just putting it back to where it was because people don't use it.' ADVERTISEMENT NZTA regional manager of system design Robert Osborne said the sessions were a valuable way of sharing information with Picton residents and getting their feedback. 'The drop-in sessions were all well attended with around 30-40 people each session, and some coming to visit us a couple of times to ask further questions,' Osborne said. 'We received a great range of questions and comments which will help us with our detailed design work. 'We also understand ... that there will likely be a wide range of opinions about them. 'However, this project is aimed at improving Picton's roads and making it easier for people to get around. We look forward to continuing to hear from the community about our plans.' Design plans would now be finalised and work would start next winter. By Kira Carrington for Local Democracy Reporting ADVERTISEMENT LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Otago Daily Times
Smoke from plane at Christchurch Airport, fluid leak suspected
Christchurch Airport (file photo). Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon Firefighters have been called to Christchurch Airport after a cargo plane on the tarmac began billowing smoke from its undercarriage. Fire and Emergency shift manager Lyn Crosson said crews responded shortly before 9am on Friday. She said there was no fire on board the Boeing 737, and it was thought a fluid leak onto the plane's brakes was responsible. A spokesperson at Christchurch Airport confirmed there were no passengers on board at the time.
