The official road toll for the holiday period stands at two, following deaths in Mosgiel and South Auckland.
A 44-year-old woman died after her car crashed into a power pole on Bush road in Mosgiel, 15 kilometres from Dunedin, about 9.30pm, Senior Seargent Mel Aitken said.
The victim was the sole occupant of the vehicle and police were unaware what caused her to crash on a straight piece of road.
Police wanted to speak to the occupants of a blue vehicle with a "big bore exhaust", which may have passed the accident scene without stopping to help, Ms Aitken said.
Meanwhile Manukau police were investigating a hit and run which killed a 40-year-old man just after midnight today.
The man wandered onto Helvetia Road in Pukekohe, South Auckland, when he was hit by a car, police said. The vehicle immediately left the scene.
Police were calling for the driver of the car to come forward.
The official holiday road toll started at 4pm yesterday and runs until 6am on January 5. Last year, 13 people died on the road during the period.
