Motorists are being urged to think about what they are doing on the drive home from the Easter holiday break.
The latest of three deaths occurred near Thames on Saturday night.
A 25-year-old woman from Hawkes Bay was killed just after 9.30pm when the BMW she was driving failed to negotiate a slight bend and crossed the centre of the road, colliding with an oncoming southbound Ford Territory SUV.
Police said the name of the woman would not be released until her family, who are believed to be overseas, have been contacted via Interpol.
Waikato police are investigating the crash, and say they will have to return to the site later this week to complete their mapping of the scene.
District Road Policing Manager, Inspector Marcus Lynam, said although Serious Crash Unit investigators had carried out their preliminary investigation at the scene at Puriri on SH26 - the Paeroa-Kopu Rd - there was still work to be completed.
"Given the peak traffic flows over the Easter Holiday period, we will look at returning to the site later in the week as diversions will need to be set up and the road closed.
"Initial indications on the crash are that it involved a BMW car heading north driven by a woman who was the sole occupant, failing to negotiate a slight bend and crossing the centre line, colliding in a T-bone collision with an oncoming southbound Ford Territory SUV."
Mr Lynam said the woman died at the scene , and the SUV ended up in a paddock.
"The male driver of the Ford suffered minor injuries while his wife who was travelling as a front seat passenger suffered serious injuries and the couple were both transported to Waikato Hospital by ambulance.
"This death was the first in the Waikato over the holiday period, and with peak traffic flows expected tomorrow (Mon) we want drivers to be at their best and plan their travel home."
Anthony John King, 53, from Paraparaumu Beach, was killed when the Suzuki vehicle he was a passenger in collided with a BMW on State Highway 5, Wairakei, north of Taupo at about 2am on Saturday.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. The 18-year-old driver of the BMW was taken to Taupo Hospital with minor injuries.
The 54-year-old driver of the Suzuki was flown by helicopter to Waikato Hospital in a serious condition.
A police scene examination indicated one vehicle crossed to the wrong side of the road and collided head-on with the other vehicle.
Senior Sergeant Fane Troy of the Taupo Road Policing Group said it was a tragic loss of life.
"Police want to remind all road users to take care. Ensure that when driving for long periods you stop and take regular breaks."
Alcohol and speed were not believed to be factors in the crash.
Just two hours into the official Easter holiday period a cyclist died in South Canterbury.
The 55-year-old died after his bike and a vehicle collided at an intersection in Milford, north of Timaru, at 6pm on Thursday.
Mid-South Canterbury area commander Inspector Dave Gaskin confirmed the cyclist was a Temuka man, but police were not yet ready to release his name.
National road policing manager Superintendent Carey Griffiths warned drivers coming home on Easter Monday to take it easy and watch their speed.
He added: "I'm saddened to see the death toll has risen from zero last year to three. These are not just figures, they are real lives which have been effected.
"The average number of deaths in the last five years is six, so we're still below that, but I hope there are no more fatalities over the Easter period.
"Rain has been forecast for the North Island which makes the roads very slippery, and I would urge drivers to keep their speed down and think about what they're doing.
"Driving is a dangerous business and it's disappointing to see that the toll has risen again."
Mr Griffiths said according to early investigations, driver error was the initial reason for the two fatal head-on crashes.
More than 560 people have been killed in Easter road crashes since 1956.
The Easter holiday road toll period ends at 6am on Tuesday.
- Melissa Hills of APNZ
