Police are urging motorists to be cautious as they make their way home this long weekend, after four people were killed and several others injured on the country's roads.
Two people were killed in Canterbury, one in Te Puke and another near Auckland this weekend.
The Queen's Birthday road toll is on track to match last year's toll of five. But it is not yet known if one of the crashes is counted toward the toll, which started at 4pm on Friday and ends at 6am tomorrow, as police are checking the status of the road with the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA).
The latest crash saw a car veer off the road, hitting rocks and flipping into mangroves on Insley St, Mangawhai, about 100km north of Auckland at 12.40am today.
The driver, a man in his 40s, died at the scene.
The Waitemata serious crash unit is investigating the cause of the crash and police are now in the process of informing the man's next of kin and offering them support.
Last night, a man in his 20s was killed after the vehicle he was driving crashed on Lees Valley Rd, Oxford, in Canterbury.
Canterbury police search and rescue found the man's body and his four-wheel drive vehicle around 9.30pm, after he was reported missing around two ears earlier.
The man's four-wheel-drive was found down a bank, while his body was recovered nearby.
His death has been referred to the coroner. Police were not releasing the man's details until next of kin have been notified.
Canterbury police spokeswoman Lisa-Marie Brooks couldn't confirm if the crash would count towards the road toll as police had to confirm the status of the road with NZTA. That would not happen until sometime this week, she said.
The police serious crash unit would carry out a scene examination today.
In another crash, the Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter was sent to retrieve a 41-year-old woman who had suffered serious multiple injuries near Wairoa at 4.30am today.
She was flown from Wairoa Hospital to Hawke's Bay Regional Hospital for further treatment.
Yesterday, about 1.15pm at the junction of State Highway 1 and Harleston Rd, a crash killed a female motorcycle pillion passenger.
Witnesses reported the south-bound motorcycle colliding with the rear of a stationary car which was waiting to turn right onto Harleston Rd.
The female pillion was struck by an oncoming vehicle.
The male rider of the motorcycle was taken to Christchurch Hospital in a critical condition.
Another person was treated for minor injuries at the scene but no one else was injured in the crash.
The first fatal crash happened on Saturday morning when 36-year-old Lisa Yieng did a U-turn in front of an oncoming truck and was killed.
Canterbury Police road policing manager Inspector Al Stewart urged the public to take care on the roads.
"Canterbury roads are as safe as those using them and we urge the public to drive to the conditions and take extra care at intersections."
It was too early to comment on the causes of the crashes in his patch, he said, but in another crash, a driver of a car on Rakaia River Rd was lucky to escape serious injury when he appeared to have lost control of his vehicle which rolled early yesterday morning.
"Fortunately another driver using the rural road discovered the single vehicle crash and helped the driver. The driver was taken to Ashburton Hospital with minor injuries and has since been discharged. Had there not been another driver on this quiet rural road the outcome could have been very different with the cold overnight temperatures.
"In Canterbury we have high visibility patrols on our roads this holiday weekend but police cannot stop drivers making poor decisions on and off the road. We challenge Canterbury road users to step up and play their part so that we don't see anyone else lose their life or find their lives changed forever due to a crash. Hindsight is great but foresight has the potential to save someone's life."
Caroline Perry, spokesperson for the road charity, Brake, urged motorists to check their vehicles before setting off home today.
"Things like checking your tyres, making sure your lights are working, windscreen wipers, oil and water levels.
"Plan your route carefully. Make sure you leave with plenty of time to get to your destination."
Ms Perry added that winter weather and reduced daylight add to the risks on the roads at this time of year.
"Avoid driving if the conditions are treacherous, like heavy rain, strong winds, ice and snow.
"Delay your journey if possible or find another way of getting to your destination."
The official Queen's Birthday holiday road period runs from 4pm on Friday, May 29, to 6am on Tuesday, June 2.
Last year's Queen's Birthday road toll was five, from a total 87 reported injury crashes.
