Holiday road toll climbs to 14

The holiday road toll now stands at 14 after a car hit a tree in Canterbury last night, killing its male driver.

The Toyota saloon ran off on Lake Road at Leeston, near Lake Ellesmere, and struck a tree at around 11.20pm last night.

The man was found dead at the scene, a spokesman for the police southern communications centre said.

The man is expected to be named later today after next of kin overseas have been advised.

Diversions were in place in Hamilton yesterday after a male passenger died and four people were injured, two critically, in a three-car crash.

The crash happened at the Dinsdale roundabout shortly after 2pm.

It was the third road death this year after two fatal crashes on New Year's Day.

Lavi 'Lovey' Taimana, 22, died after the car she was a passenger in crashed into a power pole on the southern motorway in Auckland at 6.15am on Thursday.

She died at the scene, near the East Tamaki off-ramp, and several other people in the car were taken to Middlemore Hospital with minor injuries.

Later that day, a 24-year-old Kerikeri man died after the vehicle he was driving rolled on Papamoa Beach in the Bay of Plenty. Four others were unhurt.

The Ministry of Transport yesterday confirmed the official holiday road toll included the beach fatality.

Assistant commissioner of road policing Dave Cliff said: "This is not the start to the year anyone wanted."

The official holiday road period started at 4pm on Christmas Eve and runs until 6am on Monday, January 5.

Over the previous Christmas-New Year period, which was three days shorter than this year, there were seven deaths.

The number of people who died on New Zealand roads rose sharply last year to 297 -- up 43 on the year before.

Responding to the increased fatalities, police said: "Long-term road toll trends are positive and the number of deaths has been reducing over time, however international comparisons show that there is still room to substantially reduce road death even further."

Meanwhile, the NZTA says holiday traffic dynamics would probably differ this year due to the four-day New Year weekend, but last year's chokepoints were a good prediction of where motorists could expect delays.

"It's going to take longer than usual to get where you're going," NZTA spokesman Andy Knackstedt said.

Mr Knackstedt said the four-day weekend could mean more "staggered" traffic flows, but it was early days and heavy congestion was possible.

"It could also mean, if everybody's heading away to make the most of a four-day weekend, that you get a real rush to get out and a real rush to come back."

State Highway 1 around Wellsford and SH2 between Paeroa and Katikati were congestion hot spots a year ago, and were living up to that reputation again this holiday season.

Traffic was also heavy on stretches of SH2 near Pukekohe yesterday.

In the central North Island, SH3 between Otorohanga and 8 Mile Junction and SH1 between Waiouru and Taihape were predicted chokepoints.

SH2 between Hastings and Woodville was expected to be busy near Norsewood, and again further north between the SH5 intersection and Wairoa.

Near Wellington, SH2 was busy last holiday season around the Rimutaka Hill between Wellington and Wairarapa.

In the South Island, SH1 could be busy around Kaikoura, Waimakariri, and between Christchurch and Ashburton.

Roads around Arthur's Pass and Lewis Pass also experienced some congestion a year ago.

SH6 between Nelson and Blenheim was another likely congestion spot.

By John Weekes of NZME

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