A third person has died following the tragic Christmas Eve bus crash near Gisborne, which killed two others.
The death brings the holiday road toll to 19 - the highest since the 2011/2012 period when it was also 19. It was even higher in the 2008/2009 period with 25 deaths.
Student Sione Taumalolo (11) and Talita Moimoi Fifita (33) were killed when a bus carrying the Mailefihi Siu'ilikutapu College brass band crashed 100 metres down a bank in Gisborne nine days ago.
Now a third passenger, who was transferred to Waikato Hospital following the accident, has died.
Others are injured and still in hospital.
The bus had 53 people on board when it slammed through a barrier and went down a bank, on State Highway 2.
The passengers were members a school brass brand from Tonga travelling to perform at a church service on Christmas Day.
Survivors are now in Auckland and have been staying at the Methodist Church in Grey Lynn and are not expected to leave the country until next week.
Mr Taumalolo and Ms Fifita were farewelled at the church on Thursday with a memorial service before their bodies were flown back to Tonga.
Police are still investigating the cause of the crash.
The holiday road toll period finishes at 6am on Wednesday. It started at 4pm on December 23.
