A person has died after a crash in Tirohia, Hauraki, early this morning.

A police spokesperson said they were called to the intersection of State Highway 26 and Cadman Rd at 12.40am.

“Despite emergency services’ efforts, the sole occupant of the vehicle sadly died at the scene,” the spokesperson said.

“The Serious Crash Unit have conducted a scene examination and enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.”

They said the road is expected to remain closed for a short time longer while other agencies work at the scene.

This death brings the holiday road toll to five after a series of crashes in the last few days.

One person has died after the early morning crash in Hauraki. Image / Google Maps

Yesterday, a two-vehicle crash on SH1, near Kaikōura, shortly after 9.30am killed one person.

The first death was a man who was struck by a car on a Napier street on Boxing Day suffered critical injuries and died in hospital on Monday.

The second road toll death was recorded on Tuesday, after a single-vehicle crash on SH2 in Tangoio, Hawke’s Bay.

Last year, 15 people were killed on New Zealand roads during the official Christmas holiday period, which this summer started at 4pm on Christmas Eve and ends at 6am on Monday, January 5.

The provisional number of road deaths in 2025 currently stands at 272, down from 292 in 2024. The decline marks the third consecutive year New Zealand has seen a reduction in fatalities on its roads.

2025 road toll is the second lowest in 75 years

Annual New Zealand road toll since 1921. As of 8am on January 1, 2026, the 2025 road toll was 272. In 2013 the road toll was 253, in 1952 it was also 272, and it was 232 in 1950.

Superintendent Steve Greally, director of road policing, said the ongoing decrease is because of Operation Open Roads.

He said police have nearly tripled the number of alcohol breath tests over the past three years, alongside sustained efforts by officers working to prevent serious injuries and fatalities.