Easter road toll: Three dead as police target ‘poor decisions’ by drivers

Tuesday, 7 April 2026

Three people died on New Zealand roads during the Easter holiday period.

Three people lost their lives on New Zealand roads during the Easter holiday weekend, according to provisional figures.

Police said the deaths occurred between Friday and Monday and noted two of the three deceased were riding motorcycles.

The three deaths were from the following crashes:

Coastal Highway (SH60) at the intersection with Easton Loop, Tasman. Saturday April 4
North Road at the intersection with Farrimond Place, Northland. Saturday April 4

A dangerous overtaking manoeuvre caught on camera in the South Island has sparked fresh warnings from police as New Zealand's road toll continues to climb just 12 days into the new year.

State Highway 1 near Waipu Gorge Road, Northland. Sunday April 5

Director of Road Policing, Superintendent Steve Greally, said there was still 'a lot of work to do' to improve road safety.

'Every death we see on our roads is one too many, and we simply need people to make better choices,' Greally said.

He urged road users to follow basic safety rules, including wearing seatbelts, putting phones down, and avoiding driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol. He also reminded drivers that sign-posted speed limits must be followed.

While the number of road fatalities has dropped over the last two years, Greally said this was not something police were celebrating.

Police confirmed they would continue to target unsafe driving behaviour now that the holiday period has ended. Greally said drivers should not expect to receive warnings for poor decisions.

'We continue to make no apology for taking action against those who are making poor decisions,' he said. 'We want everybody to be able to reach their destination safely, no matter what time of the year.'

An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported the number of deaths on the road over Easter as four. Police, who shared the total numbers have since corrected their statement to three. (Amended at 7.30am on April 8, 2026)