(file photo) Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
One person has died after a crash on State Highway 11 at Kawakawa in Northland.
Two cars were involved in the crash on Pahia Road (SH11), near the bottom of Lemans Hill, a police statement said.
The incident was reported about about 4.40pm on Saturday.
Diversions were set up as emergency services worked at the scene, and police said the road had reopened by 10pm.
As 2022 came to a close, the Ministry of Transport's road toll count reached a provisional figure of 378 people killed on New Zealand roads during the year.
The road toll has soared this year and is on par with 2018, the worst year for road deaths in recent memory. Audio
The government's strategy to reduce road deaths and injuries failed to meet all but one of its targets with breath testing and reducing speed limits lagging the most.
Despite an increase in road deaths last year, roading officials say targets for reducing the road toll are on track.
Police are carrying out significantly fewer roadside breath tests than they used to.
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