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New Zealand has experienced a horror morning on its roads, with seven people killed in four separate crashes.
Three people died in a fiery campervan crash near Geraldine, an inland Canterbury town, around 1am.
News outlet Stuff reports the victims were travellers from overseas, who struck a barrier as the vehicle negotiated a notorious corner.
Police area commander inspector Vicky Walker said the crash was "a terrible tragedy".
Elsewhere, drivers of two cars died after a pre-dawn collision on the Waikato Expressway, with a police spokesperson saying it appeared one car was travelling the wrong way down the highway.
In Northland's Dargaville, a person died after their car struck a tree in an accident overnight.
A seventh death was confirmed by police near Ngongotaha, north of Rotorua, at around 11am.
Police said a motorcyclist died at hospital after colliding with another vehicle at an intersection.
"It's horrific to have so many lives lost in such a short amount of time," National Road Policing Centre Director Superintendent Steve Greally said.
"Every road user needs to play their part in getting to where they are going safely.
"I feel for the families and friends who are grieving the loss of their loved ones right now. Their lives have been changed forever."
Despite the tragic morning, fatal crashes have been tracking lower than previous years.
As of April 17, the 2023 death toll of 79 is below each of the past four years, and well down from last year's tally of 99.
