Waikato remains the region with the highest road death toll, according to the Ministry of Transport, despite a national drop in fatalities.

The Ministry’s provisional road death data, updated daily, shows Waikato has been the deadliest region for drivers since 2022.

It comes as New Zealand experienced its lowest annual death toll in almost a decade with 292 road fatalities recorded in 2024.

The national annual death toll has not been below 300 since 2014, when there were 293 road fatalities recorded nationally.

The Christmas and New Year holiday road deaths were also lower in the 2024/2025 season, down by 9 compared to the previous year.

Waikato has also seen a drop in fatalities over the past three years. In 2024, 52 people died as a result of road accidents in the region, down from 73 in 2022 and 67 in 2023.

Waikato Road Policing Manager Inspector Jeff Penno said while the number of road deaths in Waikato had steadily reduced in recent years, “any death is still one too many”.

“Each life lost or serious injury inflicted on our roads results in unimaginable grief for family and friends involved and also takes a toll on police officers and other first responders to these crashes.”

Holiday road accidents

Of the 13 people who died on New Zealand roads between December 24 and January 3, two were in Waikato.

On December 27, emergency services responded to a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 25 between Thames and Coromandel between Te Puru Creek Rd and Valder Place shortly before 9am.

Police confirmed one person died and four others suffered minor injuries. The road stayed closed for several hours.

At about 10.35am on January 2, one person died after a crash between a vehicle and a bicycle on SH29 at Matamata.

Emergency services found the cyclist in critical condition. They died at the scene, despite resuscitation attempts.

In May, 11 people lost their lives on Waikato roads.

Waikato’s deadliest month

In May, 11 people lost their lives on Waikato roads.

Among the dead was Leon James Kennerley from Waipa who died after the motorbike he was riding crashed in Kihikihi on May 4.

Donna Gaye McCauley died after her motorbike collided with a vehicle on Te Poi Rd, close to the intersection with SH29 near Matamata on May 17.

James Parlane, 61, of Te Awamutu died after his Land Rover collided with a truck on State Highway 3 in Ōhaupō, near Hamilton on May 23.

Leonard Iti, 69, died after his motorcycle collided with a car on Lawrence St in Te Kūiti on May 25.

On the afternoon of May 28, Paul and Lois Grimmer, Piata Ofufangavalu, Cheyene Love-Mitchell and Suliasi Lefai all died when their two vehicles collided on SH3, outside Te Awamutu.

The deadly crash doubled Waikato’s May death toll overnight.

At the time, Penno said the two cars collided after one crossed the centre line.

Earlier, he said the cause of the crash could go unknown for months.

The crash has since been referred to the Coroner.

“Police is just one piece of the puzzle.”

Penno said it was important to note that while the Waikato region had the highest number of road deaths according to Ministry of Transport figures, the data had to be considered in terms of geography, population number and demographics.

“We put the most cars down the least safe roads in New Zealand, particularly over the holiday period on roads that were never designed nor intended for the traffic volumes we now see.

“Waikato itself has a high population and a mixture of both rural and urban roads, making for a sometimes challenging road policing environment.

“However our officers are doing everything they possibly can out there to reduce the number of death and serious-injury crashes.”

Penno said police understood where and when risks occurred.

“What’s really pleasing is that as a result of the record number of breath tests we are doing in Waikato, our prosecution rates of intoxicated drivers in steadily falling.

“We are catching fewer drink-drivers — exactly what we want to occur.”

Penno said the police intended to keep up record levels of enforcement and visibility on the roads in 2025.

“But police is just one piece of the puzzle. The roads and the vehicles using them must be as safe as possible supported by sound and sensible legislation.”

Penno’s message to motorists was simple:

“Drive free from alcohol, drugs and fatigue, wear your seatbelt, put the cellphone away, and drive at a safe speed for the conditions within the posted limit.

- NZ Herald

“We want people to enjoy their time in the Waikato but get home safely afterwards.”