Children survive as former NZ First MP's nephew and partner killed in horror Southland crash

The 28-year-old nephew of former NZ First MP Ria Bond, pictured outside Parliament last year, died with his partner in a crash near Dipton last night. Their two infant children survived. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A man who died in a two-car crash in Southland last night was the nephew of a former New Zealand First MP.

Ria Bond's nephew was travelling home from his father's funeral when the crash happened on the Dipton-Winton Highway, near Ladbrook Rd, a statement from New Zealand First said.

Bond's nephew, 28, and his partner both died in the crash. But their two young children survived after being rescued.

The driver of the second car also died in the crash. The two women were aged 22 and 28.

The crash, which the couple's two infant sons survived, claimed three lives on the Dipton Winton Highway, near Ladbrook Rd, in Southland. Photo / Google

A 2-month-old boy and a 2-year-old boy survived the crash - after being rescued by a farmer and a firefighter.

This afternoon New Zealand First leader Winston Peters described it as a tragedy.

"Ms Bond's nephew was killed in a car crash on the Dipton-Winton Highway, travelling from his father's funeral at about 9.40pm on Sunday evening," he said in a statement.

"Her nephew's partner also died in the crash while their baby and 2-year-old toddler survived the crash. The driver of the other vehicle also tragically died."

The party extended its sympathy to Ms Bond, who became a list MP in April 2015, following Mr Peters' victory in the Northland byelection.

She was number 12 on the party list for this year's election and was not returned to Parliament.

Suzanne Harvey who rescued the baby said car crashes were not uncommon in the area.

"It's a long stretch of road that people can put their foot down and go quite fast, I don't know what caused the accident last night, but it was just horrific."

The children were flown to Kew Hospital in Invercargill last night and are being supported by family members, with their injuries deemed non life-threatening.

Police are still investigating what lead to the crash, with State Highway 6 to be temporarily closed tomorrow.