Police at the scene of one of the crashes on SH1 this morning. Photo / Martyn Boots
Traffic on State Highway 1 south of Whangarei is flowing normally again after earlier chaos this morning.
There were three separate crashes in Waipu in the span of about half an hour but just before noon, NZTA said the crash sites had been cleared and roads were open.
Emergency crews attended a multiple car accident near Shoemaker Drive, where seven people have been injured.
One person is reportedly in a critical condition while two others suffered moderate injuries. Four others received minor injuries.
All seven people have been taken to Northland Base Hospital, St John said.
A police spokeswoman said a car was T-boned and they were called to the scene about 9.45am.
31/12/16: Traffic incident in Waipu. 7 patients to Northland Base Hospital. Helicopter dispatched. https://t.co/JLhlKPMKdD
— St John (@StJohnAlerts) December 30, 2016
A towing company was called to remove two utes and a car from the scene.
The Fire Service said they had several crews on scene also and were assisting St John and police officers with first aid and traffic control.
Reports of a #crash on #SH1 near Waipu. Please follow directions of emergency services. #Delays in the area possible ^TP
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) December 30, 2016
Shortly after that crash, emergency staff were then called to another car crash on Rosythe Road.
One person suffered moderate injuries and was taken to Northland Base Hospital for treatment.
Just before 10.30am, a third accident occurred at Nova Scotia Drive, involving two vehicle, police said.
Motorists are being urged to drive carefully.
Heading north today? Allow for a slow journey with northbound traffic on #SH1 becoming heavy as predicted: https://t.co/HXm1pSKVTQ ^TP pic.twitter.com/CufNH9G8Ks
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) December 30, 2016
The high road toll so far this year has prompted dismay.
The toll, which stood at 325 this morning, is six higher than last year's, and higher than those in the three previous years.
The Automobile Association said it was deeply disappointed that road deaths were on the rise.
"Sadly it has been a year where more people have died on our roads," AA motoring affairs general manager Mike Noon said.
New Zealand's fatality rate is now much lower than it was in the 1980s to 2000s, but it had stopped declining since 2011, apart from the record low of 2013.
Other countries had been seeing similar trends, with Australia and many European nations also recording road toll increases after long periods of decline.
Noon said the Government had research underway on what was behind the recent increase in road deaths.
"But one thing we know for sure right now is that we need to do better," he said.
Noon said there were actually slightly fewer fatal crashes this year, but more incidents where multiple people died.
"The road toll is not just 325 families that have lost loved ones this year either. Thousands more people have been seriously injured in crashes and this has a major impact on their families, communities and emergency crews, the health system and courts."
Noon said there had been some significant road safety improvements this year, with the Government announcing a $600m investment to upgrade high-risk rural highways, a new approach to safe speed limits, and the possibility of mandatory alcohol interlocks for the most dangerous drink drivers.
"Those are all going to make a difference in the longer-term but we also need drivers to play their part and make safe choices every time they are behind the wheel," he said.
"Every day around the country there will be many times when something unexpected happens on the road and people need to react in an instant. If you are going too fast for the conditions, following too close or are not paying attention that might mean you aren't able to stop in time.
"Making our roads safer is about more than just wearing your seatbelt and not drinking and driving. Every driver will have moments where they could play it a bit safer and lessen their risk of ending up in a crash."
Labour's transport spokeswoman Sue Moroney said tough questions need to be asked about why the carnage had worsened.