Her death comes just over a week after a horror crash in Matamata last Monday, December 27.
Five children aged 10 to 13 years old suffered serious injuries in the single-vehicle crash. Three of the youngsters were taken to hospital in a critical condition.
Assistant Commissioner Bruce O'Brien said ultimately, it was up to drivers to have the responsibility to keep themselves, their passengers and other road users safe.
"The impact on whānau, friends and communities cannot be measured when someone is killed in a road crash.
"It's also incredibly frustrating for Police to see people losing their lives in completely preventable incidents."
Police are calling on motorists to slow down after 17 people were killed during the Christmas and New Year holiday road toll period. Photo / File
O'Brien called on motorists to watch their speed and following distances; pay attention to the road conditions and stop and take a break if you are feeling tired or fatigued.
"Don't drink or take drugs and drive, wear a seatbelt, put your phone away and allow plenty of time to get where you are going - especially if you are travelling on roads you don't know."
The number of people killed on our roads during the Christmas and New Year break is the highest since 2016/17.
This time last year, 11 people died during the holiday period.
The year before that, the road toll stood at four. In 2018/19 nine people were killed and the year before that, 12 people died.
The highest number of deaths on New Zealand's roads during the Christmas and New Year holiday period in recent times was during the 2016/17 season, when 19 people lost their lives on our roads.
Tragedy after tragedy
Yesterday, a person died after a car downed powerlines and caught fire in Waikato in the afternoon.
Authorities later named the victim was 17-year-old Joshua Hartner, a student at Auckland Grammar School.
About an hour before that incident, emergency services were called to St Aubyn St in New Plymouth after reports that a car had crashed into a parked vehicle.
A person was later confirmed to have died in that crash.
Christmas Eve
The first person killed during the official holiday period was Shaquille Dempsey, of Turangi.
The 24-year-old died in a crash on SH1 in Motutere, south of Taupō. Emergency crews were called to the area at 7.15pm.
Three people were killed on Christmas Day alone, including a motorcyclist involved in a crash in Gordonton, Waikato.
Emergency crews were called to the area at around 9.20am. However, the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.
About the same time, emergency services were also heading to State Highway 1 Waihola, Otago, after a crash between a car and a truck. One person died in that collision.
The third Christmas Day fatality was a pedestrian who was hit by a vehicle later that night in the Auckland suburb of New Windsor.
The incident happened on Rosamund Ave about 10.15pm.
A New Zealand Post staffer was killed on the same day in Tawa, Wellington. He was later named as 31-year-old Sam Kelman who was said to be a dedicated member of the company and who loved the game of cricket.
Wednesday, December 29
One person was killed in a crash on SH1 Pukenui on Wednesday, December 29.
Emergency services responded to reports of a crash involving three vehicles. Several other people were injured as a result, and their injuries ranged from moderate to serious.
