The 17-year old girl who died after her car collided with a vehicle pulling a horse float was a Hamilton Girls High School student named Katrina Hooper.
She was driving to school at the time of the accident, which happened on State Highway 30 at Te Pahu Road,
15km west of Hamilton, at 7.55am.
Ms Hooper, who died at the scene before paramedics arrived was from Te Pahu.
Sgt Mark Hepworth said: "At this stage it appears she lost control on a bend in loose metal and has collided with the four-wheel drive vehicle that was towing a horse trailer with a horse on board."
He said the road conditions and the girl's inexperience could have been factors.
Her body has been taken to Hamilton for a post mortem.
The horse was unharmed and is now grazing in a paddock across the road from the accident.
Emergency services are at the scene of the collision.
Locals in the area said the newly sealed road was notorious for accidents.
William Smith, who has lived in the area for 60 years, said he had seen at least eight serious car accidents in the past five years.
