Rotorua fatal crash: Mary-Jane Mereheni Heke named as one of four victims of State Highway 5 crash

• Beloved grandmother Mary-Jane Mereheni Heke, 50, has been named as one of four people killed in a crash near Rotorua.
• Two males and two females were killed in the crash between a car and an SUV on State Highway 5 on Monday night.
• Inspector Herby Ngawhika said there had not been a crash “to this degree” on the same stretch of road.

A beloved grandmother and “friend to many” has been named as one of the four victims who were killed in a two-vehicle crash between a car and an SUV near Rotorua on Monday night.

Three people died at the scene of the crash on State Highway 5 in Whakarewarewa, Rotorua – which was reported about 7.50pm – and another died in hospital after having been transported in a critical condition.

A family member of Mary-Jane Mereheni Heke, 50, took to social media on Tuesday night to announce her “sudden and tragic passing”, providing details surrounding her tangi.

Heke, also known as Mere, leaves behind five children and a grandchild – and was set to celebrate her 51st birthday on December 29.

“It is with deep sadness and the heaviest of hearts that we announce the sudden and tragic passing of our most beloved daughter, sister/sister-in-law, partner, mum, nanny, cousin and a friend to many,” the tribute read.

“At the moment everything is still surreal. Our whānau are still awaiting our beloved Maryjane to be released from hospital so arrangements are yet to be confirmed. In this time we please ask that everyone bear with us as we navigate this mamae as a whānau in bringing our beautiful Mere home.”

Others paid tribute to Heke, saying she was “such a beautiful soul” and that she was “gone but not forgotten”.

Another family member yesterday said “tears from my eyes keep on falling”.

“Rest peacefully our beautiful cuzzy ... Gonna be sorely loved and missed,” the family member wrote.

Police yesterday said two females and two males were killed in the crash – which involved seven people. Two people remained in hospital yesterday, one in a critical condition and one in a serious condition. One person was uninjured.

Rotorua Police area commander Inspector Herby Ngawhika told Stuff two males and a female in a sedan were killed, with another female in an SUV.

Ngawhika believed all four were Kiwis and some were locals to Rotorua.

“Undoubtedly it will hit the community hard,” he said.

State Highway 5 was closed on Monday night following the crash south of Rotorua. Photo / Ben Fraser

He said there had not been a crash “to this degree” on the same stretch of road.

Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell earlier said the community was “devastated for the families of the crash victims”.

“It’s a tragedy to have lost four people so suddenly and our community is shocked and saddened for their loss.

“This is a well-used state highway that many people drive as a daily commute for work and also as visitors to our region.”

She expressed gratitude for the first responders and ambulance staff who attended the crash.

Police said the crash on State Highway 5 was reported to police at 7.50pm. Photo / Ben Fraser

Ngawhika earlier said it was a “horrific crash” and police were providing support for everyone affected, including those who were first on the scene.

“On behalf of police, I want to extend our sincere sympathies to the whānau and friends of those who have been caught up in this terrible event.”

Both Tapsell and Ngawhika encouraged people to take care on the roads as the busy summer holiday period approached.

“Buckle up, don’t speed and don’t drive impaired by alcohol or drugs, or distracted by phones,” Ngawhika said.

“We want everyone to get to where they’re going safely. Police will be out on the roads throughout our region and motorists should expect to see them anywhere, anytime.”

Ngawhika said inquiries into the crash were ongoing and he could not comment any further.

State Highway 5 intersection with Tumunui Rd. Photo / Ben Fraser

Police appeal for witnesses and dashcam footage

In a statement yesterday, police appealed for anyone travelling on the highway between 6.30pm and 8.30pm on Monday, who witnessed the incident or may have dashcam footage, to come forward.

Witnesses could contact police on 105 online, quoting file number 241210/0686.

SH5 closed on Monday night and reopened Tuesday morning.

A car of visibly upset people had parked at the cordon shortly after the crash was reported and began walking down the highway towards the crash scene.

St John said it sent two ambulances, an operations manager and a rapid response vehicle.

Residents posted about the crash on a local Facebook page.

“Looks serious, roads closed.”

“Lots of ambulances,” another person wrote.

One woman commented that her daughter was turned around and she could hear people screaming from their cars.

There have been several other fatal crashes this year on SH5, which runs from Tīrau in South Waikato, through Rotorua and Taupō, to north of Napier in Hawke’s Bay.

Among the dead were Lynette Helen Ambler, nee Gibson – a 63-year-old from Rotorua who died in a crash near Tāpapa in September – and Koutu 27-year-old Kiefer Bryers, who was killed near Whakarewarewa on March 31.

Quadruple fatal adds to spate of crashes over weekend

The fatal crash came after five people died in three separate crashes over the weekend.

Three motorcyclists were killed in a crash on State Highway 1 in Utiku, near Taihape, on Saturday.

Two of the riders have been publicly identified, with tributes left for Lesley Brooks and Jacob Coady.

Another motorcyclist was killed on the same day on SH32 near Taupō.

A motorist died in a single-vehicle crash near Little River in Canterbury on Sunday.

According to online Ministry of Transport statistics, the road toll for 2024 stood provisionally at 264 at 1pm on Tuesday, including 13 in December, but the prospects were for the lowest annual toll in more than a decade.

The toll of 253 in 2013 was the lowest since 1952, and it has been below 300 just twice since, the 293 in 2014 and 299 in 2021, impacted by less traffic on the roads in the Covid era.

The highest on record was 843 in 1973.

There have been nine deaths on Rotorua local body area roads so far this year, including four in December, according to Ministry of Transport data last updated at 1.01pm Tuesday.

That was more than double last year’s four deaths in the area and matched the 2022 toll. Police recorded nine road deaths in 2023 in the Rotorua police district, the Rotorua Daily Post previously reported.

There have been 32 deaths in the Bay of Plenty Police district this year, which includes Rotorua, up from 28 in 2023, according to the ministry.

Benjamin Plummer is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He has worked for the Herald since 2022.