By midnight the annual road toll provisionally stood at 380 deaths after two more people died in crashes yesterday.
It is just four short of the highest toll since 2009 when 384 people died.
"Deaths and injuries on our roads have absolutely devastating impacts on families and communities," Road Policing assistant commissioner Sandra Venables said.
"There were a lot of people who missed spending Christmas and New Year's with their loved ones.
"They are grieving when they should be making memories."
Police want to advise drivers that alcohol stays in your system for a long time, especially after a big night out.
"The last thing we want to be doing on 01/01/18 is advising your loved ones that you won't be around anymore.
"NZ it's time to wake up and take a look at our attitudes to driving when we get behind the wheel," the post said.
