Two dead after day one of Christmas holidays

Two people have been killed on the country's roads just over 24 hours into the Christmas holiday period.

One was killed when a car flipped and ended up in a ditch on Gun Club Road on the outskirts of Pukekohe about 8pm yesterday.

Another person was killed and a second seriously injured when their car also ran into a ditch on Tainui Road, about 15km from Morrinsville in the Waikato, about 12.15am today.

No further details were available on the victims.

The official Christmas-New Year holiday road toll period runs for 4pm on Christmas Eve until 6am on January 5.

Last year's toll was 18 dead and 65 seriously injured from 16 crashes.

- NZPA