New Zealand’s road toll over the 2025–26 Christmas holiday period has dropped for a second consecutive year, with provisional figures recording 7 fatalities. The result is less than half the deaths recorded over the same period last year and continues a downward trend seen over recent holiday breaks.
Police say the improvement reflects broader progress in road safety, with provisional data showing 272 road deaths in 2025, down from 292 in 2024. This marks the third year in a row that annual fatalities have declined, a trend police attribute in part to intensified enforcement under Operation Open Roads.
While welcoming the reduction, Police Director of Road Policing Superintendent Steve Greally stressed that any loss of life remains unacceptable and that the impact on families should not be overlooked.
Enforcement and testing efforts intensify
Police say enforcement activity has increased significantly, with nearly 4.5 million alcohol breath tests conducted in the past financial year alongside more than half a million speeding infringements.
Speed remains a key concern, with police continuing to see risky behaviour behind the wheel. Greally said the aim is to see speeding offences decline as more drivers comply with posted limits and allow enough time for their journeys.
Police have also begun rolling out roadside drug-driving testing, starting in the Wellington region in December, with a national expansion expected between April and June this year. Authorities say targeted patrols and enforcement will continue, particularly in high-risk areas, as drivers are urged to prioritise seatbelts, safe speeds, and distraction-free driving to help keep roads safer over the holiday period and beyond.
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