Seventeen people died on New Zealand roads over the holiday period, one of the highest totals in a decade.

The figure includes a 13-year-old girl who died in Waikato Hospital yesterday, one of five children injured in a crash in Matamata on December 27.

 Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago didn't record any fatal crashes over the holidays, which ran from 4pm on Christmas Eve to 6am this morning, 5 January.

 But many in town are grieving the death of Alexandra father-of-four Amon Saunders, killed in a crash at the Nevis Bluff on Monday, 20 December.

 A 26-year-old woman faces one charge of aggravated careless driving causing death over the crash, on State Highway 6 near Gibbston. She is due to appear in Queenstown District Court this coming

Monday, January 10.

 The grim holiday death toll is up from 11 last year and 12 the year before.

 In recent times, it has only be surpassed by 2016-17 and 2011-12, when 19 people died on the roads over the holidays.

 Assistant Commissioner Bruce O’Brien says the impact on whānau, friends and communities cannot be measured when someone is killed in a road crash.

 "Whānau and friends who lost loved ones in crashes should have been able to enjoy this holiday period with them, not planning their tangi or funeral," O'Brien says.

 "It’s also incredibly frustrating for Police to see people losing their lives in completely preventable incidents."

 Police will continue enforcement over summer and warn there is still a lot of traffic on the roads, even though the holiday period is over

 O'Brien says ultimately it is drivers who have the responsibility to keep themselves, their passengers and other road users safe.

 He encourages drivers to watch their speed, following distances, pay attention to the conditions, and to take a break if tired.

 "Don’t drink or take drugs and drive, wear a seatbelt, put your phone away and allow plenty of time to get where you are going - especially if you are travelling on roads you don’t know.

 "We don't want to see any more families impacted by tragedy this summer and we need all road users to play their part in getting everyone home safely."

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