News in brief...

A 46-year-old Hamilton man, Kevin Erskine-Shaw, died in a truck versus car crash on SH29 in the Lower Kaimai Ranges on Monday 4th January.

It happened between Soldiers Road and Valley View Road at around 5:20am.

A Serious Crash Unit investigation into the cause was ongoing.

Provisional figures show there were 320 road deaths in 2020, down 32 on the 2019 figure of 352.

National Road Policing Manager Acting Superintendent Gini Welch says many fatal crashes had inattention, speed, and alcohol as contributing factors.

“Resolve to put away your phone, drive free from alcohol, drugs and fatigue, wear your seatbelt, and drive to the conditions within speed limits,” she says.

Staff were sent home as the Countdown supermarket in Katikati was the scene of an electrical fire in a control room on Thursday 7th January.

The main entrance was blocked with trolleys and cones to avoid motorists making unnecessary manoeuvres as a clean-up operation went on inside.

State Highway 2 near Tahāwai was blocked on Sunday 10th January, following a two-car crash just after 6pm near the intersection with Woodland Road.

Two people were reported to be seriously injured and a helicopter was dispatched.

On Thursday 21st January, one person was taken to hospital after a car rolled between Wolseley Road and Bridgman Lane on SH2 at Tanners Point, at around 1:20pm.

Repairs and resealing have been taking place at various locations on State Highway 2 between the Athenree Gorge and Te Puna since Tuesday 12th January.

Long delays were experienced on the 13th, as bitumen expanded in hot conditions, causing chunks of the road surface to break off beneath vehicles.

On the 22nd, overnight resurfacing from Gill Lane to Snodgrass Road followed by a 30km/h temporary speed limit led to delays of more than two hours into Tauranga.