A record low holiday road toll was recorded for this Christmas/New Year period that officially finished at 6am today.

A total of six people died on the roads between 4pm on 24 December and 6am today - the lowest toll since records began in 1956/57.

Two cars collided on State Highway 29 on the Kaimais yesterday.

During the Christmas and New Year period last year 19 people were killed, 65 seriously injured and 335 received minor injuries.

Tauranga MP and Associate Minister of Transport Simon Bridges says the record low holiday road toll is encouraging but efforts need to continue to improve road safety.

"This year's holiday toll shows that drivers have been taking responsibility, and focusing when behind the wheel,” Mr Bridges said.

'However every fatality and serious injury on the road is a tragedy for the families and loved ones of those involved. It is important we continue to work hard in 2013 to ensure even fewer suffer the consequences of road death or injury.”

The highest holiday period road toll on record is 37 deaths in 1972/73. The lowest road toll recorded previously was eight in 1959/60.

National Manager of Road Policing Superintendent Carey Griffiths says he's very pleased with the result.

"Well done to all drivers who said no to alcohol, wore their seatbelts, stuck to the speed limits and drove attentively. Their decisions impact all of us and have contributed to this result."

Even so, he says six deaths isn't something to celebrate.

"Of course it's fantastic to see the numbers continuing to trend down but as our staff know, that's still six people whose families must be informed of a terrible tragedy."

The preliminary road toll for 2012 was 307, the second lowest in 60 years.

The lowest, 284, was recorded in 2011.

Superintendent Griffiths says he is confident numbers will continue to drop, even though there are far more vehicles being driven on New Zealand roads than ever before.

He says several agencies have united their efforts under Safer Journeys, the Government's strategy to guide improvements in road safety over 2010–2020.

"Police, Ministry of Transport, New Zealand Transport Agency and other road safety partners are in this together. We'll be reviewing results so far and working on the next action plan to make our roads even safer this year."

The 2013 Safer Journeys Action Plan will consider aspects including roads and roadsides, speeds, drivers and vehicles.

"Meshing all these aspects together as part of a safer systems approach is much more powerful than focusing on individual aspects of road safety."

With many people expected to drive home this weekend, he urges every New Zealander to do their part to keep safe.

"We can all make sure our friends and whanau wear their seatbelts. We can ask people driving to slow down," he says.

"Sober driving is critical to keeping safe. Don't tolerate your mates drinking and driving, and never get into a car with a driver who's been drinking.

"These are basics, but they save people's lives."