Three people have died on New Zealand roads on Saturday night and Sunday morning.

A pedestrian walking along State Highway One towards Tirau was killed, another person died after a car fled from police in Nelson, and another in a single-vehicle crash in Manawatū.

A pedestrian died after being struck by at least one vehicle on SH1, Piarere on Saturday night. Police were notified of the incident at about 8.30pm.

Initial enquiries indicate the person had been walking on SH1 towards Tirau prior to being struck.

Police received several calls from motorists in the area at the time. A section of SH1 remained closed until about 4am this morning, and the investigation into the circumstances is ongoing.

A person died after a car fled from police in Nelson.

Police said in a statement that officers were travelling down Waimea Road in Nelson responding to an unrelated incident at about 1.35am Sunday when a vehicle nearby sped off.

'It was found a short time later near the intersection of Rutherford and Examiner Streets, where it had crashed into a tree.”

One person died at the scene and two others were seriously injured.

The Serious Crash Unit was examining the scene with cordons in place on Sunday morning.

One person died after a single-vehicle crash in Manawatū early on Sunday.

Police were called to Rangiotū Rd, Tiakitahuna, southwest of Palmerston North, at 2.30am.

One person was found dead and the police Serious Crash Unit is investigating.