One person has died on the roads during the Easter holiday period.

Police have confirmed a man died in hospital following a crash on Auckland's southern motorway just after 2pm on Good Friday.

The 68-year-old motorcyclist was taken to hospital in a critical condition but died yesterday.

While this is lower than last year's Easter period, Police are reminding motorists to not get complacent, says national road policing director Superintendent Steve Greally.

'I'm pleased the majority of drivers have had a happy and safe holiday period and haven't had their Easter break devastated by that call from a Police officer telling them their loved one has died.

'However, we – alongside our road safety partners - are urging people to not accept that death and serious injury on our roads is inevitable.”

Steve says it's about drivers and road users making simple decisions to keep themselves and others safe.

'It's really not rocket science – wear your seatbelt, don't drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, remove distractions, and slow down.

'Police will continue to focus on these four behaviours, and, together with our road safety partners will continue to work towards no one being harmed on our roads.”

AA Road Safety spokesman Dylan Thomsen says it's difficult to talk about the success of a low road toll as there has still be a death and it's a tragedy.

But April has so far been an "unusual month" with just two deaths reported.

Usually, April saw an average on one death per day on the roads, says Dylan.

"It's a really, really rare occurrence in New Zealand," he told Morning Report.

Dylan says it's hard to pinpoint what the change is, as the roads have been "extremely busy" over the Easter break, particularly in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

He says there's an element of "good fortune" but drivers and riders "are obviously doing the right things more often than not".

Dylan would love to say the country is turning a corner with road safety, but it's too early to say it's the start of something permanent and long lasting.

The head of Waka Kotahi's Road to Zero campaign Bryan Sherritt says this year's toll is proof road deaths can be reduced.

Bryan told Morning Report this year's number is "certainly a lot better" than other years - but his thoughts are with the family of the man who has died.

Bryan says the country is on track to have a better year than last.

So far, 82 people have died on the roads this year, "far less" than in 2022 when there was more than one death per day.

He believes road safety measures that have been implemented are contributing to the lower numbers, including having police out patrolling on the open roads.

Open roads are where the most deaths and serious injuries occur, says Bryan, and having police out there is a deterrent for drivers.

He says the latest advertising campaign, featuring a police officer and all the excuses drivers give when they are pulled over for speeding, is also helping.

Bryan says Waka Kotahi will continue to work to make the roads safer and achieve its Road to Zero campaign.

-Additional reporting by RNZ.