They came from a raft of backgrounds, countries and professions.

One was a mother, on her way to set up her weekly stall at the local market.

Another had spent time in prison.

One was a "legend" teacher.

Another was a grandmother, a "selfless" woman who gave much time to her community.

Four were German tourists - two of whom were midway into a world adventure.

All of them died on New Zealand roads since Friday.

New Zealand's road toll is back in the spotlight after 14 people died on our roads between Friday and Tuesday.

The year's road toll as of this morning stood at 83 - 11 more than this time last year, and six more than 2016.

Friday – 11.59am, Devonport Rd, Tauranga

Tauranga woman Barbara Joy Rowe was struck by a car on Devonport Rd near 1st Ave on Friday.

She was crossing the road to collect her car from the AA Service Centre at the time.

She was rushed to hospital but died on Saturday.

Tauranga community stalwart Barbara Joy Rowe. Photo / File

The 76-year-old has held many different hats and juggled many voluntary positions in the Tauranga community and beyond.

"Barbara was selfless to the core and we will all miss her so much," stepson Peter Rowe told the Bay of Plenty Times.

Friday – 11.40pm, Mountain View Rd, Hikurangi, Northland

Blake Edward Hilton, 20, of Hikurangi, died after a crash on Mountain View Rd in Northland on Friday about 11.40pm.

Blake Hilton, 20, of Hikurangi. Photo / Supplied

Saturday – 6.40am, Whakapapa, intersection of State Highway 47 and SH48

German nationals Rebekka Maria Isenmann, 31, and Simon Daniel Schweizer, 35, died after their van collided with a truck in the central North Island at 6.40am on Saturday.

Saturday – 2.20pm, Kaeo, Northland

German tourists Marlena Picht, 24, and Marc Damboldt, 30, both from Bad Sacha in central Germany, died on Saturday when the people mover they were in collided head-on with an oncoming truck just north of Kaeo.

The impact was enough to tear the van they had modified so they could camp in it, in two.

Marlena Picht and Marc Damboldt from Germany were killed on Saturday in a crash near Kaeo in Northland. Photo / Supplied

Sergeant Haydn Korach, of Mid North police, said it appeared the people-mover had been heading south when it crossed the centreline.

The driver of the northbound truck had tried to avoid a collision.

The German couple had to be cut from the van but died at the scene. The truck driver also had to be freed by firefighters using cutting gear and was in a serious condition.

Sergeant Dylan Robinson said police had worked with the German consulate to inform the parents of the couple about the tragedy.

Police were continuing to gather information that would be handed over to the coroner.

Picht had documented their travels on a blog called Adventure In My Backpack and had regularly posted to Facebook about her adventures in New Zealand.

The pair were about five months into a world trip and had arrived in "beautiful New Zealand" about November 19.

Saturday – 11.30pm, Peter Snell Rd, Ruakaka, Northland

A woman died in Auckland Hospital on Monday, after a single vehicle crash on Peter Snell Rd in Northland, about 11.30pm on Saturday night.

Her name has not yet been released by police.

Two other people were injured in the accident, which involved just one vehicle.

Sunday – 5.40am, State Highway 6 near Clover Rd, Nelson

Phillip Stretch, 33, and Johnathan Tairakena, 25, crashed and died during a police pursuit in Nelson on Sunday, also killing innocent motorist and mother, 53-year-old Carmen Marie Yanko.

The crash occurred on State Highway 6 at Hope, south of Nelson about 5.40am on Sunday.

Yanko was on her way to Monty's Market in Nelson, where it is believed she had a regular stall selling various antiques and collectables.

Her children say they are "heartbroken and reeling from this senseless tragedy".

"She lived to be a mother and was there for us always," they said.

"Carmen loved and lived fiercely and will be terribly missed by her family and friends."

Tairakena's brother Fabian said he was in "so much shock" at the death.

"Why ... brother why tho ... brother my baby brother ... I just I'm in so much shock," Fabian said.

"I don't understand how he got into this situation."

Johnathan Tairakena, 25, was the driver of the vehicle being pursued by police. Photo / Facebook

The vehicle driven by Tairakena had led police on a 6km pursuit when they crashed into Yanko's car.

Tairakena was a disqualified driver, and had previous convictions for burglary and theft, including stealing cash from a McDonald's charity donation tin.

Tairakena once worked for Talley's Group Ltd. He left the job about two or three years ago, a spokeswoman for the company said.

Stretch, a passenger in the car, had a previous conviction for killing someone in a vehicle accident.

Stretch was sentenced to 18 months in jail for killing a passenger in a 2001 crash.

Stretch was 17 at the time and was drunk when the crash happened.

Phillip Stretch, 33, was a passenger in a car that crashed during the police chase. Photo / Supplied

Police had been chasing the vehicle for 6km and the pursuit had not been called off when the collision happened on State Highway 6 near Clover Rd at about 5.40am.

"An outcome like this is the last thing police want to see," Superintendent Mike Johnson said.

Sunday - 8.30pm, Ormond Rd, Gisborne

A 29-year-old Wairoa man died after the ute he was a passenger in collided with a firewood trailer in Ormond Road, Gisborne, on Sunday night died.

He was taken to Waikato Hospital with extensive injuries but passed away in the intensive care unit on Monday afternoon.

The driver, also from Wairoa, was not injured.

A woman who lives close to where the ute ended up, and who was first on the scene, told The Gisborne Herald the ute went out of control coming off the Wi Pere Street roundabout.

"It crossed the centre line, smashed into a stationary trailer full of firewood and ended up on the footpath.

"It was a miracle no one was coming the other way, was walking on the footpath or got caught up in the crash as it unfolded," she said.

When the woman arrived at the scene she said the driver was able to get out of the ute and she held on to him until emergency services arrived.

The passenger was not responsive and her daughter helped attend to him with others until the ambulance arrived.

Monday – 9.30am, State Highway 5, near Maraeroa Rd, north of Rotorua

Hori Kaiwai, 67, died following a crash on State Highway 5 that involved a car and a campervan, north of Rotorua, about 9.30am on Monday.

Kaiwai was a former teacher at Rotorua Boys' High School.

Rotorua man Hori Kaiwai who was killed in a collision between a campervan and a car. Photo / Supplied

In a tribute posted on the Rotorua Boys' High School Facebook page, Kaiwai was described as a "legend".

"Kaumatua, teacher, colleague, mentor and friend to many staff and hundreds of young men of Raukura over 19 years from 1996 to 2014."

Dozens of comments on the post paid tribute to Kaiwai, describing him as "the realest of all teachers" and "a lovely man".

Monday - 4.45pm, SH 5 near Tapapa, Waikato

Auckland woman Lynda Anne Bailey, 56, died in a crash on State Highway 5 near Tapapa in the Waikato on Monday.

Tuesday – 3.55pm, Studholme St near Goodwin Ave, Morrinsville, Waikato

A man died after crashing into a fence in Morrinsville, Waikato, on Tuesday.

His name has not yet been released by police.