Four people have died on New Zealand roads in the past two days, bringing the year's road toll to 91 - 16 more than at the same time last year.

The devastating carnage began on Sunday morning, when two teenagers died after a high-speed head-on collision at Amberley, north of Christchurch.

Two 16-year-olds, Dexter Morgan Barham and Burgundy-Rose Eden Brown, from Christchurch, were killed in the crash and three other people were injured.

The crash involved two cars, and police reported one of the cars was on the wrong side of State Highway 1 when the collision happened about 6.20am.

It is believed the driver who caused the crash may have been driving illegally, on a learners licence without the supervision of a motorist holding a full licence.

Friends and family of the teenagers have spoken out about their grief on social media, posting that they are "absolutely gutted" and the youths were "far too young to be taken from this world".

Brown's brother had posted on social media about his sister's death, writing "what I would do to say I love you one more time, to hug you one more time".

"I will forever treasure the moments I spent with you and Dexter I love you guys soo much."

Dexter Morgan Barham and Burgundy-Rose Eden Brown, both from Christchurch, were killed in a high-speed head-on collision at Amberley, north of Christchurch. Photos / Facebook

Acting principal of Shirley Boys' High School Tim Grocott confirmed Barham was a former student at the school.

Grocott said the incident was "absolutely awful" and "very upsetting" for the school community".

Tragedy also hit in the North Island yesterday, after two people were killed in separate crashes in Paparoa and Mangakino.

Emergency services were called to a fiery two-car crash on State Highway 12 near Paparoa about 2.15pm.

One person died at the scene, while two others were airlifted to hospital with serious and moderate injuries.

A spokeswoman for the Whangarei Hospital said the patients were in a stable condition by early yesterday evening.

Emergency services at the scene of the fatal accident between Maungaturoto and Paparoa, 45km northwest of Wellsford. Photo / Jason Oxenham

SH12 remained closed at the crash site as the Serious Crash Unit investigated the scene.

Two hours after the Northland crash, another life was claimed after a car crashed into a creek near Mangakino, in the Otorohanga District.

Emergency services were called to the fatal crash on Tahae Rd around 4pm.

One person died at the scene, police said, and the Serious Crash Unit had been advised.

Since the beginning of the year 91 people have lost their lives in car crashes compared to 75 at the same time last year.

All this comes after a horror weekend on New Zealand's roads which saw nine people killed in crashes between March 9 and 11.

Assistant Police Commissioner of Road Policing, Sandra Venables, said any death on our roads is one too many.

The scene of the Amberley crash, north of Christchurch. Photo / Supplied

"Police are committed, alongside our road safety partners, to reducing death and injury on our roads.

"But we cannot do this alone, we need everyone's help to keep our roads safe. Decisions drivers make impact not only them and those in their vehicle, but everybody else on the road as well," she said.

"We would love to see everybody driving sensibly and to the conditions every time they use a vehicle."

Venables said there were four main behaviours which contributed to death and injury on our roads.

"Police focus is on addressing these behaviours – people driving too fast for the conditions, people driving impaired, people driving distracted, and people not wearing seatbelts.

"Nobody wants to share the road with someone who is taking risks.

"At the end of the day, road safety is everyone's responsibility. We all need to act safely so everybody can get to their destination."