Three people have died following three separate crashes in what's been an afternoon of carnage on the roads.

One person has died in hospital following a crash on State Highway 16 at Waimauku this evening.

The two-car crash happened around 5:15pm near McPike Road.

Three people were airlifted to Auckland Hospital - two in a critical condition and one in moderate condition.

One of those in a critical condition has since died.

The road is still closed and diversions are in place.

 

It's the latest in a horror afternoon on the roads.

One person is dead, two are seriously injured, and one moderate, after a three-car pileup in Mount Cook around 3pm.

State Highway 8 has been closed at Pukaki Dam since the crash.

On the East Coast of the North Island, one person died after crashing their car just before 1 o'clock.