The Easter weekend road toll is already double that of last year and police are urging motorists to exercise caution when driving.

The official Easter holiday period for 2018 began at 4pm Thursday, March 29 and will end at 6am tomorrow.

Two of the four who have lost their lives on the roads this weekend were children.

One child died at the scene following a crash on the Desert Road north of Waiouru on Good Friday and another child died in Starship Hospital on Sunday.

The crash involved two truck and trailers, and two cars, and critically injured three others who were taken to hospital.

One of those injured remains in a critical condition in Waikato Hospital.

Both children were correctly restrained in car seats.

Another crash in Tirohanga, between Pokuru and Tirohanga Rds, north of Taupo, killed Taupo woman Denise Tito.

Tito was grieving the loss of her mother and will share a double funeral with her.

The toll rose to three on Saturday morning after a motorbike and truck collided in Rotorua.

The crash horrified witnesses, who said the motorbike lost control and went under the truck's wheels.

The motorcyclist died at the scene despite frantic efforts from responders.

Members of the public attempted to resuscitate the motorcyclist unsuccessfully.

A police shooting caused traffic chaos on Sunday after a 27km section of State Highway 1 was closed between Woodcocks Rd and Silverdale for more than 12 hours.

A 29-year-old East Auckland man was fatally shot by police around 4am after coming towards officers with a machete.

He was shot dead near Pohuehue, north of Auckland.

The most recent crash happened at around 9:15am on Sunday morning in Matamata.

Nine people are injured, two seriously, after a crash involving multiple cars at the intersection of State Highway 29 and Hopkins Rd.

Traffic is expected to be heavy in places around the country tomorrow as people return from holiday and authorities are pleading motorists remain patient and alert.

NZTA has created maps to show the expected peak holiday traffic to help motorists decide the best time to travel to avoid queues.

The busiest areas and times are based on previous years' travel patterns.

Returning traffic will be heavy in those areas from Monday late morning to Tuesday evening.

Other North Island hotspots include Bay of Plenty, Coromandel and Waikato.

NZ Transport Agency safety and environment director Harry Wilson said with more people on the roads it was important to plan ahead.

"We don't want to see people getting impatient and taking unnecessary risks such as dangerous overtaking manoeuvres or following too closely."

A police spokesperson said yesterday that motorists should consider leaving early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid peak travel times.

"Police want everyone to get home tomorrow safely after their Easter break, and ask that motorists take a moment to think carefully about their journey.

"Exercise patience in periods of heavy traffic. When you are on the roads, avoid distractions which can have dangerous consequences for yourself, your passengers and other road users," the police statement said.

Police also recommend motorists are well rested to avoid fatigue.

"Each and every driver has a responsibility to themselves and everyone else on the road to ensure they make it to their destination safely."

Over Easter Weekend 2017 there were two fatal crashes resulting in two deaths.

NZ Police assistant commissioner for road policing Sandra Venables said last Easter poor driver behaviour and speed were the main factors of crashes.

"We know the four main behaviours that contribute to road trauma are going too fast for the conditions; impairment such as fatigue, drugs or alcohol; distractions such as using a cellphone; and not wearing seatbelts."