Two people have died in separate crashes overnight after being pursued by police. Both incidents occurred in Tasman district.
The first incident occurred at approximately 11:47 on Saturday night, on Waikawa Road, Picton (Marlborough District).
A police patrol saw a speeding motorcyclist and pillion passenger, and believed the driver to be drunk. After a pursuit lasing approximately 40 seconds, the motorbike crashed. No other vehicles were involved.
The male driver died at the scene and the female pillion passenger was flown to Wellington hospital in a serious condition.
The second incident occurred at approximately 2:42 on Sunday morning on Four Rivers Highway (State Highway 6) in Murchison (Nelson Bays District).
Police were alerted to a vehicle doing burn-outs outside licensed premises. They entered a pursuit which lasted approximately one minute. The pursued car accelerated away and subsequently crashed. No other vehicles were involved. There were two people in the car. The passenger died instantly; the driver was flown to Nelson Hospital in a critical condition.
The Independent Police Conduct Authority will investigate both incidents. Further information: District Commander Superintendent Gary Knowles and Nelson Bays Area Commander Detective Inspector John Winter may be contacted via Nelson Police Station, 03 546 3840.