Police are remaining confident in their road patrolling method, as New Zealand enters another holiday road toll period

The official Christmas and New Year road toll begins at 4pm today and runs until 6am on Friday January 3.

The last two periods have both reached 21 deaths - the most since 2017.

Road Policing Director Steve Greally says the blips don't take away from the overall difference each year.

He says this year is tracking for 50 fewer deaths on roads than in 2023.