Police Minister Judith Collins is warning motorists not to flee police, after a fatal crash in Christchurch last night where an elderly couple were killed by a speeding driver who ran a red light while being pursued by police.
"The message is don't run. It is not worth it," she said. While most New Zealanders understood that when asked to pull over by police, they do so, "there is an element in our society that thinks it is okay to defy the law and run."
"A very strong message needs to be sent that if they run, there is a good chance they or other innocent people will die."
Prime Minister John Key told NZPA: "It's an absolute tragedy and two fine Canterbury people have lost their lives as a result of the irresponsible actions of a person who now needs to be brought to justice."
Police are investigating the crash, where a 73-year-old man and a woman, believed to be in her 60s, died on their way home from the gym after an unwarranted car ploughed into them at the intersection of Fitzgerald Avenue and Gloucester St near central Christchurch.
Bystanders described it as a "nightmare" after both cars became airborne and rolled about 100 metres.
Ms Collins said it was a "horrific" accident and terrible tragedy.
"My thoughts and my sympathies are very much with the families of the victims of this tragedy. Words cannot express how it would feel to lose loved ones due to the actions of an irresponsible and reckless driver.
"My thoughts are also with the police officers who deal with the aftermath of this, and other horrific accidents resulting from drivers who fail to stop and cause so much devastation."
Her words echo those of Christchurch police area commander Inspector Malcolm Johnston, who today issued a plea to motorists to stop trying to outrun police.
"We are just appealing for the public of New Zealand, for the drivers and for the criminals....we're appealing for them," Mr Johnston told Radio New Zealand this morning.
"They don't have the right to take innocent lives like this. They don't have the right to take other road-users' lives..."
Yesterday's deaths bring to 13 those killed this year in police chases, including a triple fatal in Christchurch last month.
The pursuit began shortly after 8pm when officers spotted a car travelling 89kmh in a 50kmh zone along Ferry Road. Police pursued the car for about 600 metres along Fitzgerald Ave, before it struck the elderly couple's vehicle.
"All this driver had to do was stop. He was told to stop, indicated to stop and that's all he had to do," Mr Johnston said. "Blame for this tragedy lies entirely with this driver. He was signalled to stop and he should have stopped."
The driver - who was disqualified and "well known" to police - suffered head and internal injuries and is under police guard in hospital.
Mr Johnston said the officers involved were "absolutely devastated".
"The accident happened right in front of their eyes. We join the police to make a difference, we really do, and to have a tragedy like this happen in front of them, you know, I wouldn't wish it on anyone."
Last month, Shannon Smiler-O'Connor, 26, was killed in the crash on July 10 when the car he was travelling in sped away from a routine police stop about 1am.
After pursuing the car for a few streets, police found it smashed into a concrete pole at the intersection of Manchester St and Moorhouse Avenue.
The car's driver Tama Regan Dobson, 27, and another passenger, Karleane Marie Magon, 20, died in hospital weeks after the crash.
NZPA