Police are investigating two fatal crashes, one involving multiple vehicles, on the same night.

A person has died in a single car crash on Waitete Road/SH30, Te Kuiti.

The car rolled near Cotter Street shortly before 9pm on Monday.

"One person died at the scene and two others have been transported to hospital via ambulance in moderate conditions," says a police spokesperson.

The Serious Crash Unit is investigating and the road was closed for some time.

In the second crash, which happened 15 minutes later at 9.15pm, a car and a pedestrian collided on State Highway 2 at Maramarua.

"Initial indications suggest a second car which was following the first car has swerved to avoid the incident and has crashed into trees," says a police spokesperson.

"Then a third vehicle, a ute, travelling from the opposite direction has also tried to avoid the crash scene and rolled."

The pedestrian has died at the scene and at least four other people in the three vehicles have received minor to moderate injuries.