WELLINGTON, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- The official holiday period has ended with nine people tragically killed in crashes on New Zealand roads, Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter said on Thursday.

It was three people fewer than the 12 who died during the last holiday season, Genter said, adding this is yet another reminder of the need to make substantial improvements to road safety in New Zealand.

"Many deaths and serious injuries on our roads are preventable," she said, adding the government is committed to reducing deaths and serious injuries through new thinking, more funding and prioritized action.

The government is investing 1.4 billion NZ dollars (0.9 billion U.S. dollars) over three years to make urgent safety improvement across high-risk roads, Genter said.

"This year we will be consulting the public on a new road safety strategy and action plan to drive substantial improvements in road safety in New Zealand," she said.