Police have named the young boys involved in a fatal car crash in Christchurch last night.

Nayan Samuel Woods, four years old, was killed when a car lost control in wet conditions on Linwood Avenue and mounted the curb.

His six-year-old brother Jacob suffered multiple fractures and is now in stable condition at Christchurch Hospital. Their mother, who was walking with them, suffered only minor injuries.

The car involved slid from side to side on the road before climbing the footpath and hitting the children. One News described the driver as a boy racer doing drifts.

Police said charges will be laid against the driver, but alcohol didn't appear to be a factor.

Witnesses said the driver tried to perform CPR on the four-year-old victim, the Weekend Herald reported.

Lois Maddock and partner Chris Hack were in their home nearby when they heard a loud bang. Ms Maddock ran to the crash site to see if she could help.

"When I got down there I saw one [child] lying on the ground and the driver doing CPR, but it wasn't working."

Paramedics arrived and rushed to treat the children.

Mr Hack said: "When [the mother] got in the ambulance with the child that was breathing and screaming, I don't think she realised the other one was dead."

Meanwhile, a 10-year-old boy was killed in a two-car collision on the Hibiscus Coast, north of Auckland yesterday.

Another child was seriously injured, as were two adults.

Two other adults suffered moderate injuries.

Sergeant John Roberts of Orewa said paramedics worked on the boy for some time, but were unable to save him.

The other child and an adult were airlifted in the Westpac rescue helicopter to the Starship and Auckland City Hospitals. Both had serious injuries.

A St John spokesman said paramedics took three other people by road - one seriously hurt and one with moderate injuries - to Auckland City Hospital, and another, in a moderate condition, to North Shore Hospital.

- With NZPA

- NZPA