Minister for Transport Safety Harry Duynhoven is counselling against a knee jerk reaction over the driving age.
The drivers in two fatal crashes near Christchurch over the weekend were 15-year-old girls: both were breaking the conditions of their restricted licences by carrying passengers.
Duynhoven says work is under way to tighten up conditions for learner drivers but he does not support calls to raise the age to 16.
He says the weekend's events were an anomaly statistically and he is urging people keep things in perspective.
He says education is needed to improve young people's attitudes.
But the Automobile Association says while it does not necessarily want the driving age to go up, it would like to see drivers remain on a learner's license for longer.
Currently drivers spend six months on a learner's licence before they go to a restricted license for up to 18 months - and AA motoring affairs manager Mike Noon would like to see the learner licence period stretched to 12 months, allowing learner drivers more time in a supervised situation before they go solo.
He also wants tougher licence tests and demerit points for breaking the rules.
