Crashes and Kaimai rescue for chopper

Tauranga's TrustPower TECT Rescue Helicopter was called to help a driver who crashed at Hampton Downs race track.

The 50-year-old man rolled his race car, suffering head and shoulder injuries on Saturday.

He was treated at the scene by St John paramedics before being flown to Middlemore Hospital for further treatment.

Earlier in the day the rescue helicopter was helped winch a 40-year-old Auckland woman from the Kaimai Ranges.

The woman was a competitor in 'The Goat' running race had fractured her ankle. She continued on for another couple of kilometres before the call for help was sent out.

The woman was located then winched from the bush using the Port of Tauranga rescue winch then flown to Tauranga Hospital for treatment.

On Friday night, the rescue helicopter was called to Whangamata after a 37-year-old local man fell off his motorbike while travelling about 100km/h.

The man lost control of the bike on loose metal and slid along the road suffering serious injuries to his hip.

He was flown in a moderate condition to Waikato Hospital for treatment.