Critical injuries after motorbike and ute crash at Rotomā

One person has been critically injured and airlifted to hospital after a crash between a motorbike and a ute in Rotomā.

A St John spokeswoman said an ambulance and helicopter were sent to the scene, on Matahi Rd, between SH30 and Rendall Rd, about 3.50pm.

One patient with critical injuries was flown to Waikato Hospital, she said.

A police spokeswoman said the Serious Crash Unit was also called.

"The patient was stabilised at the scene at 5pm, prior to the airlift," she said.

Fire and Emergency NZ shift manager Daniel Nicholson said a fire crew from Rotomā and a rescue team from Kawerau station helped police to clear an area to enable the rescue chopper from Tauranga to land and airlift one person to a hospital.

Traffic was still being managed at 5.30pm but the scene has since been cleared.

A photographer at the scene said it was a narrow, windy, rural road. It was sealed.