Scene on the Tauranga Eastern Link this morning. Photo / NZTA
One person was critically injured after a two-car crash closed part of the Tauranga Eastern Link this morning.
NZ Transport Agency said the road was fully open again after earlier the northbound lanes had closed as police conducted a serious crash investigation.
There were also heavy delays through the Te Puke Highway detour.
A Bay of Plenty Times reporter said traffic had been backed up from about 2km east of Waitangi right through to Te Puke.
A police spokeswoman said they were called to the crash scene just after 7am.
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A St John spokeswoman said one critically injured person was flown by helicopter to Waikato Hospital while two others with minor injuries were taken to Tauranga Hospital by ambulance. One ambulance and one rapid response vehicle had attended the scene, she said.
Initially one person was trapped and another was out of one of the vehicles.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said three crews were sent to the scene at 7am. The person was removed from the vehicle at 7.51am, he said.
As the crowd chanted, Seymour walked back into the Beehive with his MPs.