Rescuers have described the extensively damaged vehicle involved in a fatal road crash in Auckland this morning as unsurvivable.
One man died in the two car crash near the intersection of Whitford Maraetai Rd and Waikopua Rd shortly before 6am this morning, police said.
The man was the sole occupant of a late model sedan.
The vehicle was barely recognisable in harrowing photos from the scene.
A woman, believed to be the sole occupant of a 4WD vehicle, was classed as having serious injuries when paramedics arrived but transported to Middlemore Hospital with minor injuries, a St John Ambulance spokesman said.
She was now in a stable condition, a Middlemore spokeswoman said.
Beachlands Fire Chief Fire Officer Shane Rutherford said the man was already deceased when two appliances from the volunteer brigade arrived at the scene.
"[His car] was very damaged, there wasn't much chance of surviving that," he said.
"The other vehicle had a little bit of frontal damage, but it was reasonable untouched. It was very well protected and had a lot of airbag protection."
Mr Rutherford said fire service staff were still on the scene and had assisted Police Serious Crash Unit and the coroner in removing the man's body from the vehicle and clearing the site.
They were due to depart the scene at midday, he said.
Parts of Whitford Maraetai Rd that were closed earlier today due to the crash were reopened shortly after midday.
Information about what caused the crash had not been released.
It's understood a NZDF aircraft and multiple helicopters are involved.