Police dive squad recovers body and car at Lake Rotomā

Emergency services at the scene at Ōtangiwai Point, Lake Rotoma. Photo / Andrew Warner

A body and a car have been recovered from Lake Rotomā, near Rotorua, this evening.

Police recieved a report of a vehicle in the lake about 9.45am today. It was not clear how long it had been in the water.

The police dive squad was called and arrived this afternoon.

A police spokeswoman said a body was recovered from the lake at 5.40pm and a car was recovered at 6.30pm.

"Inquiries are ongoing."

Emergency services at the scene at Ōtangiwai Point, Lake Rotoma. Photo / Andrew Warner

A Rotorua Daily Post photographer at the scene at Ōtangiwai Point around noon saw multiple emergency service staff, as well as a tow truck.

Ōtangiwai Point is the same spot where two people died after their car plunged into Lake Rotomā in July.

The cause of Monday's crash has yet to be established, but a man who works down the road from Ōtangiwai Point, who wished to remain anonymous, said the incident was in the same place as the one in July.

"It is a pretty tough corner, pretty sharp," he said.

"There is a metal barrier but there's a car park where you can still go through."

He said some vehicles travelled "quite fast" down the stretch of road in question.

It was scary to think another had gone off the road.

Another Rotomā resident, who did not wish to be named, was sad about the crash and agreed some people sped down the stretch of road.

"The strong message is the 70km/h speed through the area is not causing the cars to slow down enough.

"We need to get it down to 60km/h."

Two people were injured in a two-car crash near Taupō today.

A police spokeswoman said the incident, on Broadlands Rd, was reported at 8.39am.

Two people were taken to Rotorua Hospital by ambulance, one in a critical condition and one serious.

A woman who had been driving on the road before the crash happened but did not see it happen said there had been fog, low cloud and drizzly rain in the area.

Inquiries into today's incident were ongoing.