An entire family has been rushed to hospital after a two-car crash northwest of Auckland.
Police have confirmed three children have been seriously injured in a crash on SH16 near the Coatesville-Riverhead Highway intersection.
One child, aged about four, has life-threatening injuries. Two others have serious injuries.
All three have been taken to Starship Hospital.
Their parents were also injured and have been taken to North Shore Hospital.
A section of SH16 is closed as police Serious Crash Unit investigators carry out a scene examination.
"The information from the scene at this point in time is that a car with three children in the back has pulled out of a driveway near the crest of a hill and has collided with an oncoming car," said Waitemata police spokeswoman Beth Bates.
"At this point their condition is not known," she said.
"The driver of the other vehicle is not believed to have been injured."
She said further updates would be made when the information was confirmed.
Emergency services rushed to Peachgrove Rd at 4.40am.