Three people have died in a crash north of Taupo.
Police have confirmed the fatalities after a crash between a car and a "heavy truck" at around 2:15pm.
The crash occurred on State Highway 1 at Atiamuri, just south of the intersection with SH30, police said.
Firefighters, paramedics and the police serious crash unit were all at the scene.
A Fire Service spokesman said one person was "severely trapped" in the wreckage and crews were in the process of extricating them.