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Two people are dead following a crash between Rotorua and Taupo this afternoon.
A police spokeswoman has confirmed there has been two fatalities from a serious crash on State Highway 5 near Reporoa, involving a milk tanker and a van.
Seven people have been injured.
Emergency services are currently attending.
The spokeswoman said the section of State Highway 5 was currently closed and diversions were in place at Reporoa Rd and Settlers Rd.
The Rotorua Daily Post's Stephen Parker said a white van was seriously damaged, and a milk tanker had crashed into a bank in a paddock about 100m from the van.
He said three ambulances, fire and police were at the scene, as well as the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter. Another helicopter had earlier landed but left with no patients on board.
Ambulance staff were treating a person on the road, and appeared to be preparing to load them into the helicopter, he said.
He said it looked like multiple people were involved in the crash.
The New Zealand Transport Agency said the road was expected to be closed for several hours.
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