State Highway 30 at Horohoro has reopened after a fatal crash this afternoon.
One man died and four other people were injured in the crash, which happened at 1.25pm.
Police said a fully laden logging truck and a ute collided, resulting in the death of a man from the ute.
A woman from that ute is in a stable condition in Rotorua Hospital and a child from that ute is expected to be discharged after assessment.
Ages are still to be confimred.
A log which fell from the truck struck a second ute and a woman from that vehicle is in a stable condition in Rotorua Hospital.
The truck driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries and was not admitted.
The road was closed between Atiamuri and Rotorua while a serious crash investigation was carried out and the road was cleared.
This includes the need to remove a number of logs from the road. The crash was between between Nicholson Rd and Whirinaki Valley Rd.
Logging truck driver Duane King was one of the first on the scene. He said the rain was "bucketing down" just before he arrived at the crash scene.
"I saw the driver get out of the cab," he said.
"Everyone was rallying to help each other."
Motorists are advised to follow diversions and expect delays.