State Highway 30 has reopened after a crash that claimed the life of one person near Whakatāne.
Two others were seriously injured in two-car crash between a car and a ute.
A police spokeswoman said the crash happened about 8.17am on State Highway 30 near Luxton and Fortunes Rds, and just north of Te Rahu Rd in Awakeri.
Earlier a St John spokeswoman said two people critically injured were being flown to Waikato Hospital while another in a serious condition was being flown to Tauranga Hospital.
Another in serious condition was being taken by road to Whakatāne Hospital.