Police are investigating whether charges should be laid against any of the four intoxicated adults who took a 6-year-old girl on a quad bike that crashed and left the youngster fighting for her life in hospital.
The girl was flown by air ambulance to Auckland's Starship Children's Hospital this afternoon where she remained in a critical condition, a hospital spokesman said.
The four adults, including the girl's father and stepmother, were being treated for serious injuries in Hawkes Bay Hospital.
Senior Sergeant Luke Shadbolt said police were yet to determine who was driving the quad bike when it rolled down a bank and crashed into a fence on Okaihau Rd near Waimarama Beach, south of Hastings, about 11.20pm yesterday.
He said the crash was the result of "the stupidity of the adults", who were all aged between 20 and 28.
"When they were admitted to hospital last night we took blood samples of all four adults for analysis, and there may well be charges pending as a result," Mr Shadbolt said.
"Last night it was unclear who was actually driving."
He said quad bikes were subject to the same laws as any other vehicle travelling on a public road, and those driving them needed to be cautious.
"Quad bikes are an important part of the rural life in New Zealand, a vital tool on farms and used around beaches. But we know there are dangers for them," Mr Shadbolt said.
"This one is ... right outside the parameters of what you'd call normal or reasonable use.
"It was just stupidity."
The girl's father was flown to Hawkes Bay Hospital with a badly broken leg.
The other three adults were taken to hospital by ambulance with dislocated hips, broken legs, broken arms and suspected head injuries.
Waimarama Volunteer Fire Officers and police based at the beach for the holiday period initially helped at the scene, along with St John ambulance staff.