One person has died and at least eight other people have been injured in separate crashes across the North Island this afternoon.
Police said a person died at the scene of a crash on State Highway 1 north of Manakau, Horowhenua, after two cars collided at 5.30pm.
Elsewhere, emergency services were called to a two-car crash on Wairakei Dr near Taupo shortly before 5pm.
A St John spokeswoman said one person was in a critical condition and two others serious after the crash. All three were taken to Waikato Hospital, she said.
Two drivers were injured after their vehicles crashed on State Highway 3 at Tariki, near New Plymouth.
They have been taken to Taranaki Hospital in a serious condition.
Earlier, three people were injured, one critically, in a crash northeast of Whangarei.
Police said the accident happened at around 2.15pm on Ngunguru Rd, between Coalhill Lane and Waipoka Rd.