One person has died following a serious three-car accident on State Highway 1 in the Ruapehu District's Waiouru Military Area.
St John has confirmed another six people have suffered injuries, three serious and three moderate.
Police say emergency services were called to the crash around 11:45am on Thursday.
Initial reports were that multiple people, including a child, had suffered injuries.
At least two people were trapped in the wreckage and a vehicle's window had to be smashed for them to be rescued.
Crash witness Alex Campbell told NZME he was driving north behind a car that tried to overtake a truck on a blind corner.
"It went head-on into a car coming the other direction," he said.
"I got out and went over. My adrenaline was pumping really hard and all I was thinking was 'how can I help the people in this situation and get this family out as quickly as possible'.
Two helicopters were dispatched from Taupo and one from Palmerston North.
The road is now open.
The serious crash unit has been advised.
Newshub.
