Emergency services are responding after a serious crash involving a bus and a car on SH1 at Clarence, north of Kaikōura.
Waka Kotahi said SH1 at Clarence was closed after the crash, which happened around 1pm, and will be into Friday evening.
Waka Kotahi expects the highway to reopen at 5:30pm.
A police spokesperson said three people were in the car at the time of the crash and no passengers on the bus. The serious crash unit is investigating.
A St John spokesperson told Newshub in a statement two helicopters, one ambulance, one manager and one PRIME responded to the crash.
"St John treated three patients. One patient is in critical condition and two are in a minor condition."
The spokesperson said the person in critical condition has been airlifted to Christchurch, and one patient in a minor condition was transported to a medical centre in Kaikoura by road ambulance.
