Five people are dead after a head-on crash on State Highway 3 near Te Awamutu.
Police said the two-vehicle crash was reported at 4:44pm on Tuesday and confirmed there have been multiple fatalities.
"Sadly, five people have lost their lives in this crash," Waikato District road policing manager Inspector Jeff Penno told Newshub.
"Emergency services are there working through it, making sure we collect all the evidence, making sure we work through the deceased with respect for them, and trying to establish what has happened at this horrendous crash.
"This is why police do what we do. This is why our partners at NZTA do what they do. To stop this kind of road trauma."
St John told Newshub they sent two operations managers, one rapid response vehicle and one ambulance.
Police said the three occupants of one vehicle, and two occupants of the other vehicle all died at the scene.
State Highway 3/Ohaupo Road is closed between Jary Road and Ngaroto Road as emergency services respond.
Insp Penno said the road is expected to be shut for a significant period of time.
"There is a large scene we need to work through and our priority at the moment is understanding what has occurred to cause this tragedy," he said in a statement.
"We are also making sure that support is provided to those who need it."
Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays while detours are in place.
The serious crash unit has been notified.
This is the second fatal crash to happen in the area in just four days after a vehicle towing a trailer collided with a truck on Friday.
