One person was killed and another seriously injured in a crash on State Highway 1 near Kaikoura this afternoon.
The crash near Clarence, north of Kaikoura, happened shortly before 3pm.
Police, fire and ambulance were in attendance.
Traffic would be delayed for several hours while the highway was restricted to one lane, police said.
St John spokesman Ian Henderson said a rescue helicopter from Christchurch and an ambulance were sent to the scene.
The ambulance service was alerted to the two-car collision, near the Clarence Bridge, at 2.49pm.
Mr Henderson said one person was understood to have died at the scene.
"The other patient has been flown to Christchurch Hospital ED [emergency department] with serious injuries."