An 11-year-old girl has been flown to hospital after she fell off a fence and impaled herself on a stake at a Mangakino marae.
Emergency services were called to the scene about 12.15pm yesterday. A spokeswoman for northern ambulance said the girl suffered moderate injuries and was flown to Rotorua Hospital by the Taupo-based Greenlea Rescue Helicopter.
Rescue helicopter pilot Nat Every said it appeared the girl's injuries were not as serious as first feared.
Nevertheless, she was taken to hospital as a precaution as ambulance staff did not know how far into her stomach the stake had gone, he said.