A woman remains in hospital after the car she was in went over a bank on Mountain Rd, also injuring two others.
Police, ambulance and fire crews were called to the crash about 9.40pm on Tuesday.
Rotorua officer in charge of road policing, Senior Sergeant Nicky Riordan, said it appeared the car, which had three occupants, was going down Mountain Rd when it went off the road, over a bank and hit a tree.
All three occupants were injured, two with moderate injuries and another with minor injuries.
Mrs Riordan said the investigation into the crash was ongoing, but early indications suggested speed and alcohol may have been factors.