Sergeant Trinity Milham said the female driver had spent an hour trapped in her car, suffering from serious multiple leg injuries.
She was one of two occupants initially trapped after the collision, which happened at 3.30pm 6 kilometres north of Katikati.
Ms Milham said three cars and eight occupants were involved in the collision. All occupants were seen by ambulance paramedics with some taken to Tauranga Hospital with moderate injuries.
Traffic was flowing in both directions, albeit slowly.
Ms Milham said it would be about 5.15pm before traffic could return to normal after they cleared the scene.
4.38pm: Half of a car has been removed as a team of firefighters work to rescue a person trapped after a crash on State Highway 2 today.
One lane of the highway remains blocked by an ambulance and fire truck, north of Katikati.
Traffic is being asked to slow down.
Earlier: Firefighters are currently working to rescue a person trapped in a car following a crash on State Highway 2 this afternoon.
Fire communications shift manager Paul Radden said firefighters responded to the crash at 3.30pm, about 6 kilometres north of Katikati.
''Upon arrival the brigade found two people trapped in a vehicle. The used rescue equipment to extricate the first person and they are currently working on releasing the second person.''
Mr Radden said motorists should try to avoid the area if possible as there would be hold ups with traffic while firefighters worked.
