NZ Herald Morning Headlines | Saturday, December 20, 2025.
Video / NZ Herald
A person has been seriously injured in a two-car crash that has closed a section of State Highway 1 in Northland.
Emergency services were called to the accident at Kaiwaka, just south of the Brynderwyn Hills, about 9.20am, police said.
A Hato Hone St John Ambulance spokeswoman said the seriouslyinjured person had been flown by rescue helicopter to Auckland City Hospital, and a second person was taken by road to Northland Base Hospital with minor injuries.
An initial report saying a person had been critically injured was incorrect, with that person instead suffering serious injuries, she said.
Two people were hurt, one seriously, after a two-car crash on State Highway 1 at Kaiwaka, Northland, this morning. Photo / Supplied
A third person had been assessed at the scene and was not injured.
They sent a helicopter, an ambulance, a rapid response unit and a first response unit to the crash, which occurred near the intersection of SH1 and Mountain Rd, Kaiwaka, the spokeswoman said.
Photos from the scene show the crash appears to have happened at the location of a passing lane.
A car could be seen facing sideways on the left-hand side of the road with its front smashed in, and a ute with severe damage to its front passenger side could be seen straddling the middle of the road.
A truck was parked behind the car and a trailer could be seen behind the ute. Several people were shown standing or walking around the crash site.
The crash occured just before the Mountain Rd turn-off on State Highway 1 at Kaiwaka. One person was flown to Auckland City Hospital with critical injuries. Photo / Google Street View