Taupo explosion injures seven

Seven people are in hospital after an explosion in Taupo last night. Photo / Supplied

Seven people, including a mother and her two-year-old child, were taken to hospital and treated for burns after an explosion in a Taupo carport last night.

None of the injuries were considered life-threatening and police were trying to determine what caused the explosion, Detective Steven Dunn of Taupo police said.

Three of the injured, including the mother and daughter, were transferred to Waikato Hospital while another was transferred to Rotorua Hospital.

The remaining three have been discharged.

There were 17 people at the house when the explosion went off about 6.10pm, Mr Dunn said.

"Police will be speaking to a number of witnesses and completing a scene examination. The exact cause of the explosion is yet to be determined."

Mr Dunn did not want to comment further.

The Fire Service was called to a house in Tonga Street, which is down a long driveway.

Henry Reihana, station officer at Taupo Fire Station, told NZPA one volunteer fire crew from Kinloch attended the blaze, which was initially reported as a rubbish fire.

Alistair Piper, the officer in charge of the Kinloch Fire Brigade, said that by the time firefighters arrived the fire was out and the injured people had been taken to hospital.

"We turned up, the fire was out and we didn't have to do anything."

He did not want to say anything more as the explosion was now being investigated.

Linda Ockie, of the Camelia Court motel opposite, said she saw the fire engines arrive but had not heard an explosion and was not aware that seven people were injured.