UPDATED 4:31pm Â
Police are launching an investigation into an eight-vehicle crash that injured 15 people near Wairakei north of Taupo.
Three people were seriously injured and have been airlifted to Waikato Hospital while another 12 people had moderate to minor injuries.
Police suspect a truck crashed into the back of a vehicle which then shunted a number of other vehicles.
A motorcyclist has the most severe injuries.
St John spokesperson Gerard Campbell says others were driven to hospital or treated at the scene.
"A number of the moderate to minor injury patients have been transported by ambulance to Tokoroa or Taupo."
Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman Daniel Nicholson said two people had been trapped.
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