An elderly woman died in a two-car accident at Whakamarama in the Bay of Plenty on Sunday morning.
An elderly man was taken to Tauranga Hospital with moderate injuries.
State Highway 2 north of Apata was closed for several hours following the accident.
The police say a one-lane diversion was opened across farmland to clear traffic caught up at the scene, but delays were expected.
Motorists were advised to take alternative routes at Tauranga and Paeroa via the Kaimai Ranges.
