Police say their investigation of a fatal crash at Waimangu, south of Rotorua, late this afternoon has now established that three - not two - vehicles were involved.
One person has died, two people are in a critical condition and one person is seriously injured.
Three others have suffered minor to moderate injuries.
The Serious Crash Unit is investigating.
State Highway 5 at Waimangu was closed for several hours but is now open again.
