Police are at the scene of a serious crash on State Highway 3 just outside Normanby in Taranaki.
Two people are confirmed dead and another seriously injured in the crash between a van and four motorbikes on Ketemarae Road at around midday.
Police were alerted at 12.04pm.
The seriously injured victim has been airlifted by helicopter to the Taranaki Base Hospital.
Four others have been taken by ambulance to the same hospital with injuries ranging from serious to minor.
At this stage it is not known what caused the crash and the Police Serious Crash Unit is investigating.
The road remains closed and detours are in place.
No information is available at this time about the occupants of the van or the motorbike riders, however no children were involved.
Police are working to inform relatives of the victims and their identities will not be released until this process is completed.
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Issued by Grant Ogilvie, Police Public Affairs.
027 236 9974