A cordon was set up after the crash, in Matapu, at the intersection of Eltham and Hastings Roads. Photo: RNZ/Robin Martin
Eleven children are among those injured in a crash between a car and a van in Taranaki.
Police said the crash happened at Hastings Road in Matapu, South Taranaki, about 9.55am on Wednesday.
Four ambulances and four helicopters attended the crash, with two patients airlifted to Waikato Hospital in serious condition, St John said.
Two others in moderate conditions were airlifted to Whanganui Hospital, while nine others were transported by ambulance to Hāwera Hospital and Taranaki Hospital.
By late Wednesday night, four people remained in hospital, a whānau spokesperson said.
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Ruahinerangi confirmed 11 tamariki and one kaiako (teacher) involved in the crash were on their way to a sports practice. One other person was injured.
"Our immediate thoughts are with our Tamariki and wider whānau members," Renee Wright, chairperson of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Ruahinerangi said.
"Karakia have been conducted at the kura and at the site to ensure the spiritual wellbeing of all involved."
A spokesperson for the families said the children involved in the crash received cuts and bruises, and some are being monitored for concussion.
The childrens' injuries range from moderate to minor, and they were taken to various hospitals, including Taranaki Base.
South Taranaki mayor Phil Nixon said his thoughts were with the injured people and their families, and he hoped everyone would make a speedy recovery.
"These things are pretty horrible," he said. "I really feel for the families, and my heart goes out to them."
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Ruahinerangi is in Mangatoki, near Stratford in Taranaki. The crash happened about 6 km away, at Matapu. Photo: Photo / Robin Martin
He did not think speed limits on that section of road posed a safety risk.
The speed limits were variable, ranging from 100km/h, to 60 km/h for areas outside schools, to 30 km/h during school hours.
"If the speed limits on that road are being adhered to, there's no issue whatsoever with them. I think it is quite safe," Nixon said.
"It's like any rural road, you need to be more careful on rural roads."
The cause of the crash was not known.
Parents of children at Matapu School - which is near where the crash happened - were proactive in communicating that their children were not involved in the crash.
Parent Jo Bissell said the local community had been concerned.
"I had some friends who actually messaged me to say 'are your kids okay?' - that was after the fact - but I guess word had been rolling out," she said.
Bissell said she feels for the families involved, especially as she heard children were hurt.
Hastings Road was likely to remain closed between Skeet and Eltham roads, for some time while the serious crash unit investigated, police said on Wednesday.
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