A taxi van with several passengers including children on board has rolled into a paddock in south Auckland.
The crashed taxi van. Photo: RNZ / Tom Furley
Five people were taken to Middlemore Hospital, two with serious injuries and three others who suffered moderate injuries.
A hospital spokesperson said two of the passengers have been released from hospital.
One remains in a stable condition and another in a serious condition in the intensive care unit.
Police said several people helped pull the children from the wreckage, next to Waiuku Road near Pukekohe.
Police said they were grateful to members of the public who were first on the scene.
Waiuku Road resident Jean Jones said she had just finished having breakfast when she heard a loud bang.
"When I ran out there, there was a van on its side in the neighbours' paddock - there were already a few people who had stopped to help.
"I could hear a child screaming, it wasn't nice at all so I went and called 111," Ms Jones said.
The scene of the crash. Photo: RNZ / Tom Furley
She said in the 17 years she has lived on the road, there had been a number of serious crashes.
"It's a very, very busy road between Pukekohe and Waiuku but now it's weirdly quiet because the road is closed while the police clean up.
"Emergency services and the rescue helicopter were here within minutes, it was amazing," she said.
Westpac Rescue Helicopter and St John Ambulance took the injured people to hospital.
Police are investigating what caused the car to leave the road.
