The truck carried cattle on the bottom level and sheep on the top. Photo: Supplied
Dozens of livestock animals have died or been injured, after a truck rolled near Martinborough in South Wairarapa.
Emergency services were called to Ponatahi Road shortly before 11am Sunday.
Several sheep were killed or hurt in the crash, police said.
A vet was called to the scene and the surviving sheep were herded into a nearby paddock.
Neighbouring property owner Ange Cressewell told RNZ the trailer was fully loaded, with about 40 animals on board.
"It was a pretty devastating scene to be honest," she said.
Only the trailer overturned, carrying cattle on the bottom level and sheep on the top.
Both the driver of the truck and a passenger were uninjured.
Martinborough Transport Ltd managing director Josh Hawkins said the driver was very shaken from the accident.
"Thanks to the amazing effort from members of the public and local farmers, most of the stock were able to removed from the trailer and moved onto the neighbouring farm," he said. "There were unfortunately a few sheep that needed to be humanely put down, due to their injuries."
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