Two Australians are dead and seven are injured after a crash between a van and a Fonterra tanker on State Highway 5 at Reporoa between Rotorua and Taupo.
The male adult driver of the van and a male teenage passenger died.
They were part of a group from Queensland, and were travelling with another adult and six other teenagers in the van when the crash happened at 4.30pm local time on Friday.
The immediate families of those involved have been notified, police said.
A 16-year-old boy was airlifted to Waikato Hospital and remains in a critical condition, police say.
Emergency services remained at the scene for several hours, with the road reopening about 10pm.
A woman in her forties remained a serious but stable condition in Rotorua Hospital on Friday night, and the five other teenagers were in a stable condition.
Dairy farming company Fonterra has confirmed that one of its tankers was involved in the accident.
The driver of the tanker, aged in his sixties, was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure and was discharged on the same day, Reporoa Site Operations Manager Sam Mikaere said in a statement.
"He will then spend time recovering at home. We extend our sincere and heartfelt sympathies to the families of the victims of this tragic accident."
Mikaere said there would be no more comment from Fonterra as police were still investigating.
Diversions were in place at Settlers Road and Wharepapa Road back to SH5.
Staff reporters
