One person has died and two are critically injured after a car and a bus collided in Rotorua last night.
The bus was carrying primary school students from Kaiti School in Gisborne.
Principal Billie-Jean Potaka Ayton says they were on their way to accommodation after dinner, following a Kapa Haka competition.
Police arrived at the scene at 9:15pm and 10 vehicles including two helicopters, five ambulances, and a rapid response unit attended the crash site on Te Ngae Road.
A patient in critical condition was airlifted to Waikato hospital, while three patients in moderate condition and one in a critical condition were transported to Rotorua hospital.
Twenty-six patients were assessed at the scene and did not require transport, with a total of 31 total patients seen.
Potaka Ayton says all students and kaiako are safe.
"Our hearts and aroha are with our team and their whanau.
"They are making their way back to Tauranga this morning.”
Three students were admitted to hospital but have since been discharged.
Police say enquiries are underway.
