Helicopters go to the rescue

Six people are in hospital's all over the North Island Sunday night after a major rescue took place after a crash in the Awakino Gorge involving a van.

Two helicopters have attended the accident including what travellers said were 'dozens' of emergency service crew, "Even the Westpac Helicopter arrived to take a passenger to Waikato Hospital. "

A female involved in the crash has serious injuries and has been sent on helicopter to Taranaki Base Hospital.

State Highway 3 has since opened and investigations are underway.

A emergency crew at the scene said the group in the van 'a family' was on there way to Taurunga.