Eleven children are among those injured in a crash between a car and a van in Taranaki.
Police said the crash happened at Hastings Road in Matapu, South Taranaki, about 9.55am on Wednesday.
Four ambulances and four helicopters attended the crash, with two patients airlifted to Waikato Hospital in serious condition, St John said.
Two others in moderate conditions were airlifted to Whanganui Hospital, while nine others were transported by ambulance to Hāwera Hospital and Taranaki Hospital.
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Ruahinerangi has confirmed 11 tamariki and one kaiako (teacher) were involved in the crash. One other person has been injured.
"Our immediate thoughts are with our Tamariki and wider whānau members," Renee Wright, chairperson of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Ruahinerangi said.
"Karakia have been conducted at the kura and at the site to ensure the spiritual wellbeing of all involved."
Parents said Matapu School were proactive in communicating that their children were not involved in the crash on the school's street.
Matapu school is on Hastings Road, and parent Jo Bissell said the local community were concerned.
"I had some friends who actually messaged me to say 'are your kids ok?' - that was after the fact - but I guess word had been rolling out," she said.
Bissell said she feels for the families involved, especially as she heard children were hurt.
Hastings Road, between Skeet and Eltham roads, was likely to remain closed for some time while the serious crash unit investigated, police said.
