A 5-year-old boy and a man and woman in their 60s were among the victims of a horror crash north of Taupo yesterday.
Police today revealed the child, a 65-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man travelling in one vehicle were killed, along with a 44-year-old woman, Pesi Tuivai, in the other vehicle.
Tuivai's 10-month-old baby was transferred to Starship in a critical condition.
The victims were with a church group travelling to Palmerston North after a weekend gathering in Auckland for the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga.
Seven other people remain in hospital this morning, including a 42-year-old man in intensive care at Waikato Hospital and a 66-year-old woman and 17-year-old girl in Rotorua Hospital, all in a critical condition.
Police said four females injured in the crash aged 3,2, 17 and 66 years, remained in a stable condition in Rotorua Hospital.
A fifth woman aged 42 years taken to Rotorua Hospital was not admitted.
A 32-year-old woman was stable in a ward at Hamilton Hospital with chest and abdominal injuries.
The crash, which happened at the intersection of State Highway 1 and Tutukau Rd about 3.15pm, is being described as one of the worst in 20 years.
Police are working out why the vehicles collided head-on.
"This is an absolutely devastating event on our roads and Police extend their sympathies to the loved ones of all of those involved," Acting Bay of Plenty Road Policing manager sergeant Nicky Cooney said.
"The investigation is in the very early stages but what is clear is that the vehicles have impacted head-on.
"It will take some time for the SCU to establish more facts.
"At the moment our priority is ensuring support is provided to those who need it following this tragedy.
A truck driver who drove past the crash scene said the scene was "a total mess" and the vehicles were covered to hide the bodies of the deceased.
The smash happened in wet conditions near the end of passing lanes.
Since Friday, 13 people have died on the roads. This road toll now stands at 296, up 44 on the same time last year.
