State Highway 1 south of the Mangamuka Gorge in Northland is closed, due to a crash.

The road connecting Northland with the Far North reopened to the public on Friday after a two-and-a-half-year closure for repair work.

Hato Hone St John said it sent three ambulances and a helicopter to the scene, near Rangiahua Road, airlifting one patient to Northland Base Hospital in a serious condition.

SH1 was closed between Rangiahua Rd and Perry Rd.

The crash was reported at about 9.20am.

New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said people should avoid the area and consider an alternative route, as it could be several hours before the road was reopened.

The serious crash unit has been advised.

A 13km stretch of highway through Mangamuka Gorge in the Far North, just south of Kaitāia, was destroyed by slips during torrential rain in August 2022.

This story was originally posted by RNZ