State Highway 2 is open after truck and car crash which left five people dead.

The crash at the intersection of Dawson's Road happened about 8.15pm when a car pulled out of the road.

Emergency services were called to the scene of a crash which killed five people last night. Photo and Video (see below): George Heard/Fairfax NZ.

Police say the vehicle, which was heading north on SH2, was struck by a southbound truck and trailer unit.

"All five occupants of the car were killed. The truck driver was uninjured," say police in a media statement.

The highway was closed for several hours and was reopened just after 12.30am.

"Police extend sympathies to the families of all those involved in this tragic incident."

Police are still investigating the circumstances of the crash and working to notify the family of those who were killed.

Sunlive is not naming the dead until poilce have completed the process of formally notifying the next of kin, many of whom are in Tonga.

The occupants of the vehicle were seasonal workers who were leaving the Aongatete Kiwifruit Packhouse after the 8 o'clock shift, reports Stuff.co.nz.

Allan Dawson, managing director at Aongatete told RNZ News he'd had concerns about the safety of the crash site intersection for some time.

"I just think it was human error, there's a dip to the right and vehicles appear out of the dip quite quickly.

"We'd like a turning lane to the right into a side road, but that wouldn't have helped in this case."

Allan says he'd made a case for a light at the intersection with roading authorities, which he thought they were receptive to.

The Aongatete Packhouse would be closed for the day as staff come to terms with the tragedy.