Two people have been taken to hospital with serious injuries as a result of a head-on collision this morning.

The crash occurred on Ngatai Road at around 6.56am.

Western Bay of Plenty road policing team leader Senior Sergeant Ian Campion says the road was closed for a short time, with diversions in place.

'Two occupants remained in one vehicle for some time, while both drivers were taken to Tauranga Hospital with what is believed to be serious injuries.”

Another single-vehicle crash at the intersection of 15th Avenue and Fraser Street caused extensive damage to the car involved, with a female occupant taken to Tauranga Hospital.

However, traffic was not impeded.

Ian says in total there were seven crashes over the weekend.

'Of those, there was one minor injury. There were a number of causation factors, with alcohol featuring in three of the crashes, as well as fatigue, and one vehicle lost control in icy conditions on State Highway 36.”

Traffic was also held up along State Highway 2 yesterday due to the Wairoa Bridge being temporarily closed for a protest.