A 53-year-old man suffered severe head and neck injuries in a head on crash in the Urewera National Park.

The man was injured when two utes crashed on Old Highway State 38, abouty 10km north of Lake Waikaremoana, at about 3.30pm.

Two utes crashed head on in the Urewera National Park.

The Rotorua based BayTrust Rescue Helicopter and the Taupo based Greenlea Helicopter were dispatched to the crash to airlift the man to hospital.

BayTrust Rescue Helicopter duty pilot Art Kowalski says another passenger was also airlifted to Rotorua Hospital with chest injuries.

'Both were admitted for further treatment and observation.”

Police are investigating the cause of the crash.