A 67-year-old man is in Waikato Hospital in a critical condition following a fatal two car head-on crash on State Highway 36 (Hamurana Road).

A Tauranga couple sustained moderate injuries in the crash which saw the stretch of highway closed for around two hours yesterday afternoon.

The vehicles involved in the head-on fatal crash sustained major frontal damage.

The road was reopened at about 4.30pm.

Police say six people, including two children who have been discharged from hospital, were injured in the crash – three with moderate injuries, two with serious injuries and one critically injured.

'The most seriously injured person died on the way to hospital,” says a statement from police.

'The serious crash unit was called to the scene and inquiries are ongoing to determine a reason for the crash.”

To read yesterday's coverage, click here.