Roaming livestock on State Highway 2, north of Waihi, were hit by a car early this morning.

The Waihi Fire Bridge received a call to a car crash at about 2.45am after a car, travelling north, struck the cows.

Two cows were killed after a crash on State Highway 2, near Waihi, early this morning. Photo: File.

A New Zealand Fire Service spokesperson says about 12 cows were wandering on the highway from a nearby paddock.

One of the cows died after being hit by the car and another one had to be shot.

Three women inside the vehicle, a Nissan Maxima, escaped the crash with no injuries.

The NZFS spokesperson says firefighters had to herd the remainder of the cows off the road and into a nearby paddock before washing down the road.

The owner of the cattle is being track down today.