A 17-year-old has been remanded in custody following an assault on two firefighters at the scene of a crash in Waihi.

The teenager was arrested following the incident in which the firefighters, who were helping at the scene of a car crash in Waihi on Saturday night, were punched by drunk people in the area.

A police media spokesperson says the man appeared in the Waihi District court this morning charged with assault.

'He has been remanded on bail to reappear in Waihi District Court on January 8.”

Meanwhile Fire and Emergency New Zealand indicated earlier this week it would investigate if more could be done to stop staff being assaulted.

People and capability director Brendan Nally says while the incident was serious, it was a rare event of physical assault.