Police have released the name of the man killed in a crash on State Highway 29.

He was 43-year-old Shae Noel Dixon.

The Hamilton man died when two vehicles, a truck and ute, crashed on the highway, near Soldiers Road, on Wednesday afternoon.

"Police's thoughts are with Mr Dixon's family at this time," says a police spokesperson.

Another person was airlifted to Waikato Hospital with critical injuries as a result of the crash, while two other people were taken by ambulance to Tauranga Hospital in serious condition.

The crash happened at 3.40pm and forced emergency services to close the road for several hours.

The road closure was to allow the serious crash unit to examine the scene.