'A complete tragedy': Multiple people dead in New Zealand highway crash

A number of people - reported to be eight - have been killed in a head-on crash on a New Zealand highway on Sunday, NZ police say.

The 63-year-old accused was extradited from Victoria as a suspect in the 1986 murder. Source: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

Eight people are reportedly dead and a boy is fighting for his life after a head-on crash between two cars on a state highway near the New Zealand town of Taupo.

Inspector Brent Crowe told reporters at the scene he could not immediately confirm the death toll, but said there had been multiple deaths.

"To describe the scene behind us as a complete tragedy is an understatement," Insp Crowe said.

He said one person was in one vehicle, while "it looked like quite a number" in the other car.

A rescue helicopter pilot has told NZ media eight people had died in the crash, which also left a young boy with critical injuries.

He said it appeared one of the cars had crossed the centre line on State Highway One between Taupo and Rotorua during wet conditions at 10.30am on Sunday.