At least four people have been injured after a serious crash in central Hawke's Bay

Emergency services were called to a collision between two vehicles on State Highway 2 in Waipawa around 1pm, with one of them believed to have caught fire.

A St John spokesperson says two helicopters, three ambulances, one rapid response unit and one manager were dispatched.

They say two people are in a critical condition, one person has been airlifted to hospital in a serious condition, and the fourth suffered moderate injuries.

State Highway 2 remains closed between the intersection with Tamumu Rd and the intersection with Victoria St.