Police are searching for a vehicle overtaken moments before a crash that left a dozen people injured near Taupo yesterday

Initial enquiries suggest a van hit an SUV head on - after trying to overtake another vehicle on State Highway 5 near Rangitaiki School Road.

A driver appeared in court today - and will reappear in Tauranga District Court on Wednesday.

The van was carrying visiting Canadian under-16 and under-18 hockey players, heading from Napier to games in Tauranga.

Police say they'd like to speak to witnesses and see any dashcam footage of the van - especially from the driver overtaken.