One person is believed to have been injured in the Mahia helicopter crash

One person was injured in a helicopter crash in Mahia, St John said.

The pilot was the only person on board and has suffered moderate injuries, St John said after the crash early this morning in the remote part of Hawke’s Bay.

Police confirmed they received a call at 6.25 am that a helicopter had gone down.

She said police received the report from St John, who is said to have received a call from a member of the public.

Police said the incident occurred “right on the peninsula” and that the closest road they have been given is Mahia East Coast Road.

Local resident Katie Bowen told the Herald she heard the sirens when first responders made their way to the scene.

St John’s central communications spokeswoman said a rescue helicopter, a first responder and an ambulance were dispatched to the scene.

A Rocket Lab spokesperson says the accident is unrelated to Rocket Lab operations and does not involve its team. Rocket Lab has a launch on the Mahia Peninsula.

The company was trying to get more information to see if they could offer help, given the remote location.

“If we can support in any way, we absolutely will,” the spokesperson said.

The reports come less than a day after two people died and three others were seriously injured in a helicopter crash in Kaikōura.