Police are at the scene and cordons are in place in the Whangārei suburb of Onerahi.
Photo: RNZ

Police are responding to a serious situation in Onerahi, a coastal suburb of Whangārei, and St John Ambulance say one person has critical injuries.

Officers received reports of a person injured at Beach Road Reserve, at about 11:10am.

Armed police are at the scene, turning people away, including residents trying to get home.

St John said it had sent three ambulances, a rapid response vehicle and an operations manager to the scene, and one patient was taken to Northland Base hospital in a critical condition.

Cordons are in place and busy Beach Road has been closed from Church Road onwards.

People have been warned to avoid the area.

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