WELLINGTON (XINHUA) - A helicopter carrying five people crashed on Thursday morning (June 14) in the central part of north island in New Zealand, officials said.

The Civil Aviation Authority said the helicopter crashed just before 9am local time about 35km north-east of Waiouru. Five people on board have been flown to hospital by rescue helicopters.

The condition of the rescued remains unknown as the Transport Accident Investigation Commission is investigating the incident.