Two people were airlifted to Dunedin Hospital this morning after a crash on Ida Valley-Omakau Road at 10am in the usually quiet town of Oturehua.

The accident occurred as locals went about their day after a long weekend when a car rally of minis, coming through Oturehua on route to Mt Cook in a convoy, passed through.

A resident, who declined to give their name, said the cars were observed speeding through the town. He heard the sound of a crash, followed with screaming.

"I ran out, and saw a man on the road who may have been flung from one of the cars, and then a woman screaming in the mini, and a teenage boy in the back. I got blankets to the guy lying on the road, and many others came to comfort until the fire and emergencies services arrived," the man said.

The two seriously injured were understood to be part of 'The Mainland Mini Meander', which involved drivers from across New Zealand, on their way to Mt Cook.

It has been reported that the mini car involved was driving through Oturehua township, when a local motorist in a 4WD was pulling out into a u-turn manouvre and was hit.

It was only this morning that the NZ Police put out a plead which The Central App published at the same time the accident happened.

Two ambulances, two rescue helicopters and four firefighters all worked to get two people out of the vehicles and airlifted to safety.

A report from Police said two cars were involved. Two people reportedly suffered serious injuries, one moderate, and another minor. The road was clear as of 12.40pm.