One person is dead after a head-on crash between a car and a truck near Taupo on Sunday afternoon.

Emergency services are at the scene and the East Taupo Arterial section of State Highways 1 and 5 is closed.

Traffic is being diverted through the Taupo township and motorists can expect delays.

Police say initial indications are that the car may have veered into the path of the northbound truck.

The dead person was travelling in the car. One other person has serious injuries.

It is yet to be confirmed how many people were in the car.