A 2-year-old child has died after a motorbike after crashed into a group of pedestrians in Palmerston North.

Emergency services were called to the incident involving a motorbike and five pedestrians along Pioneer Highway in Palmerston North at 7.02pm last night.

This morning, police released a statement saying a 2-year-old child died following the crash.

Police confirmed the motorbike rider was on a shared walking and cycling track when they hit the group of pedestrians.

Two other people sustained moderate injuries and were taken to hospital, police said.

• Two-year-old dies after late-night crash involving motorbike and five pedestrians

The police investigation into the collision is ongoing

In a separate crash near Invercargill, another person is critical and has been transported to Kew Hospital.

St John was called at 1.31am this morning to a traffic incident involving two cars in Hawthorndale.