Five people have been taken to hospital after a car crashed into a bar in south Auckland in the early hours of this morning.

A Holden Commodore crashed into a bar on the corner of Great South Road and East Tamaki Road in Papatoetoe around 3am.

One person is said to be in a serious condition, while four others were in a moderate condition when taken to Middlemore Hospital sometime after 3am.

A man suffered serious head injuries, police said. Others were treated at the scene.

After the crash a fight reportedly broke out between the occupants of the car and bar patrons. Several arrests were made by police.

Traffic lights in the area were knocked over in the crash, exposing live wires.

At the time of the crash police were taking a 111 call from a member of the public concerned by the speed the car was travelling.

Great South Road was closed for a while after the crash as police began to investigate and clear the scene.

- APNZ