An international student from Taiwan, China, is on life support Thursday in New Zealand hospital with serious head injuries after she was crushed by a tree.

Waikato police communications manager Kris McGehan said police initially found it difficult to identify the woman hit by a tree on Wednesday because of the severity of her injuries.

Police said the woman was walking on Ruakura Rd near the roundabout with Silverdale Rd, close to Waikato University, when the tree fell in gusty winds.

The accident was one of several in the Waikato that emergency services had to deal with as strong winds and rain lashed the region.

The local Waikato Times understands the Taiwan student is aged about 21 and in New Zealand on a student visa.

The student's parents are en-route to New Zealand and are expected to arrive in Hamilton Friday.

Source: Xinhua