A man sustained a serious lower back injury after clearing a tree from a fence line.

The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to a property in Te Poi, near Matamata, around 4.30pm.

A spokesperson for the rescue helicopter says they received reports a man had taken a fall while clearing tree branched off a fence line.

'The man was treated at the scene for a serious lower back injured before being airlifted to Waikato Hospital for assessment and treatment.

'Early in the day the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was also dispatched twice to Whakatane Hospital for patients with critical medical conditions requiring specialist care at Waikato Hospital.