A man has been left critically injured after being shocked by live wires in a Rotorua forestry block.

The man, in his 40s, crashed a forestry vehicle into overhead powerlines in an area of Tikitere on Wednesday morning.

As a result he was shocked by the live wires, says a police spokesperson.

Emergency services were called to the crash on Cookson St at 11.20am.

A St John spokesperson says the man was left in a critical condition and transported by road to Rotorua Hospital.

Firefighters from Rotorua were also called but attended in a medical capacity.

A Worksafe spokesperson confirmed that it has been notified.

"We are making inquiries into the incident. It is understood that the worker may have sustained an electric shock," says the spokesperson.

Unison reports a power outage affecting three customers in the Hawthornden Drive area.

-Stuff/Phillipa Yalden.