A 31-year-old man was airlifted to hospital in a serious condition after rolling a quad bike down Pouto sand dunes at the weekend.
The man had been riding a quad bike near Kaipara's Pouto lighthouse at around 1pm on Saturday when he and the bike took a 15m tumble down a steep sand dune, St John Northern region territory manager and paramedic Wally Mitchell said.
The man, believed to be from Whangarei, was airlifted to Whangarei Hospital in the Northland Electricity rescue helicopter with internal injuries, a minor head injury and leg injuries.
He was in a stable but serious condition, Mr Mitchell said. He was unsure if the man had been wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.
"We have been frequently down there [to Pouto] for motorcycle accidents," Mr Mitchell said. "[Quad bike accidents in general are] something we go to reasonably regularly - road ambulances, too. The thing with quad bikes is once they are on top of you, it is hard to get out from underneath - they are heavy and they hurt.
"We have said it before and we will say it again: it is important people wear the right protective gear, and not take unnecessary risks. Avoidance is the best thing."