"Our roads are unique, challenging and sadly unforgiving".
On April 25, Anzac Day, a crash claimed the life of 53-year-old John Paton from Kerikeri.
He died at the scene after the Harley Davidson he was riding was hit by a car turning in front of him on Kapiro Rd.
He had been wearing a helmet, driving under the speed limit and had his headlight on.
Two days earlier, a 49-year-old Mitimiti man died while riding his motorcycle on the beach about 1km north of the isolated west coast settlement.
A Serious Crash Unit investigator said it appeared the man's bike struck a log and he was thrown off. His body was found the next morning.
In another crash on Anzac Day a Whangarei motorcyclist died near Wellsford after colliding with another motorcycle.
His death does not add to the Northland toll as Wellsford is in the Waitemata Police District.
To bring home the safety messages, Northland Police are backing a campaign ACC and other road safety organisations have kick-started - New Zealand's first Motorcycle Awareness Month.
Roadsafe Northland (Whangarei and Kaipara) road safety education programme manager Gillian Archer said the organisation was pleased to be part of the national initiative.
"We encourage everyone who comes to Northland to be safe on the roads," Ms Archer said.
"We want people to enjoy riding their bikes here, whether they are local people or taking the opportunity to come here to ride.
"We want them to ride safely and to ensure the safety of other road users, too.''
ACC Motorcycle Programme Manager David Kielty said last year was a tragic one for motorcycle safety, with 52 motorcyclists killed on New Zealand roads.
That was 16 per cent of the overall road death toll although motorcyclists make up only 3 per cent of all road users, he said.
"We need to start this conversation. This is not a small problem."
The inaugural awareness month, with support from the Motorcycle Safety Advisory Council (MSAC) and Northland road safety partners, has been launched to coincide with the start of the riding season.
"Riders across the country are wheeling their bikes out of winter storage and taking to the road in increasing numbers," Mr Kielty said. "It's an important time for riders to check on their bikes, skills and gear.
"It's also a good time to remind other road users to keep an eye out for motorcycles - they can surprise drivers when they're used to looking for larger vehicles."
Where white crosses on roadsides are poignant reminders of fatal crashes, the first Motorcycle Awareness Month campaign will point to motorbike deaths through a virtual "yellow helmet" campaign.
Photos of bright yellow motorbike helmets will be taken at locations where riders or their pillion passengers died, and those photos loaded on to the Motorcycle Awareness Month website.