The man who died in crash near the Karangahake Gorge has been named as 28-year-old Steven John Perry.
The Pukekohe man, a father of two young boys, was travelling between Paeroa and Waihi about 10.40am yesterday when his Holden Commodore vehicle collided with a Peugeot outside of the gorge.
A large rock on the road may have been a contributing factor to the fatal accident police said.
A close family friend who did not wish to be named said Mr Perry, a commercial fisherman, commuted to Tauranga for work often.
It is understood he was driving to work on the morning of the accident.