A man has died after his motorbike hit a log while he was riding after dark on a Far North beach.
Emergency services were called to North Hokianga about 10.30am yesterday after a man's body was found about 1km north of Mitimiti, a remote west coast settlement. His motorcycle was found nearby.
Family members and police headed to the scene to recover his body and determine the cause of the accident.
Senior Constable Warren Bunn, of the police Serious Crash Unit, said it appeared the man had been on his way to visit a friend about 7.30pm on Wednesday when his bike struck a log and he was thrown off.
The deceased was a 49-year-old man from Mitimiti. His name would be released once all next of kin had been notified.
Because beaches were legally regarded as roads his death will count towards Northland's road toll, which now stands at 20 for the year to date. Of those 13 were in the Far North.
The total for all of last year was 27 with nine in the Far North.