A Far North man died after falling down a cliff on his way back from a fishing spot.
Emergency services were called to Piapia Bay, north of Matauri Bay, about 2.30am yesterday after his fishing companion raised the alarm.
The pair had been walking up a track from the beach to Wainui
Rd when the victim, a 58-year-old Kaeo man, lost his footing and plunged to the rocky beach below.
Police expected to release the man's name today once all his relatives had been informed.
Kerikeri police Senior Sergeant Peter Robinson said the victim had been the first to climb the track back up the cliff.
His companion realised he was missing after returning to their campsite near Te Ngaere Bay and went back to look for him, finding him dead at the base of a 25m cliff.
The deceased knew the track well and had walked it many times before, he said.
Kaeo and Kerikeri volunteer fire brigades spent three hours at the scene.
Kaeo fire chief Lindsay Murray said the man's companion raised the alarm by knocking at the door of a volunteer firefighter in Wainui Bay.
Mr Murray said the track was narrow and the night pitch dark. It was fortunate that weather conditions at the time were good.
Whangaroa Coastguard was called in about 3.15am to help recover the body.
The scene was blessed by police iwi liaison officer Willy More around 4am.
A three-day rahui on fishing and shellfish gathering has been declared for Te Ngaere, Wainui and Mahinepua bays, which expires on Friday.
It was Whangaroa Coastguard's second callout of the night - about 9pm the crew had rescued a fisherman in the harbour's eastern arm after his outboard failed to start.
