The motorcyclist who died of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle crash on State Highway 35 on the East coast on Saturday was 59-year-old Gisborne harbourmaster Charles Wingate Jamieson.

Officer in command of the Eastern Bay of Plenty road Policing group, Sergeant Ray Wylie, says enquiries into the cause of the crash are continuing and the matter has been referred to the coroner.

Charles Wingate Jamieson had been Gisborne's harbourmaster since 2006.

Charles was riding the coast road with another motorcyclist at the time of the accident. He died at the scene following a crash between his bike and a van near Cape Runaway.

The crash caused a scrub fire, and the closure of State Highway 35, between Opotiki and Te Araroa.

The driver of the van is understood to have suffered minor injuries.

The Gisborne Herald reports that Captain Jamieson became the marine manager of port operations and principal harbourmaster at the Gisborne port in 2006.

He was the senior maritime adviser for the area north of Mahia to Hicks Bay.

'Over and above his role as a senior manager within the company, he was a thoroughly decent bloke,” says Eastland Port general manager Andrew Gaddum.

'Charlie was someone with an infectious laugh and love of life.

'He was just an absolute all-round good guy and his passing leaves a massive hole in the organisation — and also in our hearts. Our condolences go out to his wife and family.”