Police have named the man who died after a motorcycle accident on Rapurapu Rd in Te Poi as 65-year-old Raymond Allen Valere Morreel from Omanawa.

Photo: file.

Waikato Highway Patrol officer in charge Senior Sergeant Steve Ambler says emergency services were called to the scene on State Highway 28 just before 2pm on Monday, December 28.

Steve says the man had been riding his Suzuki motorbike, as part of a group heading west towards Rotorua, when the group were rounding a left hand bend.

'For an as yet unknown reason, Mr Morreel's motorcycle has left the road and crashed through a farm fence.

'Attempts to revive Mr Morreel by people at the scene were unsuccessful and a post-mortem examination will be conducted today to identify any issues of concern.”

Steve says it is too early to determine the cause of the crash and the matter is still under investigation by the Waikato Serious Crash Unit.

'At this point in time, on behalf of New Zealand Police I would like to extend our sympathies to Mr Morreel's friend and family, some of whom were at the scene of yesterday's crash.”

As police work to piece together the circumstances behind the district's 14^th motorcycle death of the year, Steve says investigators have more questions than answers on the cause of the crash.

'While it's too early to comment on specifics of this crash what I can share with you is that this was the 14^th motorcycle fatality and the 42^nd road fatality in the Waikato this year.

'Yesterday's crash was also the 26^th out of 39 fatal crashes where failing to keep in your lane or on the road was a contributing factor.”

Steve says with traffic flows to popular east and west coast holiday spots particularly busy, Waikato Police are asking people to be extra vigilant while travelling and to expect delays.

'Yesterday's crash happened in ideal driving and riding conditions.

'It just goes to show you need to be prepared for the unexpected at anytime and anywhere and highlights the need for you to drive or ride in such a way as to be able to react if the other guy makes a mistake.”