One person has died and another is seriously injured following a crash in the early hours this morning between a motorbike and a 4WD on River Road in Kawerau.
According to police the motorbike involved in the accident which was carrying two passengers is believed to have been stolen in a burglary in the area earlier.
Police say, "Two bikes were stolen in the burglary and there were believed to have been two people involved in the burglary. One of the bikes is believed to have been involved in the crash and two men were on that bike. The other bike has just been located in Kawerau."
Investigations are underway in the area which was cordoned off earlier today but has now been reopened, police say, "It is for the investigation to confirm whether those involved in the burglary were the two on the bike. All we can confirm at this stage is that the bike involved in the crash is believed to have been one of those stolen in the burglary."
Police say no further details about the deceased will be released until the family has been notified.