Motorcyclist killed after hitting tractor

A 50-year-old Taranaki man was killed when his motorcycle slammed into the back of a tractor this morning.

The man had driven over the brow of a hill on State Highway 3 near Waitara, about 16km east of New Plymouth, when his Triumph 1200 crashed into the tractor about 10.55am.

Passersby tried to revive the man but he died at the scene, Senior Sergeant Matt Prendergast of Waitara police said.

The tractor, which had a large agricultural implement attached to the rear, was turning into a driveway at the time of the crash.

Its driver was "pretty upset", Mr Prendergast said.

"It's quite a shock when something like this happens," he told NZPA.

"From going about their day to day business and something like this happens - it's obviously quite distressing for people."

Police were talking to the tractor driver and other witnesses to establish the cause of the crash.

The serious crash unit from Palmerston North was also investigating.

Mr Prendergast said police would like to speak to anyone who may have seen the bike before the crash.

- NZPA