Matapihi father of two Justin Dickson, 22, (pictured) was not wearing a helmet when he crashed into a digger in the early hours of Saturday morning according to police.
Head of Western Bay road policing Senior Sergeant Ian Campion said it was too early to say whether speed or alcohol were factors.
The digger parked on the side of the road was being used for excavation works to lay a new pipeline and the site was controlled by temporary traffic lights and a 30km/h temporary speed limit was in force.
Mr Campion understands the traffic lights were operating. Mr Dickson's aunt Iwarau Dickson said since the crash there had been a lot of concern about the pipeline project and the digger.
"But at the moment our main focus is Justin's tangi being held today," she said.
