A 44-year-old man died when the car he was driving left the inland highway between Gisborne and Wairoa.
The car crashed through trees and plunged over a five-metre bank off the Tiniroto Road about 9.15 yesterday.
A farmer mustering stock came upon the upturned vehicle at about midday yesterday and called police.
The body of the driver was inside the car, an open-roof model with a soft top.
His name has not yet been officially released.