Three dead in weekend tragedies

A man was killed in a motorbike crash that happened on State Highway 1 at Puhoi. Photo / Supplied

Three people have died in a series of weekend tragedies including a fatal house fire, a head-on crash and a jetski fishing incident.

Several other people were injured in the weekend carnage, including a spectacular explosion in which a man was thrown off a jetski, and a motocross crash in which a 10-year-old boy fell from his bike and was struck by another motorcycle.

The latest tragedy unfolded this evening when a car and motorbike collided on State Highway 1 at Puhoi.

Emergency services were notified of the crash at 6.38pm.

The motorcyclist, travelling north from Puhoi, was killed when his bike collided head-on with a southbound car.

Four occupants from the car, including a child, were treated for minor to moderate injuries.

The road has been closed as the police serious crash unit carries out a scene examination.

Earlier today, the body of a jetski fisherman was found floating in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf after he went missing last night.

The 61-year-old Auckland man notified Coastguard at 2.30pm yesterday when he set off from Half Moon Bay for a day of fishing.

Coastguard volunteers and members of the public searched for the body of the man who went missing on his jetski, found dead today. Photo / Supplied

His wife raised the alarm at 8.30pm when he didn't return from his trip.

His jetski was found overnight, anchored, with a fishing line out.

Police said a local boatie found the man's body floating in the water between Waiheke and Motuihe islands about midday. He was wearing a lifejacket when found.

Coastguard, police and volunteer boaties and jetskiers all contributed to the search.

The man's death was an "absolute tragedy", Coastguard spokeswoman Georgie Smith said.

"But, there is some closure in bringing him home to his family," she said.

The cliff rescue at St Heliers. Photo / Daniel Hines

New Zealand Jetski Fishing Club president Andrew Hill said a big group of people joined the search for the man.

Mr Hill told members of the Jetskifishing group on Facebook his thoughts were with the man's friends and family.

He said the man had the "best intentions" and took safety precautions, including operating a VHF radio and lodging a trip report.

A house fire in Taranaki claimed a third life this weekend - and police were now treating the blaze as suspicious.

Emergency services were notified of the fire in Waitara at 10pm yesterday.

The fire was well involved when firefighters arrived at the scene and one person was found dead in the house.

A police spokesman said the scene on East Beach St had been shut down for the night and would be examined tomorrow.

Power lines were down at the property, making the scene dangerous, he said.

Police and Fire Service investigators would return tomorrow and carry out a thorough scene examination in a bid to find out what started the fatal blaze and how the victim died.

Police said the body was removed from the house this afternoon and a post-mortem examination will be held tomorrow in Palmerston North.

Several other people were injured in accidents this weekend.

A woman suffered minor injuries when she fell 20m down a cliff in Auckland this morning.

Firefighters, police and St John ambulance were called to Cliff Road, St Heliers, to rescue the woman at 5.30am.

Sergeant Chris Painter said she was pulled to safety by emergency services and taken to hospital.

"She's a bit cold, she's been down there for quite a while," he said.

A car crashed into a road-side barrier was near the scene where the woman was rescued, but police were unsure how the car was involved.

The Trustpower Tauranga Energy Consumer Trust rescue helicopter was at the scene in Waimana. Photo / Supplied

Later today, a motorcyclist was seriously injured after crashing his bike into a car.

The accident happened in Waimana in rural Bay of Plenty shortly before 12.45pm.

The 21-year-old man had serious arm and leg injuries.

He was stabilised at the scene by St John paramedics before being flown to Tauranga Hospital by the Tauranga-based Trustpower TECT rescue helicopter.

Fifteen minutes after the crash, a jetskier was blasted into the Kaituna River, east of Tauranga, in a spectacular explosion.

Petrol fumes from fuel that had leaked into the hull of the jetski were understood to have been ignited by a spark when the rider turned on the engine.

It blew off the seat and engine cover, hurling the man into the water, where he was quickly retrieved by bystanders and a friend who had been parking the jetski trailer.

The Rotorua man, in his early 20s, was treated for possible concussion and a back injury before being taken by ambulance to Tauranga Hospital for observation.

Later this afternoon, a 10-year-old boy was injured when he fell from his motocross bike and was struck by another motorcycle in the Bay of Plenty.

The Trustpower TECT Rescue helicopter was dispatched to an area near Whakatane after the accident at 3.15pm.

The boy received multiple injuries including a knock to the head and potential spinal injuries. He required immediate hospital assessment.

Paramedics treated the boy at the scene before he was airlifted to Tauranga Hospital.

Yesterday, two people were seriously injured after an early morning crash in Waikato.

The incident happened in Mangatarata shortly after 4am, St John Ambulance said.

Two people were taken to Waikato Hospital, both in a serious condition.

And on Friday night, two people were critically injured in a crash and a fall.

Emergency services were called to the crash in Te Teko, Bay of Plenty, about 9.30pm.

One person was taken to Whakatane Hospital in a critical condition.

Just over an hour later, a man was critically injured in a fall in West Harbour, Auckland.

He was treated at the scene before being taken to Auckland City Hospital.