Police have confirmed that one person has died after a vehicle rolled on Muriwai Beach this afternoon.
Two others sustained serious injuries in the incident, which was reported to police at 2.38pm on Sunday.
Ambulance and emergency medical provider Hato Hone St John said it was notified of an incident on Muriwai Beach at 2.35pm.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter service confirmed two aircraft had been dispatched to assist.
"Westpac one and three have attended to an incident in Muriwai this afternoon," a spokesperson said.
Westpac 1 flew a male patient in his 20s to Auckland Hospital in a moderate condition.
The Serious Crash Unit attended the scene, with investigations into the cause of the crash ongoing.
Rodney Local Board chair Brent Bailey said it was his view that the beach should be closed to vehicles.
"It's time to ask, how much tragedy are we willing to accept?
"We must close beach to all but emergency vehicles. I can only speak for Rodney, but [this is] probably a national problem."
Bailey said there were a large number of four-wheel-drive enthusiasts who access the beach recreationally.
"Sometimes they are irresponsible and intolerant of other users. That does nobody any favours.
"We need to stop the reckless hooning."
One week ago, it was discovered people had forced their way onto the beach by removing huge concrete barriers that had been put in place to enforce a vehicle ban.
Five two-tonne concrete blocks were shunted to the side of Wilson Road beyond the access gate and the gate had also been opened.
Auckland Council regional parks principal specialist Stephen Bell said tyre tracks indicated a vehicle, or vehicles, had been bypassing the barriers to access the beach.
It comes a week on from the reopening of Muriwai Beach to vehicles on January 14.
Auckland Council announced the ban on motorised vehicles from the West Auckland beach during high-risk and peak summer periods last October.
Planning, environment, and parks committee deputy chair Councillor Angela Dalton said at the time that the decision provided a consistent approach to address ongoing safety concerns at Muriwai Beach.
"Every summer, vehicles on Muriwai Beach create safety issues and concern around driver behaviour.”
SHARE ME