The name of the man killed in a head-on crash on State Highway 2 near Te Puna can now been named.

Police have released a statement naming 79-year-old Larkie Apaapa as the man who died in a two-car crash on Friday night.

Police say Mr Apaapa was from Tauranga.

'Police offer their sympathies to his family and friends at this difficult time.

'The investigation into the crash is ongoing.”

Emergency services were called to the crash scene around 7.30pm.

Police were forced to close a stretch of the highway, between both Te Puna Station roads.

Diversion were in place and the road was re-opened about midnight once the crash scene was cleared.