Highway Patrol Sergeant Peter Muldrew, of Oamaru, said Kakanui Rural Fire Service chief fire officer Peter Arnold McCone (50) died after a Toyota Land Cruiser he was driving rolled on Maheno-Kakanui Rd, in Maheno, about 5.20pm on Saturday.
A male passenger in the Land Cruiser suffered ''survivable injuries'' and was taken to Oamaru Hospital for observation, Sgt Muldrew said.
He was the only passenger in the Land Cruiser and was of a similar age to Mr McCone, he said.
Police could not confirm if the men had been duck-shooting, he said.
It had appeared Mr McCone was not wearing a seatbelt and that alcohol had been a factor, Sgt Muldrew said.
The matter had been referred to the coroner.
Kakanui Rural Fire Service chief fire officer Bruce Thacker said Mr McCone would be ''sadly missed'' by the Kakanui Rural Fire Service, where he had worked for nearly 30 years.
''It will be a huge loss to the brigade and the local community.''
Mr McCone worked on the family farm. He was separated from his wife and had two sons and a daughter, Mr Thacker said.
''He was a gregarious type of guy and loved to have a bit of fun and was admired by all members of the brigade. He was an all-round good guy.''
The drivers of two cars were killed after one is believed to have drifted across the centre line and collided with the second vehicle head-on, in Manawatu on Saturday night, APNZ reported.
A passenger from one vehicle, a 51-year-old woman, remained in a serious condition in hospital.
She was airlifted to Palmerston North after the crash on State Highway 1 at Manakau, south of Levin, about 10.40pm.
The male drivers of the two cars, believed to be aged 26 and 55, were from Palmerston North and Levin respectively. The injured woman was a passenger in the car travelling north.
