A child has died in a crash on Oropi Road in the western Bay of Plenty last night.

Police say the accident happened just before 8pm when the driver of a Nissan car failed to negotiate a left-hand bend.

The car hit a concrete power pole so hard it broke.

The child was a passenger in the car and died at the scene - the female driver, who was the only other occupant, wasn't injured.

The road's been closed overnight while contractors worked on the power lines.

Police inquiries are continuing and investigators are calling for any witnesses they've not already spoken to, to come forward.