Waikato Police have apologised for describing the driver who had his kayak strapped across his car as being Irish.

Police stopped the driver in the Coromandel and issued him with a warning about the way his kayak was strapped horizontally across his car.

District Road Policing Manager Freda Grace says when the officer stopped the man from his accent she assumed he was Irish.

She says they didn't check his identity documents, and in this case the man was a visitor to the region but wasn't Irish and the police unreservedly apologise.

Freda Grace says they never intended to offend anyone of Irish descent.