Road blocks were in place on State Highway 6 for much of Monday afternoon and evening.

Two cars driven by tourists were involved in a fatal collision on the West Coast on Monday.

West Coast area prevention Sergeant Andrew Lyes said a man from Singapore died in the crash south of Hokitika shortly after 12pm.

The man was driving one of the two vehicles involved.

The crash happened on a straight stretch of road on State Highway 6, south of the intersection with Shanghai Rd.

READ MORE: One dead, two injured after crash south of Hokitika on the West Coast

Two people suffered moderate injuries.

Lyes said the police serious crash unit was yet to determine the cause of the incident.

"It appears, on the face of it, that it was a head-on [crash], which would indicate one of the vehicles had crossed the centre line," he said.

"We're keeping an open mind while the crash investigation continues."

The road was closed for much of Monday afternoon and evening while the serious crash unit, based in Nelson, travelled to the scene and completed an examination.

Police were still in the process of contacting the victim's next of kin, Lyes said.