A Hawke's Bay farm worker was found dead after he failed to return from a day's work.

A hard working man who put family first, is the way an old friend described Waipukurau farm worker Aussie Richmond Tuhou after he was killed in a quad bike accident.

Isaac Pharazyn met the 69-year-old Central Hawke's Bay man when he was working as a stock manager on the Pharazyn family's Motere farm.

"I grew up with him and he was like an uncle figure to me."

When Tuhou did not return to his Waipukurau home on Tuesday evening police and emergency services were called about 8pm.

After a short search of the rural Omakere property where he was working his body was discovered.

Pharazyn said Tuhou was working around the district as a causal fencer and musterer.

"Everyone knew or had seen Aussie."

Tuhou was very involved in the dog trial scene and offered advice and support to young trialist.

"I remember when I first started trialling it was scary enough standing up there. But he stood behind me, which was unheard of in those days. and gave me directions," Pharazyn said.

"He's the type of guy that would take the jacket off his own back for a younger guy."

Tuhou would try and show up to all the trialling and rodeo events in the area, even when he was not competing.

When Pharazyn first started trialling and working as a shepherd Tuhou gave him working dogs.

Years later Pharazyn was able to repay the favour after Tuhou's four dogs were struck dog with Tuberculosis.

He said for Tuhou loosing his dogs was hard and Pharazyn was able to lend him a huntaway.

"I went shearing for a few years and my pack of dogs was one of the things I missed."

Off the farm Pharazyn described Tuhou as a "social bee" who always had time for a beer with friends and would be a great loss to the Central Hawke's Bay community.

"It's still a shock," he said.

Work Safe was conducting an investigation and police were awaiting a coroner's report.

Tuhou's funeral was set down for 11am on Monday at Stonehaven Funeral home in Waipukurau.