The Govt could learn today whether diseased kiwifruit vines will need to be destroyed, as leaves begin to wilt on the first properties reported.

Two men who died after their vehicle crashed into a tree in Te Puke this morning were fleeing from police.

A boy who stabbed his teacher four times with a knife had been bullied by other pupils, his family say.

The students of Te Puke High School are receiving ongoing support after one of their peers stabbed a maths teacher during class yesterday.

Principals say teachers need the power to search students as schools become increasingly violent.

As blood dripped from stab wounds inflicted by one of his students, maths teacher Steve Hose yelled at the rest of his class to get out.