A judge has named a man accused of killing a Bay of Plenty regional councillor and school principal.

A Bay of Plenty regional councillor and school principal killed outside a pub yesterday is believed to have been king-hit by a stranger.

Poor whitebaiting season underlines the need to preserve bush-clad waterside habitats.

A teenager dies in a crash while driving unlicensed with a passenger in the Bay of Plenty.

A Rotorua animal control officer suffered serious head injuries when beaten while investigating a complaint.