An eyewitness to an attack on school principal and councillor Hawea Vercoe, told a court his head was kicked like a rugby ball.

Tsunami warnings look to be cancelled as beach-goers who waited all day outside the water start heading home.

Paua fishermen are diving back into the seas and surfers are out to catch waves even as tsunami warnings stay in place.

Auckland's ferries have been cancelled and boaties warned to head for deep water as New Zealand faces a possible tsunami.

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.