Man who died in crash on SH5 near Rotorua named as Hori Kaiwai

Rotorua man Hori Kaiwai who was killed in a collision between a campervan and a car. Photo / Supplied

Police have released the name of the man who died following a crash on State Highway 5, near Maraeroa Rd, north of Rotorua.

He was 67-year-old Hori Kaiwai from Rotorua.

Police have extended sympathies to his whanau and friends.

The Serious Crash Unit continues to investigate the cause of the crash.

The crash, which happened before 9.30am on Monday, involved a car and a campervan and closed State Highway 5.

Kaiwai was a former teacher at Rotorua Boys' High School.

In a tribute posted on the Rotorua Boys' High School Facebook page, Kaiwai was described as a "legend".

"Kaumatua, teacher, colleague, mentor and friend to many staff and hundreds of young men of Raukura over 19 years from 1996 to 2014."

Dozens of comments on the post paid tribute to Kaiwai, describing him as "the realest of all teachers" and "a lovely man".

Kaiwai's body is being welcomed onto Mataatua Marae this morning. Tomorrow he will travel to Palmerston North before his burial on Friday.