Victim Canadian publisher

A Canadian tourist killed on a cycling tour near Taupo last week was a news magazine publisher and community leader in the mountain resort town of Whistler.

Kathryn Jane Barnett, 49, president, co-owner and publisher of Pique Newsmagazine, was fatally injured when a car hit her from behind while she was on an organised tour cycling between Taupo and The Chateau in Tongariro National Park. She was with her husband, Bob, editor of the magazine. He was not injured.

Police have yet to decide whether to charge the 19-year-old driver of the car.

Whistler Mayor Ken Melamed said the town had suffered an immense loss.