A West Coast school is in mourning after a popular teacher collapsed and died during a fun run.
Michael Elkins, 42, from Hokitika, died during the 21km Oxford Country Classic in North Canterbury last Sunday, The Press reported.
Mr Elkins and his wife Rebecca, 29, were about to become parents for the first time.
Mr Elkins had been a food technology, hospitality and te reo Maori teacher at Westland High School in Hokitika since 2007.
It was his first teaching job.
Principal Tony Guilliland said his death had hit the school community hard.
"He was one of the finest teachers any of us will have the pleasure to encounter and we are all the better for having known him."
A large number of staff and students would attend his funeral in Christchurch on Saturday.
Brother Jon Elkins, from Christchurch, said yesterday he was running next to his brother when he collapsed after around 15km.
"He had done marathons in Christchurch and a few half-marathons. He had had a couple of chest niggles but been advised that he was fine."
