RNZ reports the men were killed after their car was hit by an unladen logging truck as they left work at a Katikati kiwifruit coolstore last night.
Simione Vakasiuola, who is a church elder in the local Tongan Methodist church in Katikati, says one of the victims was based in New Zealand while the other four were seasonal workers from Tonga.
He says 28-year-old victim Halani Fine was living with him and worked in the coolstore part-time while studying to be a Youth Counsellor.
Also among the victims were father and son Sitiveni and Koli Vaipulu.
