The Tauranga man accused of the murder of school teacher Robyn Prole in Judea last year has pleaded guilty.

Tauranga builder Rex Leverett John Prole, 65, appeared in Rotorua High Court this morning where he pleaded guilty to the murder of his former wife.

Rex Prole in Tauranga District Court last year.

Robyn Anne Prole, also known as Robyn Phipps, was found dead outside her Bell Street home in July 2012. A postmortem showed she died from stab wounds.

The 57-year-old worked as a part time teacher aid at Brookfield Primary School and was described as a 'kind and gentle woman” by principal Robert Hyndman.

The couple had previously separated following an incident in April last year and Robyn had since taken out a protection order against Prole.

On July 20 Robyn went to the Bell Street house to collect her mail when Prole attacked her with a kitchen knife, stabbing her multiple times.

Police were called and arrived to find Robyn dead on the driveway beside her car.

When they arrived they found Robyn's body lying on the driveway outside the property.

It is understood Robyn had filed a protection order against Rex prior to her death.

Prole is remanded to reappear for sentencing on May 23.