Maritime NZ’s rescue coordination centre confirmed it was the lead agency in response to the crash and worked closely with police and aeromedical helicopter providers to get the three survivors to a point of safety.
“We want to thank the agencies that provided support during this response,” Maritime NZ said in a statement.
“This was a tragic incident and our thoughts go out to everyone impacted by what happened this morning.”
Maritime NZ’s Rescue Coordination Centre has since handed responsibility for the response to police.
The two deaths have been referred to the Coroner. The Civil Aviation Authority and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission have also been notified.
The Civil Aviation Authority confirmed it was making initial enquiries to understand the circumstances of the crash and liaising with other agencies involved.
“Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those affected at this difficult time,” a CAA spokesperson said.
The CAA spokesperson said it would not be appropriate to comment further while the enquiries are underway.