"We will be working with the authority and providing them with all the information we have."
Just before 3pm today, the Civil Aviation Authority said three accident investigators would visit the crash site tomorrow to start looking into the circumstances of the crash.
A statement said initial information showed the aircraft hit powerlines before crashing to the ground some 2.5km further on.
"The aircraft was burnt out as a result of the accident,'' a statement said.
"CAA investigators will be taken to the crash scene tomorrow morning and will need to be lowered down by winch from a helicopter to be able to access the site.
"The conditions are extremely difficult and will restrict the movement of the investigators on the ground.
"Once there, they will take extensive photographs of the wreckage and also gather all available data from first responders such as police, the rescue co-ordination centre and talk to the operator to try and piece together what took place this morning.''
The authority pointed out that there would be no immediate answers to questions about the accident, as parts of the aircraft will be tested for any mechanical failures.
Hogarth apologised for the inconvenience the crash had caused others and thanked emergency services and the Rescue Helicopter for their "outstanding" response.
The plane struck 110k power lines, cutting electricity to all of Gisborne.
Eastland Network says thousands of homes in the district could be without power for two or more days.
"Teams from the network are on the ground assessing the line but the 800 metre section affected has difficult access," a statement said.
Residents should conserve both power and water, and follow their home emergency plans. Generators are being put into several petrol stations and fast food outlets.
Police, Civil Defence and Eastland Network were to provide more information at a media conference this afternoon. Gisborne's local newspaper will not come out today because of the power cut, the Gisborne Herald advised readers on its Facebook page.
"Our condolences to the families and friends of the victims."
NO NEWSPAPER TODAY
There will be no Gisborne Herald today because we have no power.
Power in Gisborne has been out...
Posted by The Gisborne Herald on Sunday, 11 December 2016
Local woman Polly Cameron said she had heard the plane fly over while she was outside reading her book around 8.30am.
She hadn't seen the plane since but had spoken to a local volunteer fireman who told her he had heard it crash.
"There's a couple of helicopters out now - must be out looking," she said.
"Our local fire servicemen are getting the fire engine out too."
The RCCNZ said it received an emergency locator beacon transmitter alert from an agricultural plane soon after 9am.
Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon said his thoughts were with the families.
The Farmers Air website says it provides a range of agricultural aviation application services - particularly aerial topdressing and fine particle application spraying.
"Safety is a critical part of our industry and operating safely with modern equipment allows us to deliver critical returns to our clientele,'' the site says.
The company operates from northern Hawke's Bay to East Cape, and Canterbury, Otago and Southland.
MetService said weather conditions in the area, at the time of the crash, were dry with some high cloud and northwesterly breezes.
The P750 is a rugged New Zealand-made short take-off and landing plane with up to 10 seats. It can be used to carry freight and for skydiving.
Hamilton-based Pacific Aerospace makes the aircraft which it is exporting to China.
The company says the plane operates well off short, narrow farm airstrips that are often situated on ridgelines.
