Bay of Plenty Police area commander for Tāupo , Inspector Warwick Morehu told Stuff the woman's husband had taken the first trip up with the pilot, before returning to the airfield where his wife boarded for the next trip.
The couple were New Zealand residents and part of the Muslim community, and members of the faith had travelled from Wellington and Hamilton to Taupo to support the husband, Stuff reported.
As formal identification was yet to take place, police would not be releasing any details regarding the deceased at this stage.
The circumstances of the crash would be investigated by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission.
The Tauhara Mountain Trust placed a rahui on the mountain for five days out of respect for the families, it said.
"This is effective immediately and the trust asks that the public and whānau respect the rāhui," a statement said.
The rāhui will end at sunrise on Saturday, June 6.
