Teams helicoptered in to retrieve bodies of dead gliders near Taupō

Two people died after a glider crashed at Mt Tauhara near Taupō this afternoon. Photo / Charlie Winkie

Specialist teams will be helicoptered in today to recover the bodies of two people killed in a gliding incident near Taupō.

Two people died yesterday afternoon after their glider crashed at Mt Tauhara.

The incident was reported around 2.45pm, a police statement said.

Due to darkness, weather and location, the deceased and glider remained in place overnight under police guard.

However, specialist teams will be helicoptered in as part of the body recovery effort today, a police spokeswoman said.

"Weather permitting the two bodies are expected to be recovered today."

The Tauhara Mountain Trust has 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.

Taupō Gliding Club president Tim Norman called the accident "tragic and devastating".

"We are devastated by the news," he said.

"The pilot was a friend and a colleague and we are grieving for the family of the passenger".

Norman said he had no idea what caused the crash.

The CAA and police were investigating.

St John Ambulance was notified about the accident, but were not required, a spokeswoman said.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand earlier directed all queries to police.

Mt Tauhara, a dormant lava volcano, peaks at 1088m above sea level.

Three people were killed when a charter plane slammed into the mountain in 2005.

The twin-engined Piper Seneca plane from Auckland-based Christian Aviation was en-route from Kerikeri to Taupo when it crashed in low cloud, killing the pilot and two Australian passengers.

It had been on its approach to land at Taupō Airport when it crashed about two-thirds of the way up Mt Tauhara.