Post mortems are continuing today on the nine people killed in Saturday's plane crash at Fox Glacier as investigators start interviewing witnesses.
Police say dental and fingerprint records will be needed to formally identify the five locals and four tourists who died in the fiery Skydive NZ plane crash.
The crash was New Zealand's worst aviation disaster in 17 years.
The victims were Skydive director Rodney Miller, 55, from Greymouth, pilot Chaminda Senadhira, 33, from Queenstown, and dive masters Adam Bennett, 47, from Australia but living in Motueka, Michael Suter, 32, from New Plymouth, Christopher McDonald, 62, from Mapua, and Rodney Miller, 55, from Greymouth.
The four tourists who died were Patrick Byrne, 26, from County Wexford, Ireland, Glen Bourke, 18, from Coburg in Victoria, Australia, Annita Kirsten, 23, from Germany, and Brad Coker, 24, from Farnborough, England.
The crash was witnessed by the girlfriends of Mr Bourke and Mr Coker.
The duo turned down counselling offered by police and left the country yesterday.
"They are completely in bits. They watched the whole thing and are shattered," Detective Sergeant Jackie Adams told The Press.
A Facebook group with over 1000 members has been set up as a place to pay tribute to those killed. Outpourings of grief fill the page with many sending condolences to the families of the victims and some remembering their own experience with Skydive NZ fondly.
"The emotion I experienced jumping out of that plane last year was such a strong happiness, that strength has now turned to pure devastation," Laura Wright wrote.
"My heart goes out to all on that plane, and the families of those people too. Rod was a cracking bloke," Moo Min wrote.
Prime Minister John Key said investigators from the Transport Accident Investigation Commission would remain at the scene for the next few days and the commission had also contacted authorities from the home countries of the dead tourists to invite them to "take an interest" in the investigation.
The Civil Aviation Authority was conducting a parallel compliance investigation and had two investigators on the site.
Wreckage was moved from the site yesterday.
NZPA