A Little more information from various news sources:
The pilots were on a regular flight as part of the requirement to gain flying hours towards a higher qualification.
A rescue helicopter was mobilised last night and tried to reach the last-known location of the plane, 24km east of Tūrangi, but had to turn back because of low cloud and drizzle. The crash site was said to be in steep, high country. There was more low cloud and drizzle this morning and the rescue team was waiting for conditions to improve earlier before they could get in the air.