Police at the helicopter crash in Paekākāriki Hill

Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone

The pilot and passenger killed in a helicopter crash near Paekākāriki Hill last week have been named.

They were Cole Christopher Ritchie, 25, from Wharepapa South, and Joseph Mark Keeley, 54, from Tauhara.

The pair were pest control contractors working on Transmission Gully.

Kāpiti Mana Area Commander Inspector Renée Perkins said emergency services, aviation authorities, local iwi and regional partners have worked closely in extremely challenging terrain.

The area where a helicopter crashed on Wednesday, killing the pilot and the sole passenger.

The are where the helicopter crashed.
Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone

The helicopter wreckage was removed on Friday.

Perkins said police, Civil Aviation Authority and Victim Support are supporting the families affected.

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