An 11-year-old boy was one of the two people killed in the Christmas Eve bus crash south of Gisborne.
Sione Taumololo and 33-year-old Talita Fifita were both from Tonga.
They died when the bus they were on crashed through a barrier after 10pm on Saturday and went down a bank near State Highway 2.
There were 53 people on board the bus when it crashed. They were students and teachers from Tonga's Mailefihi Siuilikutapu College Brass Band, who are visiting New Zealand to fundraise for their school in Tonga.
Ten people remain in hospital.
Police say they are speaking with a number of people who were on the bus, including the driver.
"The investigation will include a full mechanical inspection of the bus once it is recovered along with an assessment of road conditions and any other possible contributing factors to the crash," police said in a statement.
The bus driver told Newshub on Sunday his brakes failed, just before he crashed through the road barrier and went down the bank.
The group was travelling to Gisborne's Wesleyan Methodist Church where they were due to perform as a band on Christmas Day.
On Monday, members of the Tongan community visited the crash site to pay their respects.
Around a dozen people visited the crash site on State Highway 2 in the Wharerata Hills on Monday morning, where they said a prayer and sung a song.
Members of the group included the Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga, and Pacific Peoples Minister Alfred Ngaro.
A vigil was also held on Sunday night.
Methodist Church Reverend Tevita Finau says the families of the dead have a lot of support from the Tongan community.
"The message at our Tongan service was very supportive, very encouraging and empowering - and at the same time we were mourning," he says.
Reverend Finau says they're hoping the death toll doesn't rise.
"We are still in an awaiting mode. We do not really know if the toll will climb or not," he says.
Pacific Peoples Minister Alfred Ngaro expressed his condolances, and said many of the crash victims were hurting from their losses.
"Most of them are being tended to by their families. There are a number of young people that are part of that tour party. Most of them are still in shock," he said.
"They've lost a very good friend, a cousin, a family member, and also for some of them an aunty as well."
Traffic disruptions expected
Police say State Highway 2 south of Gisborne will be down to one lane for a few hours on Monday following the fatal bus crash on Christmas Eve while the unit gathers more evidence about the incident.
The lane reduction will be from 9am until noon and there may be short delays for motorists.
On Tuesday, SH2 between Nuhaka and Gisborne will be fully closed for up to eight hours from 6am to allow for the recovery of the bus, which will require a specialist crane.
While the road is closed there will be diversions via Tiniroto Rd and there will be signage in place.
Police are asking motorists heading to the Rhythm and Vines festival to drive with patience.
Newshub.
Members of the Tongan community have visited the site of a deadly bus crash south of Gisborne to pay their respects.
Two people were died and dozens more were injured when the bus crashed through a barrier after 10:00pm on Christmas Eve and went down a bank near State Highway 2 south of Gisborne.
The bus was carrying 45 students and teachers from Tonga's Mailefihi Siuilikutapu College Brass Band, who are visiting New Zealand to fundraise for their school in Tonga.
Around a dozen people visited the crash site on State Highway 2 in the Wharerata Hills on Monday morning, where they said a prayer and sung a song.
Members of the group included the Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga, and Pacific Peoples Minister Alfred Ngaro.
A vigil was also held on Sunday night.
Two victims were discharged from Gisborne Hospital on Sunday afternoon, while a number of others remain in stable conditions.
Members of the Tongan community have visited the site of a deadly bus crash south of Gisborne to pay their respects.
Two people were died and dozens more were injured when the bus crashed through a barrier after 10:00pm on Christmas Eve and went down a bank near State Highway 2 south of Gisborne.
The bus was carrying 45 students and teachers from Tonga's Mailefihi Siuilikutapu College Brass Band, who are visiting New Zealand to fundraise for their school in Tonga.
Around a dozen people visited the crash site on State Highway 2 in the Wharerata Hills on Monday morning, where they said a prayer and sung a song.
Members of the group included the Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga, and Pacific Peoples Minister Alfred Ngaro.
A vigil was also held on Sunday night.
Two victims were discharged from Gisborne Hospital on Sunday afternoon, while a number of others remain in stable conditions.
