Two people were dead after two light planes collided mid-air in New Zealand's lower North Island on Monday afternoon, the Civil Aviation Authority said.

The Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Bill Sommer said two Cessna 152 planes were involved in the crash near Feilding at 3.30 p.m. (03:30 GMT). It is believed the two dead were from the same plane. One of the planes managed to land at an airstrip near Feilding while the second aircraft crashed into a paddock.

Emergency services were at the scene and the police had cordoned off nearby road.

The cause of the crash were under investigation.