UPDATED 11.50AM: Two people are dead after a plane crashed in the South Island.

A Civil Aviation Authority spokesman told the NZ Herald that the Rescue Coordination Centre confirmed there were two people on board the microlight plane and both have died as a result of the crash.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority the plane was a Rans S6 microlight.

A Fire Service spokesman said the crash was "halfway between Kaka Point and Owaka, just off the Owaka Highway".

He said the crash site was in a rural area, near Ahuriri Flat.

A St John spokesman said he "believed" two people had died as a result of the crash.

Police and ambulances were called to the scene at 10.10am.