Two people have been killed in a helicopter crash in a forest near Whangarei.

Police have confirmed two bodies have been discovered after the wreckage of the commercial chopper was found in Glenbervie Forest this afternoon.

Emergency services were called to the scene just after 2pm, when the Robinson R44's distress beacon was set off - and the chopper was reported overdue.

Police say it's not yet clear what the helicopter was doing at the time of the crash.

Officers are working to identify the dead pair and notify next of kin.

It comes just days after the Transport Accident Investigation Commission added Robinson helicopters to its list of key transport safety concerns.

That was due to the number of fatal crashes they've been involved in - when parts of the rotor have collided.

Since 1996, it's investigated 14 "mast bumping" accidents involving Robinson helicopters, costing the lives of 18 people.

Mast bumping is where the rotor hub comes into contact with the rotor mast, and is generally catastrophic.