Chief Coroner Neil Maclean released the provisional finding today on behalf of the Palmerston North coroner.
"A decision on the next steps in the inquiry which has been opened will be made after the full post mortem report is received and the regional coroner has discussed the matter further with relevant family members and police," Mr Maclean said.
Dr Bennington, 61, and Mrs Jackson, 54, were found in the snow in the Tararua Ranges shortly before 11am on Wednesday, four days after they went missing.
Jan Morgans said yesterday Mrs Jackson, her sister-in-law, loved nature.
"She had taken up tramping again in the last year or so (and) was really looking forward to her tramp in the Tararuas," she told The Dominion Post.
Friends described her as quiet, self-effacing, kind and thoughtful.
A written tribute and condolence book for Dr Bennington, accompanied by a portrait and flowers, opened on the museum's second floor yesterday.
Te Papa communications manager Jane Keig said condolences had been flowing in from around the country and overseas.
The tribute would be reproduced on Te Papa's blog for people to leave condolences through comments or by emailing condolences@tepapa.govt.nz.
Dr Bennington's family were waiting for all family members to arrive in Wellington before decisions were made about a memorial service, she said.
Dr Bennington and Mrs Jackson had been in the ranges for a weekend tramp to Kime Hut but failed to return as planned on Sunday.
After more than two days of searching their bodies were found about 1km from the hut.
Although the pair were otherwise well-equipped, police said neither had carried a cellphone or locator beacon.
