Police believe the two people killed after their rental car collided with a tour bus on the Te Anau-Milford Highway were German tourists.
The crash in Southland happened about 3pm on Tuesday, just north of Te Anau Downs, on State Highway 94.
Both vehicles were on fire when emergency services arrived, and were destroyed.
The bus was carrying South Korean tourists. Everyone in the vehicle managed to get out, some with moderate injuries.
Police Southland area commander Inspector Joel Lamb said police believed the two men who died were both aged 20 and visiting from Germany.
''The formal identification process of the two males ... is ongoing, and is expected to take some time.''
Insp Lamb said the men's next-of-kin had been contacted, and told of the circumstances of their deaths.
The Serious Crash Unit investigation was continuing, he said.
