The tight-knit town of Matamata is today mourning the loss of teenager Jasmine Clothier killed in a crash on the Kaimai Ranges at the weekend.

The 17-year-old Matamata College student was the front seat passenger in one of two cars involved in the collision on State Highway 29 about 4.10pm Saturday.

Jasmine Clothier died in a crash on the Kaimai Ranges.

Described as a bubbly 'positive young lady”, the teen's death has devastated family, friends and members of the college she attended.

Speaking on behalf of the family – parents Gavin and Wendy and sister Crystal – Jasmine's uncle Steve Clothier says the they are still coming to grips with her death.

He describes her as 'loving and full of life”, one of 14 grandchildren to grandparents Henry and Ann Clothier.

"She was a bubbly, energetic young lady. She is just friends with everybody. She was the kind of young girl who would always come up and give you a cuddle and a kiss,” says Steve.

"She had a huge network of friends. The funeral will be rather large."

He says extended family have gathered in Matamata since Saturday evening with Jasmine's funeral expected to be held in Matamata on Wednesday.

Matamata College principal Alan Munro says the Year 13 student was a big part of both the year group and the school.

'She was a really positive young lady with a real flair for media studies and art in particular,” says Alan.

'She was held in high regard by the teachers and her peers. It is just a tragic loss for everyone and the wider community because we are a small community.”

The school currently has a crisis management plan in place with a guidance counsellor and Year 13 dean offering assistance for students not up to going back to studies.

He says the number of messages and support on Facebook show just how highly people thought of Jasmine.

'Staff are bearing up quite well. But there are a couple of teachers who were close to her and are doing it quite tough, but they are trying to keep things as normal as possible.

'Matamata is a small community and I imagine there is a high number of our community going [to the funeral]. There will be some sort of school representation.”

It is understood Jasmine was travelling from Matamata to Tauranga when the crash on the Waikato side of the summit occurred.

Police told the NZ Herald it appears the older model Mercedes Benz, in which the 17-year-old was the front seat passenger, was on the wrong side of the road when it and another vehicle collided. It is too early to say why the car may have been on the other side.

Firefighters from Greerton, Tauranga and Matamata attended and attempted to cut Jasmine free using the Jaws of Life, but she died at the scene.

The driver of the vehicle and the sole occupant of the other car were reported to be not seriously injured.

The Police Serious Crash Unit is investigating.