Financial aid is being sought to help families get their loved one's bodies back after a crash on State Highway 2, near Paengaroa, last week.

A 30-year-old Indian man, from Rotorua, died at the scene of the crash on December 28, and a 31-year-old Indian man, also from Rotorua, died hours later in Waikato Hospital.

Two people died after a car crashed with a milk tanker on State Highway 2, at the intersection of Wilson Road.

A 28-year-old woman remains in critical condition in Waikato Hospital and another, a 42-year-old Rotorua woman, remains in a stable condition in Tauranga Hospital.

Police are still investigating the accident and say it appears the VW Golf carrying the five people turned right out of Wilson Road to travel south, before crashing with a truck and trailer unit heading north.

The victims involved in the accident were relatives of the Waiariki Institute of Technology's international student body.

As a result, the institute posted to their Facebook page calling for urgent financial assistance to help with funeral costs and body transfers.

'A tragic accident occurred last week near Te Puke, which involved relatives of Waiariki's international student body,” the posts reads.

'If you are able to donate anything at all towards this fundraising effort, please use the following account details: AC name: Rotorua Malayali Association AC no: 01-0414-0631566-00.”