The plane that crashed into Lake Taupo has been described as a mangled mess which no one could have survived.
All 13 people on board, including six tourists, successfully bailed out before the plane hit the water.
Lake Taupo's Harbourmaster Philip King said the wreckage, which lies in shallow waters near the Waitahanui Marae, was a mangled mess and in many pieces.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission said pieces of the aircraft were scattered on the lake bed and the salvage operation would take several hours.
Head investigator, Peter Williams said they were aiming to retrieve all of the plane without causing further damage, today.
Mr Williams said locating the engine was of key interest in explaining the cause of the crash.
If it is found its data recorder would be examined in Australia and the engine itself flown to Canada for examination by its manufacturer, he said.
