The 27-year-old Hastings woman who was killed in a crash near Tangoio on Monday had "her whole life ahead of her", former co-workers say.
Police yesterday named the woman as 27-year-old Jazminn Craig.
St Georges Restaurant owner Francky Godinho said Ms Craig was a chef at the restaurant for about nine months up to June this year.
"She was a very bubbly person, very friendly. She was a talented chef - a young chef who was very willing to learn."
The restaurant's operations manager, Kathryn Ryan, said it was "a big shock" when she heard Ms Craig had died.