Queensland's Noosa Pengari Steiner School teacher, 36-year-old Andre Vogel, and student, 16-year-old Gabriel Runge, were killed in the crash, which left seven others injured.
They were part of a school group who were in New Zealand on a hiking trip.
Officer in charge of road policing for Rotorua, Senior Sergeant Nicky Riordan, said the number of fatal crashes in the district was still too high.
"Our aim is zero. Any death on our roads is one too many," she said.
"There's been six road deaths ... meaning there's six families that will be without their loved ones these holidays."
Mrs Riordan said two of the deaths were still under investigation by police. The others have been referred to the coroner. Because they were still going through the investigation and coronial process, she said she could not speculate on what caused the fatal crashes.
However fatigue was likely to have been a factor in at least some of them, she said.
"Fatigue is often a factor in fatal crashes and is commonly underestimated by drivers as a risk. Don't underestimate tiredness, it's dangerous.
"Taking a short break when driving, to get out of the car and freshen up, is often the difference between making it safely to your destination or not making it at all."
According to the NZ Transport Agency website, 32 people died on Bay of Plenty roads in 2014, compared to 18 in 2013. It's the highest number since 2010, when 37 were killed on Bay roads.
Bay of Plenty road policing manager Inspector Kevin Taylor said it was important for people to look after each other on the roads this summer.
"We don't want any more families to suffer the same heartbreak.
"The ocean is not going to wash away the beach before you get there, so you are better off driving in a manner which helps everyone to reach the beach, or any other destination, safely."
Mr Taylor said speed, alcohol, fatigue and inattention remained key factors behind the majority of crashes in New Zealand.
Ministry of Transport chief executive Martin Matthews said there were a number of road safety initiatives in place to try to reduce the number of fatal crashes on New Zealand roads.
"The harm caused by road crashes resulting in deaths or serious injuries has ongoing and lasting impacts on family, friends and communities.
"This is why road safety interventions, such as a renewed focus on enforcing the speed limit, the lower alcohol limit for adult drivers, and ongoing public information campaigns, are so important," he said.
Nationally, the provisional road toll for the year was 297.
Road deaths in Rotorua:
2014: 6 (provisional)
2013: 7
2012: 4
2011: 3
2010: 11
2009: 6
Road deaths in Bay of Plenty2014: 32
2013: 18
2012: 23
2011: 19
2010: 37