The surf lifesaving organisation in Northland and further afield is mourning the loss of Marie Flavell-Barnes, from Mangawhai, and Ian Maclaine, a long time member of the Waipu Surf Life Saving Club.
The two, who were respected leaders and helped oversee massive changes in the organisation, died within days of each other.
Mrs Flavell-Barnes was a life member and patron of Mangawhai Heads Voluntary Surf Lifeguard Service, and last year was awarded a 50-year badge for her involvement in surf lifesaving in New Zealand.
She was the cornerstone of the club's culture for more than two decades, with the third generation of her family coming through the junior surf and lifeguard ranks at the club, said Dave Traill, acting chief executive of Surf Life Saving Northern Region.
"Marie leaves the incredible legacy of being a founding member for the first women's surf life-saving club in New Zealand [at Milford, Auckland] and has been a pre-eminent lifeguard, leader and force with Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Lifeguard Service and the wider community," Mr Traill said.