Te Kuiti crash kills Gaylene Bell and Chanelle King

Gaylene Bell, 34, died next to her eldest daughter in a head-on crash in Te Kuiti on Sunday afternoon. She leaves behind a loving partner and five children. Photo / Supplied

The mother and daughter who were killed in a head-on crash have been remembered as amazing family women.

Gaylene Bell, 34, and Chanelle King, 17, died in Te Kuiti on Sunday afternoon. They were on the way home from Bell's cleaning job. Chanelle had gone along for the ride.

Waikato road policing Senior Sergeant Pete van de Wetering said one vehicle must have crossed the centre line.

Chanelle King, 17, died next to her mum in a head-on crash in Te Kuiti on Sunday afternoon. Photo / Supplied

The love of Bell's life, Hona Winikerei was absolutely devastated, his aunt Marama Winikerei said. The pair had been together since Bell was 15 and they had their first child when she was 17. The couple have six kids - three boys, three girls.

"He's shattered. They were very much in love," Winikerei told the Herald.

"Everything was for the kids. She was a great mother, beautiful mother. You have to admire them having all these kids so young, they brought them up on their own. They just worked really hard at whatever they did."

Chanelle was also a homebody who loved hanging out with her siblings and cousins, Winikerei said. She was sad she hadn't spoken to Chanelle recently about her dreams and aspirations.

"She was the most beautiful girl I could ever know, very humble, no matter what, she was still in her beautiful mood. She never had a bad word to say about anyone

"You never expect this to happen so you don't have time to talk about all this sort of stuff
It's just the worst thing that could ever ever happen, you don't wish it on anyone."

The women are being taken to Te Koraha Marae, Taharoa, until burial.

Bell's cousin Rangi Bell has fond memories of growing up together. She said Bell and her family were always cracking each other up. They spent a lot of time at Taharoa, where they are from.

"We just did what kids did, we just hung out and grew up.

"She was bubbly, funny, happy, down to earth. She likes spending time with her family. She loved her kids. She was a family person."

Chanelle's friend Taylor Matthews remembered her as an outgoing girl. He met her at a kapa haka competition two years ago.

He said she had a bubbly personality and would go out of her way to make friends, and even tourists feel welcome in Te Kuiti.

"She was always around town with a few of her friends, when I used to work at the barber shop she was always that person to see downtown with a few friends always saying hello first."

Police are investigating the crash on behalf of the coroner.