Wendy and Natanya Campbell went to a remote Northland home yesterday morning to carry out repairs.
Within hours, they'd been shot dead, the rental property they manage was burned to the ground, and contractor Jeff Pipe was in hospital with gunshot wounds.
Martin, 52, used to babysit 37-year-old Natanya when they were younger. They had remained close throughout their lives.
Natanya had only started work a few months ago, Martin said. She'd lived in Whangarei for three years, before that she lived in remote Mitimiti, north of Hokianga, caring for her elderly grandparents.
"She was helping her mum. Her mum was really well known and loved. They were as close as any mum and daughter can be.
"We're devastated, shocked speechless. Everybody just doesn't know what's going on.
"We just want to get them back."
Natanya hails from Mitimiti and had a lot to do with Matihetihe Marae. Wendy was from Invercargill.
Martin remembered Natanya's love for sport, especially netball. She had played competitively and encouraged her daughters to play. Two of them were in rep teams.
"She's just a super girl and she'll be missed forever."
The family, including Natanya's partner Peter Penney and her dad Jim Campbell, were beside themselves with grief and gathering at the family home, Martin said.
Police were also at the home offering support.
A beautiful photo of a mum and daughter who were taken from this world today. Stripped from their families, their...
Posted by Vicky Martin on Wednesday, 26 July 2017
Friends of the pair have been posting tributes on Facebook.
Beverley Vernon wrote of her "beautiful loving sister n law and her dear daughter".
"Words are inadequate.....Such a gap in so many lives."
Joey Hoane Broughton, a friend of Natanya from Waitakere College said: "Sorry this has happened to you my friend and your mum. We had plans to catch up when we weren't busy you know you were a sister to me and a alsome. Friend of many others at waitak."
