The pair met under rather different circumstances.
One Saturday afternoon, Ian knew a bus-full of youths from a local church had gone to Waitomo Caves for the day.
Hoping to have a bit of a laugh, Ian and a few cousins put on some balaclavas and decided to pull over the bus as they were heading back and hold them up on the side of the road.
Looking back, it isn't as funny as Ian thought it might have been at the time.
"It probably wasn't the best idea. My uncle wasn't impressed the next morning. I got a bollocking."
However, it was the start of a long partnership because Heather was on the bus and the pair started seeing each other soon afterwards.
"My mother was very disgusted. 'How could you go with such a boy'," Heather said.
They continued to see each other despite the long distance between them, sending letters and visiting once a month.
After three years, the pair decided it was time to get married. Following their ceremony in Hamilton, Heather made the move down to Ian's Kai Iwi farm.
Once they welcomed their first son Craig, Heather's purpose shifted to full-time mother and farmer's wife.
"People don't appreciate how much a country woman has to do. It was a very busy life really," she said.
Community service has been a big part of both their lives and they have always been connected to church activities with the Ingestre St Bible Church.
Heather and Ian were part of the choir for many years, travelling extensively through the UK together as part of it.
Community service is something that has always run in Ian's blood, serving on several community boards for years and driving buses.
Heather enjoys knitting, spinning and gardening in her spare time.
Christianity has played a huge role in their lives and continues to guide them.
"From the start of our marriage, we made a commitment and effort to honour God in our relationship," Ian said.
"That doesn't give you all the answers, but it does give you strength."
The pair celebrated the special anniversary with their friends and family last weekend at their Otamatea property, hosting a lunch and barbecue.
"It was pretty special really. It was a lot of fun. It was wonderful to have everyone look after us," Heather said.
When recently asked by his grandson what the key to their success was, Ian said it was "something you just have to work at".
"At the end of 60 years by God's grace, we are still here. It is an integral part of our lives."
Heather cited perseverance, consideration, pray, love, tolerance and respect as some of the key words to define their longstanding love for each other.
The couple are looking forward to what the future holds and spending as much time with friends and family as possible.
