Retired jeweller Ivan Van de Water was killed in a plane crash in Dingleburn Valley, near Hāwea, on Saturday.
Flying with him was Don Grant, who remains in critical condition in Dunedin Hospital.
The news has left the Gore and Wānaka communities reeling.
Mr Van de Water is survived by his wife Miriam and three children, as well as grandchildren.
The family did not wish to comment at this time.
Former long-serving Gore mayor Tracy Hicks said the news had come as a shock to him and the wider community.
“I was devastated when I heard about Ivan, and Don as well."
Mr Grant was cut from the wreckage of the plane and flown to Dunedin Hospital.
Twin brother Doug was on his way to Dunedin Hospital and told the Otago Daily Times there had been no further update from doctors on his critical condition.
Mr Hicks knew Mr Van de Water for more than 40 years.
He and his wife had been heavily involved in the community.
“He has over the years done a really good job on the main street.
"They had both worked really hard , tirelessly connecting a lot of retailers together.”
The couple owned the Van de Waters jewellers shop in Gore from 1983 to 2021.
“He did a pretty good job with that.
"Ivan was a good clear thinker.
"I really enjoyed speaking with him.”
Mr Hicks described him as someone who was well respected and had a lot of wisdom.
“He never raised his voice, as he never needed to.
Mr Van de Water had only in the past couple of years moved to Wanaka to retire.
He and Mr Grant were good friends, Mr Hicks said.
“I think he and Don had been doing a bit of flying.
"They get on very well, no surprise they were in a plane together.”
Gore Mayor Ben Bell said the news had struck the wider community at the weekend and, in particular, several of his councillors who knew the family well.
“It is a huge loss to the Gore community and my heart goes out to the Van de Water family.
"It is a shock for the community.
"They devoted a lot of their life to promoting Gore."
Gore deputy mayor Keith Hovell said the community was in shock about Mr Van de Water’s death.
"Ivan was a well-respected person in the community.
"He operated a shop on the main street for close to 40 years.
"[He was] an extremely patient man ... a delight to deal with."
Warbirds Over Wanaka Airshow general manager Ed Taylor said the pilot community was in shock about what happened.
Mr Grant was the volunteer manager at last year’s show, he said.
He hoped he could return in that role next year.
— Matthew Littlewood and Olivia Caldwell
