Jeanne and Hardie Drake's seven decade romance is the kind of love that Hollywood make movies about.

The year was 1945 and World War Two was coming to a close. She was 17 years old and living with her family in Wellington, he was a 22-year-old officer in the New Zealand Navy who arrived unexpectedly on her doorstep one day.

'I opened the door and there he was and that was it,” says Jeanne, her voice warmed with the memory of that fateful day.

'Hardie was stationed at Stephen's Island in the Marlborough Sounds and was heading on leave but needed a place to stay for the night.

'My brother who was also stationed on the island suggested he stay with us. 'Goodness, I'd never met a man like him. We became very close friends, and the following year we were married in 1946.”

Over the course of that year, which saw Hardie return to Stephen's Island before being reassigned to the HMS Philomel which was based in Auckland at the time, he would craft the most beautiful love letters which Jeanne has kept to this very day.

'Every now and again I'll take them out and read them. The most wonderful memories and feelings come flooding back and I just can't help smiling.”

The couple celebrated their platinum anniversary – 70 years – by renewing their vows surrounded by family and friends during a special ceremony held at in Pyes Pa last weekend.

Jeanne says she had no idea that when she opened her door on that fateful day in 1945 that the man standing on the doorstep would become her husband of 70 years.

Along with a lifetime of love, the couple had three children – Jennifer, David and Stephen – and eventually six grandchildren and nine grandchildren.

'It just seems like the blink of an eye now. But it's been absolutely marvellous. The most wonderful part is we still love each other very much.”