Lois Livingston was passionate about heritage, history, the environment, and her friends and family. She's shown with her dog Ollie in 2007.

She was a fearless straight-shooter and a tireless supporter of her community.

The death of long-serving Waikato regional councillor Lois Livingston has left big shoes to fill, friends and colleagues say.

Livingston had been a regional councillor for 21 years, since 1991, except for 2007 to 2010.

PETER DRURY/FAIRFAX NZ Lois Livingston never worried about obstacles, she just made a plan, says friend Jane Landman, right. The pair are pictured in 2007, when they were advocating for a special character area for Hamilton East.

She was re-elected in October.

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She held a variety of senior roles, including chair of the environment and public transport committees. She also chaired policy and plan changes, and resource consent hearings.

Livingston fought to save the Riverlea Theatre when the land was put up for sale by Hamilton City Council.

Livingston died on Sunday after ongoing health problems. She was diagnosed with multiple myeloma - a cancer of the plasma cells - in 2013.

No one scared Livingston, close friend and colleague Jane Landman said.

"She had the biggest balls of any woman I have ever met," the manager of Waimarie: Hamilton East Community House said.

CHRIS HILLOCK/FAIRFAX NZ Lois Livingston was a regional councillor for 21 years, since 1991, except for 2007 to 2010. She's pictured speaking to Grey Power members in 2010.

Livingston sometimes dressed down councillors, but she never held a grudge, and could separate politics and relationships.

Her passions were history, heritage, the environment, and her family and friends, Landman said.

Community causes were a big part of her life - she chaired the organisation behind the community house, the South East Kirikiriroa Community Association (SEKCA), the Riverlea Theatre and Arts Centre, and the Hamilton East Community Trust.

"She would just get on the phone and she'd know these people and be able to do these amazing things," Landman said.

She wouldn't say no or list obstacles, she'd just make a plan.

She was also an amazing cook, Landman said, and knew the power of wine and nibbles to lure people to meetings.

"There wasn't much bullsh-t about Lois ... You didn't really have to guess how things were with her," Landman said.

"A lot of people are going to really miss her."

Livingston's daughter Adrienne, an ecologist, said she was proud of what her mother had achieved and inspired others to achieve.

"I will miss her like crazy."

Her other daughter, Taran, an environmental planner who lives in England, also paid tribute to a wonderful mum.

"Our mum was a very strong woman who cared passionately about the New Zealand environment, performing arts and the heritage of her local community in Hamilton East ... We will miss her dearly."

Waikato Regional Council chairman Alan Livingston said Lois Livingston was consistently a strong advocate for the Waikato River and of expansion of public transport.

"She had been very keen to carry on in her council role despite her health issues in recent years."

The council is now investigating requirements for the by-election for Livingston's Hamilton constituency seat, and will let the community know the arrangements as soon as possible.

Former Waikato Regional Council chairwoman Paula Southgate said Livingston would be sorely missed by a number of sectors.

"Lois has been a champion for both the community and environment.

"She lived and breathed her work at the regional council. It gave meaning to her life. She was so passionate about it. She gave her heart and soul into that job."

Livingston was also a forceful advocate for the community, especially Hamilton East, Southgate said.

She was fairly forthright, she said - some people would describe her as feisty.

"Even if you didn't always agree with her, you could never do anything but admire her, she would always stand up for what she believes."

Creative Waikato's chief executive Sarah Nathan said Livingston worked tirelessly with great determination for the preservation of the Riverlea Theatre.

She was part of the group that fought to save the Riverlea Theatre when the land was put up for sale by Hamilton City Council.

A 19-month fund-raising campaign by theatre supporters saw the land sold to the group for $350,000 (plus GST).

"She will be tremendously missed, particularly by that Riverlea community, who really appreciated the energy that she gave. She continued to give that energy even post diagnosis."

Former deputy mayor of Hamilton Gordon Chesterman said it was a pleasure to work with someone as passionate as Livingston.

"When she got an issue and she believed in it, she was like a pit bull terrier," he said.