A pair of Bay of Plenty clubbies have lent a hand in helping New Zealand re-write history and retain its world crown at Rescue 2014 in France.

The win sees NZ Black Fins become the second nation to win back-to-back titles in the event, joining surf lifesaving powerhouse Australia, with Papamoa's Natalie Peat and Oamanu's Max Beattie part of the heroics.

World champion NZ Black Fern team. Photo: Barbara Newton.

Overnight two gold medals for the squad helped cement the title success with the side finishing ahead of Australia, who came in second, with France, the host nation, in third.

They now hold on to the Alan B. Whelpton, AO Trophy.

Overnight the team of 12, led by Dunedin's Andrew McMillan, in back-to-back world titles started off their final day of competition on a high – grabbing a medal in the team's first event of the day.

Fresh from winning a world championship title in the Women's Board Race yesterday, Mairangi Bay's Danielle McKenzie stepped in to claim another silver for the team in the Iron Women.

Not to disappoint, Max then took silver in the Men's Board Race with Midway's Cory Taylor not far behind in sixth.

Captain Andy McMillan managed to add another medal to the tally with the St Clair SLSC member taking silver in the Men's Surf Race.

Australian Beach Flags Champion Chanel Hickman (Mairangi Bay) then took gold in the Women's Beach Flags; her first medal for the competition.

Teammate Paul Cracroft-Wilson followed up with a medal winning performance, taking silver in the Men's Beach Flags.

Not content with two golds and a silver already under her belt from Rescue 2014, McKenzie then stepped in to win another silver for the team in the Iron Woman with Midway's Cory Taylor also taking silver in the Iron Man.

The Women's Ocean Relay team of Natalie Peat (Papamoa), Natasha Hind (Lyall Bay), McKenzie and Hickman then claimed the day's only bronze medal.

In true world champion style, the team finished off the day as they started- on a high note, winning gold in the Men's Taplin Team of Taylor, Cracroft-Wilson, Beattie and Midway's Chris Dawson.

Heading into the final day of competition at Rescue 2014, the Black Fins were in first place on 608 points, with France in second on 565 points with Australia in third on 559.

NZ retained their lead with France and Australia swapping positions by the end of the competition.

'We look forward re-writing the record books on this outstanding performance and to welcoming them all home in due course as World Champions,” says Surf Life Saving New Zealand chairman Geoff Hamilton.