New Zealand’s oldest person Aileen Kars turns 111, celebration planned in Palmerston North

She was born the year after the Titanic sank to its watery grave, and a year before the start of a world war that would lay large swathes of Europe to waste and dispatch four empires to the history books.

In the more than a century since, Aileen Kars has lived through a second world war, pandemics that have killed millions and economic shocks from the Great Depression to the Global Financial Crisis.

She’s outlived her husband, one of her two sons and every Prime Minister who served during the first 77 years of her life.

Today, the life-long Manawatū resident celebrates her 111th birthday with afternoon tea for a small group of family and friends, and the opening of her latest royal birthday card, this time from King Charles.

Kars, born in Tokomaru on September 12, 1913, is almost completely deaf and wasn’t able to speak with the Herald.

But the supercentenarian was well aware of her big day, Arvida Olive Tree Village manager Robyn Ballard said.

“When we went to take the photos, she just looked at us and said, ‘You do know it’s not my birthday today, don’t you?’ She absolutely knows what’s going on around her.

“[And] she has a normal diet and knows what she likes and doesn’t like.”

Before moving to the Palmerston North retirement village in 1993, Kars was married to husband Les for 54 years, with the couple raising their two sons on a farm.

So there was plenty of physical work in her younger years, including hand-milking cows and riding horses, but despite the hours toiling outdoors, Kars “doesn’t have a line on her face”, longtime friend Jan Cook said.

“She attributes that to Johnson’s Baby Oil. Pretty marvellous for a farmer’s wife outside all the time.”

Kars hasn’t let slip on other secrets to her longevity, but had spoken of a “use everything” approach to cooking in the past and that she’d been fortunate to have had a “wonderful mother and good husband”.

Ballard also noted the oldest of the village’s residents’ stress-reducing approach to each day.

“She’s got this lovely way about her, that life is meant to be a joy.”

All Kars’ family live overseas, but two grandchildren had travelled to New Zealand for today’s celebration, Cook said.

“Grandchildren sounds younger, doesn’t it? They’re in their 60s.”

The 111-year-old also has several great- and great-great-grandchildren.

Kars is the oldest person in Oceania, ahead of Australian Ken Weeks, who turns 111 on October 5, according to the US Gerontology Research Group.

The oldest living person in the world is Japanese woman Tomiko Itooka, 116, who was born on May 23 1908.

The longest-lived person in history was Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, who was 122 years and 164 days old when she died in 1997.

More people here and overseas were living past 100, gerontologist Ngaire Kerse said.

“[Over 100] is one of the fastest growing age groups.”

Genetics were 30% to 40% responsible, with lifestyle and luck factoring the rest, Kerse said.

A baby girl born in New Zealand today could expect to live to almost 84 and a boy to 80, although this could be lower or higher depending on ethnicity.

To reach triple figures, and beyond, for someone born soon after the turn of the last century was impressive, the University of Auckland professor said.

“This wonderful woman is doing so well. One hundred and eleven is an exception.”

Cherie Howie is an Auckland-based reporter who joined the Herald in 2011. She has been a journalist for more than 20 years and specialises in general news and features.

This article was first published by the NZ Herald and is republished here with permission.