As New Zealand’s oldest person, Aileen celebrates her 111th birthday with family and friends this week. Aileen also celebrates 31 years as a resident of Arvida Olive Tree community in Highbury, Palmerston North. Her Village Manager, Robyn Ballard says Aileen is quite the celebrity amongst the other residents and team in the community.

“Aileen moved into Olive Tree way back in 1993 and has lived in a villa, an apartment and now resides in our care centre. She has a beautiful way about her and everyone loves to visit her.”

As a devoted farmer’s wife, Aileen would milk cows and ride horses with her late husband as she balanced farm duties with raising her children in the Manawatu region.

Family is important to Aileen, having had a happy marriage that lasted 54 years. The supercentenarian has two children, three grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and seven great-great-grandchildren.

Aileen’s family believes a strong faith has contributed to her amazing longevity and good health. When asked back in 2021 to reflect on her longevity, Aileen said, “I've had a good life ... you need to have a good nature to live this long. I always got along well with others. My mother was incredible, she'd say ‘do unto others as you like done unto you’. You get out what you put in.”