Noel Peterson turns one hundred on Christmas Day. Photo / George Novak
Noel Peterson turns one hundred on Christmas Day. Photo / George Novak
On Christmas Day 100 years ago, Noel Peterson was born.
To mark the occasion, the centenarian was gifted a bottle of 100-year-old whiskey - the same age he will be come tomorrow.
The age-old whiskey was gifted to Noel at a special celebration with about 80 family members at the Omokoroa Boat Club on the eve of Christmas Eve. Peterson was born at Mokauiti, in the middle of the King Country, on December 25, 1918.
In his younger days was an apprentice pharmacist and spent several years as a theatre projectionist.
Noel Peterson turns 100 on Christmas Day. Photo / George Novak
When he returned he was stationed at Hobsonville for the New Zealand Royal Air Force.
Peterson then went on to start his own business as a sign writer and interior decorator, before working for British Imperial Paints as a manager and doing problem solving all over the North and South Islands.
He married his wife Helga Peterson - who was a trained opera singer - in 1941 and they were married for 64 years, though were together for 68 years.
It will be a happy birthday for Noel Peterson when he turns 100 on Christmas Day. Photo / George Novak
He said they got married in the morning and then at the end of the day he had to leave to continue his World War II service, and it was four years later that they next saw each other.
The pair met when his boss sent him out to a job as an apprentice, and he made Helga's family an ornate glass sign for their homestead.
"I thought she was the most gorgeous creation on the face of God's Earth."
They went on to have a family with four children - Vern, Stephanie, Warwick and Tanya.
Peterson has also had and been involved in many hobbies over the years.
He was very involved with the Pony Club and Trekking Club, serving as treasurer, and was made a life member.
Peterson started playing indoor bowls about 30 years ago at the Salvation Army before joining the RSA Indoor Bowls and Rotorua Club.
When asked how he felt to be turning 100 he said he did not feel any different.
But the 100-year-old's secret to longevity was to "keep your mind and body active".
He also thought it was important to have a high level of interest in everything you did.
Noel Peterson with his daughter, Tanya Peterson. Photo / Ben Fraser
Peterson's daughter, Tanya Peterson, said she believed the secret to her father reaching the 100-year milestone was that he had always kept active and had a simple and healthy diet.
"It's the exercise and the company that has kept him to this age."
