It may only have five members, but the Norsewood Women's Institute plays a big part in the history of the organisation. With the Rissington WI going into recess in March 1988, Norsewood is now New Zealand's oldest existing WI.
Although Norsewood's WI's official birthday isn't until August the small group decided to celebrate last week as Kay Hart, the national president of the Federation of Women's Institutes was in Dannevirke.
Norsewood's president Felicity Ellison joined in 1983 and has been instrumental in keeping the institute going.
Survival is the name of the game for the institute and Cheryl Hunter, who joined on the institute's 90th birthday, is keen to encourage new members to join the existing five.
"I'm going to put a notice in our school newsletter to encourage people to come along early before they collect their children from school and have a cuppa," she said.