"I thought it would be a bit safer here [in Masterton]," she said.
Family members joined staff and residents to celebrate Mrs Bolton's 100 years, with cake, music and dancing.
Mrs Bolton started her day with "a surprise breakfast" of bacon, eggs and champagne.
"But I only had one glass, because you don't want to get drunk," she said.
Her daughter Linda Wells said a Rolls-Royce was coming to take Mrs Bolton, five of her pals and other family members, out to a fish and chip lunch.
Mrs Wells said her mother, coming from England, loved fish and chips and was disappointed the villas only served fish with mash potato.
"Don't ask her to play strip poker, because she's so good at cards she would probably win," said Mrs Wells of her mother.
Mrs Bolton had two children with her husband, who died 19 years ago, and now has four grandchildren.
She said she enjoyed having a sense of humour, one of the main things that helped keep her going.
"I might offend some people but I would rather put a smile on my face over a scowl any time," she said.
