Family 'blessed' as matriarch turns 100

Ngar Wong and her son Leng Zhao celebrate her 100th birthday. Photo / Stephen Parker

Rotorua's Ngar Wong is celebrating her 100th birthday, despite her passport claiming otherwise.

Yesterday Mrs Wong, who moved to New Zealand from Hong Kong in 1999, turned 100. But according to her passport, she's just turned 98.

A mistake printed on the document puts her at two years younger and while that means she won't be receiving a letter from the Queen just yet, she was thrilled to be able to celebrate the day with family, friends and staff at Rotorua's Cantabria rest home.

Family members from as far as Hong Kong and New York have travelled to join the celebrations.

She was thrown a party at the rest home, complete with cake and gifts, and was taken out to a family dinner for the occasion.

Mrs Wong spoke little English but said it was a "very, very happy day".

Her son, Leng Zhao, said he was blessed to see his mother reach such a milestone.

He believed the secret to her long and healthy life was her generosity and happiness.

"Giving is loving, giving is caring and giving is happiness," he said.

"And happiness is the key to long life."

Mr Zhao said when growing up, his mother always put her family and the community's needs ahead of her own.

If anyone in the neighbourhood had a problem or needed help, his mother was the person they would go to, he said.

Mrs Wong's granddaughter-in-law Ada Chen said Mrs Wong was the only member of the family known to have reached 100.

In Chinese culture, having a family member live to that age brought good fortune and good health to the entire family.

She said she was grateful for the kindness Cantabria staff had shown towards Mrs Wong and was amazed at the way they were able to communicate with her despite the language barrier.

Mrs Wong has two children, seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

She is one of an estimated 316,600 centenarians living worldwide.