While 10-year-old Ben Kjeldsen was not able to gorge himself on pirate-themed muffins and chicken nuggets, it didn't stop him from enjoying his first real birthday party out of hospital in Rotorua.
Ben was born with glycerol kinase deficiency, an extremely rare condition which means he is highly allergic to fat and has a low immune system which can keep him out of school.
He has been in and out of hospital his whole life and has never been able to have a birthday party, his mother Anita Kjeldsen said.
"He was born with it, but he wasn't diagnosed with it until he was 7 years old.
"He lived the first four years of his life in hospital."
She wrote to Pamol to enter the company's All Better Day competition, telling them how much Ben would love to be able to have a birthday party to make up for all the parties he had missed while being sick.
Miss Kjeldsen won the competition, despite thinking success would be a "long shot".
Ben was allowed to leave hospital early to travel with 14 members of his family and friends from Whakatane to Rotorua on Saturday where he had a great party, he said.
"It was fun and exciting."
The day's itinerary included a trip to Skyline where they enjoyed the luge and gondola, and ate lunch at the Skyline buffet.
Ben was able to eat quite a lot of the food available at the buffet, which was a huge bonus, she said.
Miss Kjeldsen made pirate-themed muffins, but Ben's allergies meant they could only be enjoyed by his friends.
Their next stop was Rainbow Springs where Ben said he went on the Log Flume ride about four times.
Ben's favourite parts of the day were going on the luge, and spending time with his friends.