Mary Ellenor Mihikore Bevan grew up in a dirt floor Tokaanu house made of raupo 100 years ago.
Friends and family gathered in the Kaierau country club on Wednesday to sing happy birthday, while letters from the Queen and prime minister John Key stood on a table nearby.
Mrs Bevan was six months old when adopted by Raukura Turoa and husband Pourini while her own father went off to look for work. She stayed with them in their home near Waihi until she was about eight when she was taken to live with their parents, Makarena and Hone Waldron.
"Mary had a lot of time for Hone," said son Ropiha Bevan.
"He taught her the old ways and their family history, which Mary over the years has been able to give back to the descendants."
The great, great grandmother was still young when she was taken to live on a farm with 13 other children in Wanganui after the Waldrons died.
"One of her jobs was to milk the house cow in a paddock - each time she did, one of the Takarangi boys used to throw stones at it. It's very hard to milk a cow on the move."
Mrs Bevan was best friends with Mata Parker (Takarangi), who was turning 100 herself on Saturday.
Mrs Bevan married Richard Pakira Bevan in Wanganui in 1936, though her children were hazy on the details of how they met.
Granddaughter Kelly said Mrs Bevan told her she'd met Richard at a dance.
"When her husband was away serving in the second world war Mary and her two eldest children lived in a house where the Kaierau Country Club is," said Mr Bevan.
"On his return at a later date in 1949 they bought an acre of land next door with a cottage on it."
Mrs Bevan and her late husband had five children, Richard, Harata, Raukura, Ropiha, and Mihi. The three youngest are still alive.
She continued working right up until the age of 80, running the Karitane Home laundry, working in the Ave fish shop, doing housework for people, and cleaning antiques in an auction house.
Mr Bevan said his mother was a private person who always had time for others.
"It was never too much to add another seat at the table.
"Although at times her memory transports her to another time and place, she is still 'mum' with that knowing smile," he said.