It has been 10 years since Matua Village opened its apartments and Sara Gale has been there for all of them.
Yesterday was 10 years to the day since the apartments opened and Mrs Gale, 92, was one of the first seven residents to move in.
Mrs Gale is the only original resident still alive and to celebrate she bought afternoon tea for all the residents.
"I've been here exactly 10 years [yesterday] and I loved it, so that's the reason I did it. I've loved everything, I love my little apartment, I love the atmosphere, and all the people here are wonderful. There's not one nasty person here in the whole lot."
Mrs Gale has been a Tauranga resident for 28 years, after moving to Mount Maunganui from Mangakino in 1986.
She said that, when moving to Matua Village, she had decided to enjoy her time there.
"Everybody here is a friend, we are all a big family."
Mrs Gale's daughter and son-in-law also moved to the village four years ago.
Matua Village general manager Bob Wooller said the party had been Mrs Gale's idea.
"She said she wanted to throw a party because she had been here 10 years.
"We've been here 30 years, but it has been 10 years since the apartments opened and Sara is one of the original residents."
Sonya Bateson