Virginia Petty's 100th birthday party at the Shark Bar, Gisborne, on January 7, 2026. Photo / Anne-Marie de Bruin
Virginia Petty's 100th birthday party at the Shark Bar, Gisborne, on January 7, 2026. Photo / Anne-Marie de Bruin
Virginia Petty enjoyed a family gathering at Gisborne’s Shark Bar to celebrate her 100th birthday.
Virginia told the Gisborne Herald one of the best things about the day was meeting family members who had travelled from Taranaki and Manawatū.
She was married to Keith Petty and had three children -her daughters, nurse Janet Askew, who had died in 2015, and Jennifer Sommerfeld, and son Ian Petty.
Ian said his father had mainly been a builder and also worked in insurance.
He said his parents had met at a dance in Stratford.
She was at the craft centre’s 50th celebration in 2023 and had cut the cake.
She received a plethora of cards and acknowledgements from King Charles, Prime Minister Christoper Luxon, the Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro, the Minister for Seniors, Casey Costello, and Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz.
She also had a visit from East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick.
The King sends out congratulatory messages and greetings, including to those celebrating their 100th birthdays in the Commonwealth.
“Each year, Government House sends messages to people in New Zealand to celebrate significant wedding anniversaries and birthdays,’ the Governor-General’s website states.
On other occasions, the Monarch’s messages of congratulations include 60th and 70th wedding anniversaries, or on a 105th birthday and older.
