Past and present patients of Rotorua's QE Health have celebrated the hospital's long history of healing.
A lunch was held this week in remembrance of the Queen Mother's birthday who gave her name to the facility in 1950.
Queen Elizabeth Hospital Patients' Association vice-chairman Bill Hobman said it was also an opportunity to acknowledge the contribution people had made to the success and reputation of the treatment centre.
"I first came here as a patient in 1965 as a 12-year-old for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
"Back in those days I was very much a young kid in comparison to the other patients.
"This has become a second home to me over the years, I've had many trips back and forth for flare ups and orthopaedic surgery.
"The staff are fantastic and over time, a lot of friendships have been formed as quite often people come back for treatments."
The hospital provided rehabilitation services to patients with severe arthritis and other chronic disorders. Patients are referred to the facility from throughout the country.
A patient will see a range of medical professionals during their average stay of three weeks.
Patient Deborah Mckenzie said before she began treatment for rheumatoid arthritis in 2011, she was sleeping 12 hours a day, had to stop working and had nearly "given up" on any quality of life.
"When I arrived, I couldn't cut my own food, my hands were curled over like claws and I couldn't walk properly - it was like walking on broken glasss.
"When I left, I felt like I could conquer the world."
The 57-year-old credited the hospital's holistic approach.
"We have a psychologist here who has helped us become more aware of who we are and has enabled us to change the outlook of our condition.
"The staff here are phenomenal, because they love the work. They're not here for money and when they smile, they really mean it," she said.
"If this hospital wasn't here then I can guarantee you that in two years time I would have had to have been put into an old persons' home."
The lunch was co-organised by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Patients' Association which celebrate 65 years since it was first formed.