BIOGRAPHY

Kars was born in on the farm Burnbrae in Tokomaru, Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand, on 12 September 1913. She helped her parents on the farm by milking cows and shearing sheep. She attended Tokomaru School.

At some point, she married Leslie Kars. The two attended the same school, and their families used to gather to play cards. The couple had two sons, Russell and Graham. They lived on a farm, where they had cows and horses, and she balanced her busy farm duties with raising her children.

Her husband passed away in the 1990s, after 54 years of marriage. In 1993, she moved into a retirement community. She gave up driving at the age of 95.

At the age of 110, she had three grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

On 29 July 2022, following the death of 110-year-old Joan Brennan, she became the oldest living person in New Zealand.

Her age was validated by Stefan Maglov, assisted by LQ CEO, Ben Meyers, and validated by LongeviQuest on 29 October 2023.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Aileen Kars celebrates her 106th birthday with family from Niue and Sydney today” – The New Zealand Herald, 12 September 2019

* “Age a reward for kindness, says Manawatū’s oldest resident as she turns 108” – Stuff, 12 September 2021

* “NZ’s oldest person’s secrets to a long and happy life” – 1News, 16 September 2022

* “New Zealand’s oldest person celebrates birthday at Olive Tree” – Arvida, 13 September 2023

GALLERY