Mrs Wilson celebrated her birthday at Dunedin Hospital after a fall about a month ago at her home in Clyde.
Reluctant to be the centre of attention, Mrs Wilson joked she wouldn't have come to the party had she known there would be so much fuss.
About 25 members of her family attended, many from Invercargill, with more expected at an informal gathering on Sunday for those who could not be there mid-week.
The party was attended by more than a dozen ward nurses, who also made a special birthday cake for their charge, one of two for the occasion.
Daughter Frances Tait (77), of Invercargill, said her fiercely independent and private mother never complained about her age or recent injury.
A frequent letter writer, she kept in close contact with family, and hosted house guests until recently.
Her mother had kept a vegetable garden until the past year or two, and did her own baking until a few years ago.
Her secret seemed to be keeping to her usual routine and being active.
Mrs Wilson said she felt honoured by the occasion, which was "marvellous".
She thanked Dunedin Hospital staff for their care and attention over the past four weeks, and said her stay had been a "nice time".
Asked how she felt about possibly being New Zealand's oldest resident, she said: "I have no idea. I don't even think about it. I feel quite young."
She was looking forward to returning home to Clyde.
As well as her three children, Mrs Wilson has nine grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren, the youngest of whom is aged 3 weeks.
