Two Wellington nurses have been celebrated by their colleagues for spending a combined 100 years on the job.
Jenny Kendall and Silaina Sione, both theatre nurses, started working for Wellington Hospital in the 1970s, and have seen many changes in the health sector since then.
Colleagues honoured the two with a special gathering earlier today, and 1News caught up with them shortly after.
Both Kendall and Sione said that they were first drawn to the profession because of their desire to help others.
"I remember when I came to Wellington in '75, as a 25-year-old [wondering] what's a 64-year-old still doing at work," Kendall told 1News.
"And here I'm a decade past that! And now I know why. You can still do it."
Sione grew up in Samoa and saw people in need of care in her community for conditions like diabetes and skin diseases.
"One of the palangi from New Zealand came into our school, interviewing us, asking us what I want to be, so that was nursing and I followed that until now."
The nurse said she felt "marvellous and very honoured" to receive the recognition.
When they started at the hospital, the pay and conditions were poor, and the facilities were very different from what they are today.
Kendall said she used to work 13 days in a row and vowed to improve the situation for other nurses — having been a union delegate for 40 years.
The recent pay equity settlements have improved things for the nurses, but she said the battle to improve working conditions was not over.
"It's just goodwill of nurses that we're getting through the day-to-day."
Sione said it continued to be "very busy" while some colleagues fell sick. She's now working four days a week, while Kendall is still doing full-time shift work.
While both are in their 70s, they're both keeping up their energy and proud of their long service. Kendall said she was "well enough and healthy enough to keep going".
Meanwhile, Sione said: "I can do another 10 or 20 years, but you know I was just thinking I'll be retiring soon."
She had a message for the next generation considering nursing.
"The world needs you."
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