Renee Hollis and Jim Mora Photo: RNZ/Melita Tull
Renee Hollis dedicated most of 2018 to speaking to the country's oldest people. She travelled around Aotearoa to interview 120 centenarians. She's put their lives and recollections of key events throughout history into her book: Keepers of History: New Zealand Centenarians Tell Their Stories. She also uncovered some interesting, if not scientific facts about longevity, such as being born in winter means you're likely to live longer as well the fact that whether you were an older or younger sibling plays a role in life expectancy. Her ability to get these 100 + year olds to open up to her has also earned her the title of "grey-whisperer".
