www.greypowertauranga.org.nz QUARTER FOUR 2017

Shingles Vaccine

Coffee MorningsKiwi’s urged to prepare for Old Age

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2 TAURANGA & WBOP GREY POWER QUARTER FOUR 3

TAURANGA & WBOP GREY POWER

The Village 17th Avenue,PO Box 841, Tauranga 3140Email: tgagreypower@gmail.comPhone: (07) 571 2558Office Hours:10am - 1pm Monday to Fridaywww.greypowertauranga.org.nz

We would like to hear your opinions or concerns on subject matter for printing in our magazine.Letters must include the writers name, home address and phone number.Letters should not exceed 120 words inclusive. We may not always print all letters we receive. Letters may be edited for clarity and length.

Mail these to: The Editor, Tauranga & WBOP Grey Power, PO Box 841, Tauranga 3140

COMMITTEE:PRESIDENT: Jennifer CustinsVICE PRESIDENT: David MarshallTREASURER: Joan WillcockMEMBERSHIP SECRETARY: Donna La FauciCOMMITTEE: Norm MayoMAGAZINE EDITOR: Christina HumphreysMINUTES SECRETARY: Jill Marshall

Disclaimer: Tauranga & WBOP Grey Power Assn. Inc. and any person or organisation associated with it will not accept any liability for the contents of this publication. All due care and attention to accuracy is taken to ensure details are correct. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily the opinions of the association.

This publication is designed and printed by Pukeko Print and Design Ltd. For advertising phone Monique on (07) 577 9092 or email: monique@pukekoprint.co.nz

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Please refer to our website for disclaimer.

Presidents WordDear readers,With only three weeks to Christmas many of us are wondering where this year has gone. Hopefully your days and months have been filled with activities other than housework and TV programs?! For some, unfortunately, ill health and even death has been part of this year and I would like to extend my heartfelt love and sympathy to who have suffered these traumas during the year.

Some of the excitement, surprise and/or disappointment of the new Government will have subsided by now. We now need to watch and hope that the new MP’s settle into their new jobs and responsibilities. You can read our first communication from the new Minister for Seniors in this issue. Grey Power will watch with interest but also follow up on issues such as the Gold Card improvements and other policies which affect us as seniors. Another issue we are working on is to address the unfairness of Sec 70 in the Social Security Act 1964 which directly affects Superannuation payments for some New Zealanders. This was one of NZ First’s policy promises during the lead up to the election.

I’d like to extend a warm welcome to all the new members who have joined us over the last few months and look forward to meeting you at our coffee mornings.Just to let you know that our office will be closed between 22 December and 22 January but our phone will be checked for messages every couple of days. If you need information or help, or just need someone to talk to please call and leave a clear message and someone will call you back.

From myself and the committee I wish you, your family and friends a very happy Christmas and look forward to contacting you again in the New Year.

Take care,

Jennifer Custins (President)

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Christmas HoursThe Grey Power Tauranga & WBOP office will be closed on

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But our phone will be checked every couple of days for messages and someone will call you back.

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Let’s Get Moving Campaign - BOP DHB

Tauranga Hospital pyjama wearing staff turned out in September to highlight the debilitating impact for older patients spending long term periods in bed. Patient feedback was very positive, as well as thought-provoking for staff who wore PJs for the day.

• For those over 80, spending 10 days in bed ages their muscles by 10 years.• 24 hours of bed-rest reduces muscle power by 2.5% - this affects your legs, arms, as well as your heart and lungs!

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rest in hospital causes a rapid decline in muscle strength, leading to an increased hospital stay and complications. So for older patients admitted to hospital for any length of time the advice is to:

Get Up - spend less time on the bed and eat meals whilst sitting in a chair.

Get Dressed - get changed into comfortable day clothes.

Get Moving - walk to the bathroom and regularly around the ward.

Local Body Long Term Plans (LTPs) - Why Bother?Council LTPs should be available for community consultation early in 2018. Recent headlines indicate that some Councils will be advocating for significant rate increases due to aging infrastructure renewals, the demands of growth, or servicing of ballooning debt. This is your opportunity to have your say on the future of your city or district - failure to act could result in unpalatable consequences!

The LTP is required under the Local Government Act and is prepared every 3 years for community consultation. Its purpose is to describe the council’s activities and the community outcomes it aims to achieve. It needs to provide a long-term focus and show accountability to the community. The LTP process is also designed to provide an opportunity for participation by the community in the council-decision making process.

While the full draft LTP made available to the public (usually on-line) may be 250-500 pages in length, Councils are tasked with producing a far simpler 12-20 page Consultation Document in plain English. This needs to explain the overall objectives of council, as well as how rates, debt and levels of service may be impacted by the plans over the next 10 years. It will also identify the key issues and choices facing the Council and ask for community input.

So, what is the status with our local Councils?

Tauranga City Council (TCC). This year residents faced a 3.8% average increase in rates due to rapid growth and reaching a ceiling on their level of borrowing, with nett debt forecast to be $448 million in June 2018. Council was scheduled to consider the 5 community outcomes for their LTP on 20th November. To date there appear to have been no community consultation dates published for the LTP, which is due to be finalised by July 1st 2018. It is anticipated that rates will have to increase further.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council (WBOPDC). The council that has the dubious honour of the highest average rates in NZ delivered an average rate increase of marginally under 1% for 2018/19. For the first time council has gone out to the public in multiple meetings throughout the district to hear what residents see as priorities for the next 10 years. Hundreds of responses have been received and the key feedback will be reflected in the draft LTP available for consultation in April 2018. Having bitten the bullet earlier, and invested in infrastructure that requires fewer upgrades or renewals in the next few years, places WBOPDC in a better position than many other councils around the country.

BOP Regional Council (BOPRC). The workings of the Regional Council often fall below the radar for our ratepayers. Although their rates are relatively modest compared to TCC or WBOPDC, increases over the last few years have exceeded 10% annually for TCC and

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WBOPDC ratepayers, and these double digit increases are likely to continue unless the public engages with the LTP consultation process and demands greater accountability. Low key drop-in sessions were held in Rotorua (2), Opotiki, Ohope, and Bethlehem, in late September, early October. We hope that the engagement process in early 2018 is far more widespread and robust.

Visit your Council websites and keep updated on LTP consultations - exercise your democratic rights to have your say on the future of our region.

Think of othersThe holiday period is not always easy for some people, particularly those living alone or without family nearby. There is growing concern that people, particularly the older generation, are becoming more isolated and need some assistance from neighbours and the community to look out for them.

CONTACTS OVER CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY BREAK For emergencies - criminal, medical or fire - always call 111For 24-hour medical enquiries phone 0800 611 116For elder abuse call 0800 326 6865Food Bank - 578 9888 Open 9.30am - 2pmSt Johns - Caring Caller - 0800 785 646

Sometimes it is very therapeutic to join in with community projects so as to make new friends or just a reason for getting out of the house.

Try:Look in the ‘What’s On ‘ list in the local papers. Some do not operate during the holiday, but the Bay Garden Club has an informal get together for lunch in January. Phone Jennifer 544 2090.

For non-urgent calls, leave a clear message on the office phone - 571 2558. This will be checked regularly, and someone will call you back.

Please wear and make use of your medical alarms!! Talk to the experienced staff who can help you decide if an ambulance is needed or not. They are there to help!

Please be the one to reach out a hand to others or if you are the one who needs help – reach out! You will be surprised how happy it makes other folk to give a helping hand or to just listen.

Kiwi’s urged to prepare for Old Age

Elderly people who are assessed to receive care at home are even less prepared. Only 4% have an advance care plan, and 60% an Enduring Power of Attorney.

“I urge people, especially as they approach old age, to prepare for the eventuality that someone else needs to make decisions for them. Giving someone, an Enduring Power of Attorney means appointing someone to act on your behalf when you become unable to make or communicate decisions”, said Stephanie Clare, Chief Executive of Age Concern.

Only a very small number have Advance Care Plans, which are used to describe the healthcare and treatments a person wants to receive, or avoid, in case they can no longer tell family and medical professionals what they want. This includes funeral arrangements and whatever else matters to a person.

“Last year, more than 10% of the population over 65 years were assessed for home and rest home care in over 100,000 assessments, and this data gave us some unique insights into our older population”, said Catherine Cooney, Chair of the interRAI New Zealand Governance Board which is responsible for the assessment tools used at district health boards and in aged residential care.

The numbers are about the same for people with moderate to significant cognitive performance issues, particularly due to advancing dementia. For many of those people it is too late to be in control of their situation and to make arrangements for their future.

“See your local Age Concern office, or visit the Age Concern website at www.ageconcern.org.nz for resources to get you started on preparing for the future, including Enduring Power of Attorney”, suggested Stephanie Clare.

Or your own Lawyer!

www.interrai.co.nz/news/media-release-kiwis-urged-to-prepare-for-old-age/ Mail: interrai@tas.health.nz and phone: 0800 10 8044

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8 TAURANGA & WBOP GREY POWER QUARTER FOUR 9

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The Future of Landlines - the more things change, the more they stay the same!Last week Spark announced that, over the next five years, it was going to upgrade the decades old ‘analogue’ system today’s landlines run on, to a newer, more resilient digital technology that will underpin landline and other voice services well into the future. We are calling the new system the Converged Communications Network (CCN), because it brings together all the different systems we have into a single platform.

We’ve seen some misunderstandings around what this upgrade actually means. Many people have been concerned their landlines might be disappearing altogether, or older New Zealanders might not be able to cope with the changes to landline technology.

The current systems that runs the landline is 30 years old. That’s prehistoric in the fast-changing world of technology, and it means that nobody makes spare parts anymore. We’ve been going around the world

buying up other countries old parts just to keep our system running, and we can’t find people who know how to repair it now, because no young IT workers train on this old technology.

The new system doesn’t require the internet just to have a landline, it simply uses the same technology that makes the internet work. We can utilise this to deliver new services and features - things like being able to switch from a voice call to a video call like Skype (which we know you older readers are well versed in already) use your local Wi-Fi network to make and receive calls to improve indoor coverage, smarter call forwarding and so on.

The upgrade means we can continue to offer the landline for those who want it, but allows us to offer more features on top for those who want that.

SPARK is recommending people think about having a mobile and USB battery charger as back up.

www.stuff.co.nz/business/92058216/the -future-of-landlines-clearing-up-confusion-sparks-Colin-Brown

NOTE: You have a right to be wary so if and when you are approached for them to make these changes to your phones, just make sure you ask all the questions and maybe have someone else as a support person to listen as well!

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Joke CornerA Truckee was driving along on a country road. A sign came up that read “Low Bridge Ahead.”

Before he realised it, the bridge was directly ahead, and he got stuck under it.

Cars were backed up for miles. Finally, a police car arrived. The policeman got out of his car and walked to the lorry’s cab and said to the driver, “Got stuck, eh?”

The lorry driver said, “No, I was delivering this bridge and ran out of diesel!”

*If the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then lefties are the only ones in their right mind.

10 TAURANGA & WBOP GREY POWER QUARTER FOUR 11

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The Rubbish Trip

On the 11th August 2017 a group of people met at Trevelyan’s Kiwifruit Packhouse/Coolstore Complex in Te Puke for an informative evening looking at our society’s attitude to “rubbish”. It surrounds us to such an extent that we have become blind to it! Take a walk along the side of the road or a cycling track and see the plastic waste! Rubbish has become “normal”! Some horrifying figures were given for the amount of rubbish our Western society is creating; it’s the equivalent of one fully-loaded rubbish truck dumping its rubbish into the sea every minute! No wonder the oceans are becoming polluted and ‘islands’ of rubbish are forming in the middle of the Pacific! Are we really aware that every piece of plastic that has ever been made is still lying around somewhere? It never breaks down! It may degrade into smaller pieces but it’s still plastic and it’s still toxic to our ecosystem, our wildlife and our rivers and streams.

Our speakers for the evening were Liam and Hannah, passionate expositors for a “zero waste” lifestyle. They have been seriously pursuing this goal for the past seven years and have developed some interesting strategies. Hannah told us that for the past two years, their total amount of household rubbish weighed 4.1kgs - that’s not for one week, but for two years!

– By Jenny Utting

Hannah showed us a modest range of household cleaning products and personal hygiene products that she has made up for all her various needs. She said we don’t need dozens of plastic bottles of cleaning agents and body preparations for every conceivable requirement, but we can use readily-available materials to make our own effective cleaners. Her recommendation for making a start to reduce our waste is to take away the rubbish receptacles from all the rooms in our houses and start to think creatively; “Do I really need this in my life?” and “How can I make a change in this area?”, “What can I do today to reduce my waste?”

The system they have adopted can be summed up in six “R’s”; Refuse, Replace, Reuse, Repair, Recycle and Rot. Refuse to accept plastic bags at the supermarket: instead replace them with your own reuseable bags, make lightweight netting bags for weighing out produce or reuse plastic bags instead of throwing them into the rubbish bin. Make leak proof bags out of shower curtain fabric for things that are likely to ‘ooze’. Paper bags are a good option as they will break down. With a little bit of forethought, vegetables can be bought that are not already swathed in plastic wrapping by going to Farmers’ Markets or Fruit and Vege Shops where produce is generally sold loose. Some butchers’ shops still sell meat unwrapped and

you can take your own containers or bags to most shopping outlets. It does require some organising!

Another horrifying statistic concerns the amount of food that is thrown out into landfills – 20%! Surely that is the mark of an overfed society! Our Grandmothers were more careful with their leftovers and so are most of ‘our’ generation. It is ingrained into us to save what we leave from a meal and re-use it in another way. Instead of using plastic film to wrap leftovers, put them in a bowl with a saucer on top. Start using natural fibre in preference to artificial. Look for the consumables that will actual decompose when they are finished. Plastics won’t.

We tend to think that Recycling is the magic bullet that will save our planet, but it’s not. Recycling is inefficient, costly and time-consuming. All materials to be recycled have to be “clean” and that means someone has to sort and clean them. Most of New Zealand’s recycling happens overseas and that means expensive shipping costs. Even the plastic that is able to be recycled can’t be used next to food; there has to be “virgin” plastic next to food which sort of defeats the purpose! Using glass to store food in is a good option because there is no “leachate” from glass as there is from plastics.

Do we all need a complete set of tools, equipment, resources. We could start to share what we have with our neighbours and create a ‘goodwill’ rather than a ‘financial’ economy? There was an Act passed in Parliament back in 2008 called “The Waste Minimisation Act” but nothing much has been done up to this point.

Some of the books and retail outlets recommended by Liam and Hannah were:• The Gourmet Kitchen Company, Clair Street, Papamoa.• “Choice Foods and Spices”, Papamoa.• E-Recycling for Electronic waste 49 Turret Road.• www.therubbishtrip.co.nz for recipes for making your own products.• NZ Sustainable Business Network.• RubbishFree.co.nz• “The Zero Waste Home” by Bea Johnson.• Lauren Singer “Trash is for Tossers”.

12 TAURANGA & WBOP GREY POWER QUARTER FOUR 13

Gardening CornerChristina Humphreys writes your gardening articles and a volunteer for Grey Power has a large country garden to care for and is very passionate about Gardening.

Spring is still springing, severe weather wind and rain and anything else it can think off. It has been a nightmare for gardening of late, my garden was in the Katikati garden trail or ‘Up the Garden Path’ as they call it on the 11th and 12th November (Fundraiser by Rotary for community projects). A hint of sadness for the weekend too, but quite nostalgic that Murray a friend, died on the Friday who has been heavily involved in the organising of this garden trail for years, may he be at peace in another garden!

We were lucky it didn’t rain on the Saturday, and Sunday was a bit warmer. Still, many people came through and seemed to enjoy but I felt my garden was a week behind the stage it was in last year at this time. Many roses did pop open on the day, so the mulch and fertiliser I put on had started to work. Mulch does create the warmth the plants need to perform. If you ever need to hurry your garden up for a reason, put plenty of mulch around!

Many would ask how my delphiniums and Echiums had grown so tall, mulch is the secret! Although they did get a spray with liquid seaweed two days earlier!

Hope you had all your tomatoes and lettuces planted by Labour weekend, that’s usually the benchmark to be all planted up.

Let’s hope we have some better weather so our vege gardens start producing food. Nothing like new potatoes for Christmas! Have a good one! ‘Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO what a ride!”

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Shingles VaccineAs you may be aware, since May 2015 the Grey Power Federation has asked Pharmac several times if it could provide the shingles vaccine, Zostavax at no cost to older people.

Therefore, we now welcome the good news from Janet McKay, Pharmac’s Manager, Implementation Programmes, that the shingles vaccine will be available free from general practices from 1 April 2018 for people aged 65 years. Also, those who are eligible will be able to receive the shingles and influenza vaccines at the same time if they wish.

There will be a catch-up programme which will allow people aged between 66 and 80 years to get access to the funded shingles vaccine. This will run until March 2020.

This vaccine will make a significant difference to the one-in-three, mainly older New Zealanders, who will have at least one attack of shingles in their lifetime and this can sometimes lead to other serious health complications with some people continuing to experience pain for months to years after an initial shingles attack.

For more information please visit Pharmac’s web-site at www.pharmac.govt.nz/news/media-2017-11-09-shingles

Ref: Jo Millar - Chair Grey Power Health National Advisory Group and Jan Pentecost - Co-Chair Grey Power Advocacy Standing Committee

TAURANGA COFFEE MORNINGS First Thursday of every month at 10.15am Venue: The Raft Café, Chapel St, near Briscoes, TaurangaDates for 2018: Feb 1st, March 1st, April 5th 2018

KATIKATI COFFEE MORNINGSBi monthly at 10am Venue: Resource Centre - Beach Road, just past the schools.Dates for 2018: Feb 8th, April 12th, June 14th, Aug 9th, Oct 18th and Dec 6th 2018

Any enquiries for coffee mornings:Phone the office 571 2558 or Maureen 021 744 208 or Jenny 573 7081 for Tauranga.Phone Baden and Lyn on 549 5423 for Katikati.

ALL WELCOME Wear name badge if you have one, and bring along a friend and any issues for discussion!

Grey PowerCOFFEE MORNINGS

14 TAURANGA & WBOP GREY POWER QUARTER FOUR 15

POLITICAL FORUM

Tracey MartinMinister for Seniors

Thank you for the opportunity to introduce myself as your new Minister for Seniors. I was honoured when the Rt. Hon. Winston Peters rang to ask me to take on this responsibility. I welcome the opportunity to continue this work with the older citizens in our coalition government of Labour and NZ First.

I am excited by the work that the Ministry for Seniors does, and I am keen to pursue a number of initiatives over this term of government. NZ First has a commitment to further enhance the benefits of the Super Gold Card – and of course we are going to see the age of entitlement for New Zealand Superannuation remain at 65. I also want to work on some broader issues: how the business community and employers can recognise the skills, talent and experience available to them in our older citizens that full time or flexible employment might release; acknowledging the enormous volunteer contribution you all make to your respective communities and building on the potential for more of you to be involved with the right groups; and supporting work and education around elder abuse and isolation.

I have recently been asked by a reporter what value I place upon our more senior citizens and why. I found that the only way to express my passion and

deep regard for this group in society was to explain it personally. I knew both my paternal and maternal great-grandparents and grandparents. Over my lifetime one or the other set had come to live with us to help care for us, or for us to help care for them. I realise I was exceptionally blessed to have had these connections and I would like to see more children, regardless of any kin connection, have the opportunity to know a “grand”. And not for one day a year, but on a regular basis. I believe these relationships are win-win.

On that note, I’d like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a great 2018. I really hope you get to spend time with your family and friends.

Tracy Martin – Minister for Seniors (Slightly abbreviated, see full article on our web site)

Council News

THERE IS A HAPPENING IN NEW ZEALAND/WBOP –

MAORI WARDS FOR COUNCIL

This article is simply to draw people’s attention to an issue which has arisen in our region this month. Sometimes there is little publicity and changes can happen ‘under the radar’.

Is this really good for all New Zealand? The reasoning is that Maori should be at the decision-making table, coming from a Maori Ward on matters to do with roads, clean drinking water, sewerage, drainage, libraries, sports facilities, environment and cultural centres. These are issues and matters which affect and/or benefit everyone, regardless of ethnicity, surely? Is this not demeaning to Maori? Look at the government makeup, a quarter are Maori, so it would seem that they are more than capable of being elected like anyone else?

This is a critical issue on which all New Zealand citizens should have a say and not just be a council decision.

Western Bay of Plenty Councillors voted 9/3 on Tuesday November 21 to create a Maori Ward(s) in this area.

There was a unanimous decision by Western Bay’s joint Maori/council partnership on November 10, that there should be representation through the creation of Maori seats for 2019 and 2022. By decree from government, councils must consider this every 6 years. Maori comprise approx. 15% of the districts population.

Some councils around NZ have voted for Maori wards, but many have said no on the grounds that it is not a democratic process, which can cause division. One would feel If you have separate wards of any kind that could seem like separatism?

Some Councils, for example Palmerston North, Manawatu, Wairoa and Whakatane have voted for Maori wards and this month, WBOP Council has gone the first step by voting yes. However if people can raise a petition of 1,705 signatures, a poll can then be taken to see if people in the district agree/disagree. So the petition is under way now and must be presented to WBOP Council by February 21st, 2018.

– Christina Humphreys

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16 TAURANGA & WBOP GREY POWER QUARTER FOUR 17

Report from Zone 3 Representative

I was re-elected as Zone Representative for our area (includes Waikato, Bay of Plenty, then from Waitomo to Taupo and across to Gisborne). This area includes 23 associations and the newly elected Zone Director is Mac Welch.

As the Zone Rep this gives me a place on the National Grey Power Federation Board. The duties here are to take issues to the Board for discussion and sometimes to help lobby to hopefully implement a good outcome on issues. Federation meetings are held every 3 months and this year we have travelled to the different areas to include associations in these meetings. The last meeting was Whangarei and we have been to Nelson, Dunedin and Auckland.

The next one will be in our area, Rotorua, on February 20th for 3 days. You are all WELCOME to attend at the Novotel Hotel on the 20th.

I will touch briefly on some issues attended to lately;Zone Meeting Matamata 20th November was election day as above. It was also the day to get remits in for the next AGM in May 2018. There were 3 remits, GP Electricity, life membership and charges for driving tests. Tauranga has since put one in on the dreaded Section 70, advocating for change!

– Christina Humphreys

The following is from our Board meeting in Whangarei;General Practice (Doctors) New Zealand: We were informed of changes to the GPs’ subsidy system and what impact that will have for Community Service Card holders. Currently the assistance from this card for GP visits is completely inconsequential.

We also discussed the cost of GP visits and actions to reinstate personal access at a lower rate for those who must make regular visits to the doctor. The government has changed this from personal to medical centre registration.

Ministry of Health: There were wide ranging discussions on elective surgery and the need for the ministry to support a national criterion. Healthy Ageing Strategy was also important as DHBs put their own interpretation on Ministry of Health policy and work is being done to ensure that the Healthy Ageing Strategy is being administered in the manner in which it was intended.

We also explored options on how we can work towards a better mental health care system, particularly when there are cases where the psychiatrist in charge of inpatients can dictate whether support people can/or not be present at interviews, flout a patient’s rights not to have medical students present, and refuse to provide medical information to authorised persons even when the patient has given written and verbal permission.

InterRAI: We sought information on InterRai assessments, reductions in home care, more regular InterRai assessments of care hours and a definition of restorative care. Refer to P7 and check out their website.

Kiwibank:This was to meet the new Grey Power contact person Chris Grieg and arrange an informative article for the Grey Power Magazine.

We hope members who have a Kiwi Bank account have it flagged as a GP member, as Kiwi Bank gives GP benefits from this.

Public Service Association:We met the PSA national secretaries Glenn Barclay and Erin Polaczuk to discuss a number of issues we have in common. These included equal pay, the care

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and support workers’ settlement, security of national superannuation at age 65, ageism in the work place, and adequately funded elective surgery.

We also agreed to explore a more formal arrangement of mutual support with them. There will be ongoing discussions on this issue.

Ministry for the Environment: GP met with Land and Air Policy Manager Daniel Lawry to explore options for a review of the national environment standards for air and the negative impact of some regional air pans on the ability of older people to keep homes warm in winter (wood burners). There will be ongoing discussions on this issue. (Tom O’Connor)

Supergold Card:This was discussed with the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) - Office for Seniors staff during the recent lobby visit - an MSD comment was that it is complicated to have a smart card to cover all situations, but most banks will accept expired drivers’ licences and expired passports (up to 12 months), as ID with Super Gold Cards as secondary ID.

Kiwis face homeless old ageIncreasing unaffordability of housing will leave more elderly at risk of destitution, Salvation Army report warns.

The elderly exodus from the cities is already swamping the regions’ smaller housing markets, pushing rents higher in those places.

Growing numbers of Kiwis risk becoming homeless in old age because of falling home ownership rates, rising rents and static housing subsidies, the Salvation Army says.

Homeless Baby Boomers, a hard-hitting report by the army’s social policy unit, says superannuitants in private rentals will jump almost four-fold from 61,000 in 2013 to 237,000 by 2030, as those owning their own homes drop from 73 per cent of the age group to 63 per cent.

It says rents have risen 4 per cent a year over the past five years, while the accommodation supplement

(now approx. $130 pw) has not changed since 2007, making it harder for many elderly renters to survive.

“Australian housing researchers are reporting increasing incidents of what they term first-time homelessness amongst people in their later middle age or early retirement years,” it says.

“These are people who have held down jobs and led fairly conventional lives until an event such as a relationship breakdown, redundancy, injury or a health setback means that they lose their housing and perhaps their income.

The report shatters the complacent air of other official statistics showing that the elderly has the country’s lowest poverty rate, mainly because of their relatively high home ownership rate, but this will change dramatically with the next generations coming through.

Report author Alan Johnson says the accommodation supplement should be reviewed and possibly replaced by the pre-1991 system of subsidising local councils to build pensioner housing.

He recommends letting councils claim income-related rent subsidies which are now paid only to Housing NZ and community providers, “engaging” councils in the regions with the need to cope with an elderly influx from the cities, raising budgets for aged low cost residential care and building more pensioner housing.

Labour housing Minister Phil Twyford agreed that councils should get income-related rent subsidies and “reinvent pensioner housing”.

MY PAPER - “30 YEARS ON FOR OUR GENERATION”I presented this to the Board, 30 years on from ‘Rogernomics’ and how our generation ‘Baby boomers’ have faired now we are, or have arrived, at retirement. I covered the subjects of poverty, household incomes, inequality, housing and renting, food prices, our health and mental health, Neo Liberalism, low wage rates, tax rates, pension. Also is it time that Roger Douglas paid for the misery he put thousands of people through, who he made homeless and jobless and then expected them all to have homes and savings for retirement thirty years on.

Eating in the Forties(subject to correction and additions) • Pasta was not eaten in the UK (or the USA). • Curry was a surname. • A takeaway was a mathematical problem. • A pizza was something to do with a leaning tower. • All potato chips were plain; the only choice we had was whether to put the salt on or not. • Rice was only eaten as a milk pudding.• Calamari was called squid and we used it as fish bait.• A Big Mac was what we wore when it was raining.• Brown bread was something only poor people ate. • Oil was for lubricating, fat was for cooking. • Tea was made in a teapot using tea leaves and never green.• Sugar enjoyed a good press in those days, and was regarded as being white gold. • Cubed sugar was regarded as posh. • Fish didn’t have fingers in those days. • Eating raw fish was called poverty, not sushi. • None of us had ever heard of yoghurt. • Healthy food consisted of anything edible. • People who didn’t peel potatoes were regarded as lazy. • Indian restaurants were only found in India. • Cooking outside was called camping.• Seaweed was not a recognized food.• “Kebab” was not even a word, never mind a food. • Prunes were medicinal. • Surprisingly, muesli was readily available, it was called cattle feed.• Water came out of the tap. • If someone had suggested bottling water and charging more than gas for it, they would have become a laughing stock!!• The one thing that we never ever had on our table in the fifties...“Elbows or Phones.”

20 TAURANGA & WBOP GREY POWER QUARTER FOUR 21

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Embracing Universal Design for the Ageing Population Increasingly, options around where we spend the latter part of our lives are opening up - and this includes the satisfaction of remaining in the family home. Changes in hardware design and increased thinking around concepts such as ‘Aging in Place’ and ‘Universal Design’ mean that many of us will be able to maintain independence and enjoy the comforts of the family home for far longer.

There are often significant benefits to being able to extend the time that seniors are able to remain in the family home, from practical issues around maintaining the capital value stored in the property to the not-unimportant benefits of the familiar and access to the usual community structures. However, with aging come challenges from health issues, changes in mobility and risks of falls. Most of these challenges can be successfully managed with careful renovation.

Some of the top areas for consideration include flow management (removing small steps and replacing with ramps, especially at access points), and attention to how the exterior will function, from increased space around parked cars to ensure doors can open fully, to exterior maintenance, such as low care cladding and re-purposed gardens. Interior changes can be as simple as widening doorways and installing lever-style doorknobs and grab rails in strategic places, to

Modern bathroom remodel fit for accessibility.

kitchen and bathroom renovations that enable access and provide accessibility.

And these changes no longer have to resemble a sterile hospital room: a recent renovation by Refresh Renovations for a client diagnosed with Parkinsons created an elegant modern bathroom while accommodating a level-entry shower, textured, non-slip tiles and hardware designed to accommodate the degenerative disease, including cleverly located grab-rails.

Renovation experts are also able to bring expertise and provide guidance around design and practicality, while managing the process to ensure a risk and stress free project.

The Bird Garden Katikati263 Walker Road East

Take a trip just off SHW 2 South side of KatiKati. Entry fee $8.50 for Seniors.

These beautiful and tranquil gardens are set directly on the edge of the inner Tauranga harbour. With water-lilly ponds, mature trees from around the world, flower gardens and natural wetlands the gardens are a delight all year round. And with many varieties of birds wandering free and in aviaries scattered throughout the gardens, this special corner of New Zealand is truly unique. The gardens are a great family day out and popular with parents looking for things to do with kids in Tauranga.

The GardensThe Bird Gardens are on the outskirts of Katikati and were created in 1976 when local visionary Chris Parker

set to work landscaping a little over ten acres of land running down to the harbours edge.

With his English background, botanical knowledge and the sites natural attributes of fresh water springs, ponds and wetlands he transformed this once bare land into a beautiful and special garden.

Sealed paths meander through spectacular golden Swamp Cypress, water trickles its way to the sea through an elaborate series of ponds.

Most of the original plantings remain to this day and year-round colour is provided by the giant camellias and magnolias brightening the winter hues, azaleas and lilies form the spring and summer palettes with shades of green, red, yellow and orange from the trees. Several native birds are on display, if you visit over winter you may be lucky enough to see Kotuku Ngutu Papa or Royal Spoonbill swooping over the ponds, certainly to hear the distinctive croak of white faced herons as they glide between treetops, and late winter dozens of Tuis in the flowering cherries.

www.birdgardens.co.nz | Phone: (07) 549 0912

22 TAURANGA & WBOP GREY POWER QUARTER FOUR 23

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION / RENEWAL FORM

* Membership year is from 1 April to 31 March

Tauranga & WBOP Grey Power Assn IncPO Box 841, Tauranga 3140 ( Historic Village, 17th Avenue)

www.greypowertauranga.org.nz | Email: tgagreypower@gmail.com | Ph: (07) 571 2558

New Member o Renewal o Grey Power Electricity o Membership Number: _______________________

Name: (s) Mr / Mrs / Miss / Ms _____________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Post Code: _____________ Phone Number: __________________ Mobile: ___________________________

Email Address: _______________________________________________________________________________

Privacy Act Requirements: All information will remain confidential and will not be supplied to any other party. Please note promotional material may be inserted in mail outs for the interest of members.

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP (please circle):

Single $20.00

Double $35.00

Donation $ _____________________

Any donation to help with the cost of postage, envelopes, paper etc. would be very much appreciated.

Online Banking: Kiwibank 38 9001 0051732 00Cash or Cheque - pay at office Office Hours: 10am - 1pm

Please note we do not have eftpos(Renewals use membership number as reference.

New members use phone number)

Notice BoardINTERISLAND FERRY With the holiday season coming up don’t forget to use your membership card for great discounts on the ferry. Phone the office for details.

MEALS If you are tired of cooking in the hot weather, you may like to pick up the phone and order some ready to eat meals. Try - Real Meals (see Harty Catering on line) or phone 0800 344 2789 or www.eat.co.nz - phone 0800 328 333.

DRIVINGThe AA Senior Driver is a free practical driving session for AA members over 75. Book a session through AA online or phone 0800 223 748.

Get a better deal on your electricity with Grey Power Electricity!

*Delivery and retailer chargers are not subject to Price Protection. Delivery charges include, Network Services, Retailer Services, Metering and the Electricity Authority Levy. *If you do not give the required notice, an Early Termination Fee of $150 will apply.

The Grey Power Plan is designed especially for Grey Power members.

0800 473 976 joinus@pulseenergy.co.nz greypowerelectricity.co.nz

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TRAVEL TIPSKeep photos/scans of your passport or other documents in a separate place or email them to a friend. If you are traveling alone and catch a taxi, sit behind the driver, in a bus near the driver and in a train, sit near families.

PRELIMINARY NOTICE OF THE GREY POWER FEDERATION NZ INC. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGSubject to constitutional clause 6.8 (a) (i) preliminary notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Grey Power New Zealand Federation (Inc.) will be held at the Marlborough Convention Centre, Blenheim.The meeting will convene on 16th April 2018 and will conclude on the morning of 18th April 2018.Note: Two from Tauranga & WBOP Grey Power will be attending / Anyone one is WELCOME to attend(If you wish to pay your own way).

Maori Wards in Local Government in New Zealand and the WBOP District Council

Since the passing of the Electoral Act 2002, all Councils have had the option of establishing Māori Wards. Councils are required by law to re-look at representation issues once every 6 years. This legal requirement includes Councils determining (i) whether or not Councillors should be elected by the traditional First Past the Post (FPP) or the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system; (ii) whether or not to include a Māori Ward(s); and (iii) the number of councillors, Community Boards, and wards. Any changes from the status quo need to be advised to electors, and decisions can be challenged should at least 5% of electors demand a poll.

To date few councils have opted to create a Māori Ward. Locally the BOP Regional Council has had direct Māori elected representation since 2004, and the Waikato Regional Council on the same basis as Māori seats in Parliament. The Human Rights Commission conducted individual interviews with councillors, council managers and iwi representatives at the BOPRC. “Most were positive about the system of Māori constituencies and felt it had helped the council to better meet its obligations for Māori participation under the

Local Government Act 2002. Some went as far as to say it had transformed the council’s relationships with Māori and its way of doing business. Few would want to revert to the previous system.” (Māori Representation in Local Government - The Continuing Challenge - Human Rights Commission 2010)

WBOP District Council has voted 9:3 to create a Māori Ward for the 2019 Local Body Elections. Currently there are 11 elected councillors and the mayor. Adding a Māori Ward would result in 1 councillor being elected by those on the Māori Roll, and 10 councillors elected by those on the General Roll. Other Councils voting for the creation of Māori Wards in the last 12 months include Wairoa District Council (2016); Whakatane District Council, Auckland City Council, Manawatu DC, and Palmerston North City Council to date in 2017. In contrast Waipa District Council has voted to “ask for a report on how to better to engage with Māori and the wider community for options to improve Māori representation on Council.” (Waipa DC 31 Oct 2017.)

– David Marshall (WBOP District Councillor)

Sender: Tauranga & WBOP Grey Power, PO Box 841, Tauranga 3140 - Phone (07) 571 2558

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