GREY POWER

Auckland Greypower Association Inc The Active Organisation Summer 2019 Issue 51 Member of the NZ Grey Power Federation for 50 Plus www.aucklandgreypower.org.nz ISSN 2703-1888 RememberRemember steamsteam trains?trains?

ThenThen you'reyou're oldold enoughenough toto joinjoin GreyGrey Power!Power! See page 16 Photo by John Pirtle Photo by Robert Sweet. Auckland Greypower Office President’s Message Grey Power National 557 Blockhouse Bay Road, Greetings to all Members, FEDERATION AGM 2019 highlights Auckland We have achieved a great The Grey Power Federation (which comprises delegates deal in the last four months. from all the branches of Grey Power throughout the Phone 09 626 0895 Our meeting with 12 Mayoral country) met in Wellington in June 2019 for the Annual Email: [email protected] Future Meetings General Meeting. Numerous remits from branches were candidates in September at discussed and voted on. Here are some of the highlights: O f fi c e H o u r s : M o n d a y t o Fr i d a y the Mount Albert War Memorial The Grey Power office will be closed from 10 a.m. till 12.30 p.m. Hall was an outstanding Bender Heldur by Photo 20th December till mid January. DENTAL HYGIENE SERVICES FOR OLDER PEOPLE: That the success. Some people said it Federation lobby the Ministry of Health to undertake a pilot Volunteers are ready to listen and help with resources DECEMBER 2019 and contacts. Our Mailing Address: was the best political meeting study in which the existing rural mobile dental clinics also CHRISTMAS FUNCTION: Tuesday 10th December visit aged care facilities for the purpose of providing dental PO Box 48 157, Blockhouse Bay, Auckland 0644 they had ever attended! Even the candidates enjoyed themselves. Noon – New Lynn RSA $10 and a small wrapped hygiene services and referral to dentists as required. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK: gift. Ring the Grey Power Office to book a seat. Supporters of the remit cited the 2012 Ministry of health The History of Blockhouse Bay, a talk by Labour MP report showing that of those living in residential care, facebook.com/greypowerauckland Dr Deborah Russell, and Ashish Roy Choudhury, the FEBRUARY 2020 43% had some natural teeth left, and of those, 61% had www.aucklandgreypower.co.nz Kiwibank New Lynn Branch Manager's explanation of LUNCH AT PT CHEVALIER RSA: Second Thursday: untreated tooth decay, 34% had untreated root decay, how to adapt and the help available to cope with the 10th February. Grey Power Members and Friends and 36% had heavy plaque. The advantages of using Joining us is easy chequeless changes at this bank, all held at Blockhouse are invited to Point Chevalier RSA Great North the existing mobile clinics at rest homes is the staff are All memberships are $25 single, $30 double Bay, were enjoyed by those who could attend. Then in Road. Catch 650 bus to the door. Hot lunch and available who know the clients, and the opportunity to see page 14 for details on how to join. October, a very informative discussion was held in Jack salad bar $12. Dessert $4 for Gold Card holders. educate all staff in dental care. (Carried.) Executive Officers Dickey Hall in Greenlane with Act MP David Seymour Socialize and chat over issues. NZ POST BANK SERVICES: That the Federation lobby President: Gillian Dance on his proposed End of Life Bill, which was very timely. COMMITTEE MEETING: 4th Saturday 22nd Government to ensure that service points where personal 027 815 7139 / [email protected] And we are shortly to hear from Hon. Paula Bennett, February: 1pm for 1.15 pm start Planet FM, assistance is available to consumers, are available in all Deputy Leader of the National Party, on her views on communities where there is a hub. This remit came about Vice President: Nanette Nathoo QMS Carrington Road, Pt Chevalier. the marijuana referendum, at the Grey Lynn Community as NZ Post has been separating its shops from Kiwibank 021-157-5757 / [email protected] Centre, with others present with opposing views. This MARCH 2020 locations then offering services via contracted agencies. Secretary: Heldur Bender is on 25th November at 2 p.m. We have emailed all our GREY POWER COFFEE MORNING: Friday 6th There is inadequate availability of postal services for many communities, particularly in provincial areas. (Carried 021-676 059 / [email protected] members. We do not have everyone’s email details, so March: First Friday Meet at Greenlane McDonalds unanimously.) Treasurer: Lingappa Kalburgi MNZM JP if you aren’t getting our notices by email, please let us (free coffee for Gold Card Holders), Cnr Great 09 815 3448 / [email protected] know. South Road & Greenlane West,10.30 a.m. LITERACY TRAINING VIA PARLIAMENT TV: That the Federation explore with Government self-education Executive Committee Members I have attended the Rodney Grey Power Kowhai Festival Friendship and Discussion Group, Issues, Ideas Heather Alford JP [email protected] Day. programs in numeracy and literacy and digital literacy stall at Warkworth, and a Divali Festival function with via the NZ Parliament TV channel when ever Parliament Jens Meder [email protected] Dr Parmjeet Parmar, list MP for National in Mt Roskill. ROUND THE BAYS: Sunday 8th March 2020. is not sitting. This is because of reported figures of 17% Alan Bray [email protected] Also a Greypower Waitakere branch meeting, where the Grey Power Team T-Shirts. Walkers or Runners of secondary school students leave school functionally Heldur Bender [email protected] CEO of Pharmac spoke about what they do and how they wanted. Earlybird entry = $25. Later or on the day illiterate, e.g. they can’t understand prescription Kathryn Davie [email protected] have been short of funding. We are hosting the Grey = $40. Picnic to follow. Contact Gillian 027 815 instructions on a medicine label, and cannot accurately fill Paul Davie [email protected] Power Zone quarterly meeting this month. 7139 or Office and leave details. in a timesheet. 70% of prison inmates are illiterate, and many older folks are being isolated due to the growing Focus Magazine Our Office at Blockhouse Bay is operating through the COMMITTEE MEETING:, 4th Saturday “digital divide”. Advantages of this system include low cost Editor: Gillian Dance good will of our volunteers. Many thanks to all of them. 28th March: 1pm for 1.15 pm start (as the channel already exists), no compulsion, self-paced 027 815 7139 [email protected] We can do with a few more staff, so please get in touch Planet FM, Carrington Road, Pt Chevalier. learning, and the ability to save and re-visit. (Carried.) Heldur Bender, Paul Davie if you can help out on some mornings. The office hours Assistant editors: KIWIBANK: That the Federation lobby Government to have now changed to 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., Monday to establish a Deed of Understanding with Kiwibank to Bruce Henderson Friday. Numerous phone calls and visitors are coming Technical Editor: continued from Page 2 have them consult with communities about location [email protected] in, so good to have the office busy! This is our public of Kiwibanks, and to provide personal assistance to face, so important that we have folks there to talk with I am very sorry to report that we have lost Chris van Pelt CONTACT US: through the office, by phone, email or customers. This remit is because Kiwibank has closed callers. – a loyal active member in Grey Power. His obituary is in many banks without consultation. Kiwibank is pursuing an write to us at the PO Box. Feedback on the magazine, this issue. Our sincere condolences to Rita and family e-commerce strategy that does not reflect the needs of a comments on articles and issues of relevance to And we have started work on a Telephone Tree, and their friends. large and growing number of its customers: those over 65. contacting our members to see how they are. We members is encouraged. Please send your (Carried.) contributions to: The Editor, Auckland Greypower welcome anyone who might like to offer to be friendly We are planning events for the new year now. Any Focus, PO Box 48 157, Blockhouse Bay, Auckland 0644 phoners. This is a job you can do from home. suggestions you have would be welcome. Email: [email protected] Our newsletters and meetings have seen quite a number With my best wishes to you all for Christmas and the This publication is designed and printed by of new members join Grey Power. The Herald published coming New Year. Kiwi Publications Limited. For advertising phone Dave the one letter I wrote to them as Grey Power President. I on 027 652 5220 or email: [email protected] hope to do more press releases in the future. Once I get Gillian Dance President www.kiwipublications.co.nz time. Mob 027 815 7139 Please refer to our website for disclaimer. continued on Page 3 Email: [email protected] Lots of discussion during consideration of the remits

2 AUCKLAND GREYPOWER ASSOCIATION INC ISSUE 51 SUMMER 2019 3 Grey Power Electricity now Keep thieves off the gift list offers Broadband & Phone this Christmas. The team at Grey Power Electricity are delighted We’re heading in to the busiest time of year for postal to announce the launch of broadband and Phone deliveries and Police want to remind everyone to do services. what they can to stop parcel theft. Coming into Christmas there are more parcels being If you are already with them for power, you can delivered, and more chance for your presents to be now also add your Broadband and phone line. stolen. Thieves will take any opportunity to steal, Broadband is $68 per month (+ GST), but the and parcels left on front door steps or in apartment standard rate is $84 per month + GST. This is building common areas are an easy target. suitable for a smaller household that uses the internet for sending emails, reading the news and Our advice is: the occasional Facebook use. - Get packages delivered to a place where someone They also have other plans covering faster service will be home to receive them, or to a work address. if you have several folks in the household wanting to watch Netflix movies at the same time, for - If you do have deliveries made to your home, make instance. sure you're going to be home to sign for them, or have a secure location where they can be left. Please visit their website: - Make sure your delivery instructions are clear, and https://www.greypowerelectricity.co.nz/ ask for packages not to be placed at your front broadband for details and prices. door, or on top of an apartment building post box. - If you're not going to be home when the parcel is delivered, arrange to collect your parcel from the depot, or have the parcel redirected to the address of someone you trust. - Be smart when disposing of packaging, so passers-by can’t see what you’ve been buying. - Report any suspicious behaviour to Police - e.g. if you see a car following a courier van, or an unexpected visitor knocks on your door asking for someone you don't know. Make sure your gifts get given to your loved ones this Christmas and not thieves.

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4 AUCKLAND GREYPOWER ASSOCIATION INC ISSUE 51 SUMMER 2019 5 RENT ARREARS PAYMENT There is a new option to help people keep their homes OBITUARY: Healthy Volunteers Needed when overdue rent has put their tenancy at risk. The Researchers at the Swallowing Research Laboratory, Government has announced a new Rent Arrears Chris van Pelt. University of Auckland, are looking for healthy adults Assistance payment that’s available from the Ministry of Chris van Pelt joined Auckland Greypower in 2005 to 80+ years old with no reflux disease or swallowing Social Development. protest against the deduction of the value of a foreign difficulties to participate in a study to investigate MSD already helps many people with rent arrears, but pension entitlement from NZ Super. treatmernts for people with swallowing difficulties. some people in need haven’t been eligible to get this He agreed with the standing policy of only one state Participation is 1 hour in which support. The new Rent Arrears Assistance payment may taxpayer-funded super entitlement, but argued that he your swallowing function will be able to help some people who don’t qualify for other and many other immigrants had pension entitlements be measured. The nostril is MSD rent arrears support, and risk losing their home numbed using spray and gel. because of overdue rent. People don’t have to be getting which were privately funded in addition to, and not A long thin tube (catheter) is a benefit or living in public housing to get Rent Arrears through the income tax system – and that therefore Assistance. It’s a one-off, income-tested payment which Depend on us to get you to these entitlements should be treated as any other passed through the nose to needs to be paid back. private wealth transfers and not be deducted from NZ the back of the throat. Guided Super. This effort has been unsuccessful so far. by swallowing water, the In summary, it’s for people who: your health appointment (Perhaps immigrants should be told about this when tube will reach the stomach. - need to pay overdue rent If you have difficulty getting to your medical After adjusting to the tube, - may lose their tenancy because of the unpaid rent applying for residency, so if they have any private appointment because of health or mobility pension investments, they should liquidate them, so as participants will swallow different amounts and textures - are unable to get other MSD support to pay rent arrears problems, our St John Health Shuttle service - will be able to carry on their tenancy and keep to have no problems with full NZ Super later.) of liquids while lying down and sitting upright. This can help. We can take you from your home to paying the rent themselves once their arrears But despite this, Chris was a reliable participant practice is used clinically. are paid appointments. in committee work, until recently in charge of our Participants will be compensated for their time with - have signed the tenancy agreement or have a St John Health Shuttles operate on a electronic equipment, and a most steady helper at our a supermarket voucher per appointment. If you are tenancy order under the Family Violence Act magazine folding and dispatch working bees. He was interested in participating, please contact Marie - meet income and asset limits booking system. the advertisement salesman for Auckland Greypower for Jardine, PhD candidate and Speech-language therapist: - meet residency criteria. We encourage you to ensure your appointment times some years, and [email protected] When a person or family suffers a temporary financial correspond with the local shuttle operating times. his work kept Focus 020 4153 0995. setback and gets into difficulty with unpaid rent, we don’t When your appointment is over, we will be there at magazine going. In This study has been approved by the New Zealand Health want it to escalate into eviction, emergency housing or a scheduled time to pick you up and transport you 2010 he declined and Disability Ethics Committess (Approval no. 19/NTA/4). homelessness. home again. the opportunity to stand for the “We want people to come to us if overdue rent has put All St John Health Shuttle staff contribute directly their tenancy at risk and they have no other way to pay it,” to the welfare of their local communities. They will presidency. say MSD. If you are in this situation, you can contact them make sure you receive the care and attention you Chris - we on 0800 559 009 to see if you can get support. The Work need for a safe and comfortable trip. There is also remember your and Income website has more information about Rent the added reassurance that should you require cooperative spirit Arrears Assistance, who qualifies and how to apply. assistance, a trained first aid person is at hand. and miss you. www.workandincome.govt.nz/rentarrears St John Health Shuttle – Jens Meder - St John Health Shuttles operate on Mondays to The team at Greypower Auckland wish you Fridays, except on public holidays. a Merry Christmas, and a happy new year! - Each local service operates to meet local needs. Enjoy the summer, and watch out for that - Health Shuttle bookings should be made at least dreaded sunburn! 24 hours before your appointment. - Health Shuttles are provided as a community service, and any Technology tutoring for older adults donation you make assists us to keep the service running. Patient, calm & friendly tutors. Absolute - Please rmeember if you need beginners to intermediate. Tablets, cell an ambulance in an emergency, phones, iPads, computers & more. always phone 111. If you, or someone you know Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this magazine would benefit from St John Health are those of the contributors. All information is Call Us 0800 372 984 Shuttles call 0800 ST JOHN believed to be reliable. Auckland Greypower does www.techseniors.co.nz | Across Auckland (0800 785 646). not accept any liability for its contents.

6 AUCKLAND GREYPOWER ASSOCIATION INC ISSUE 51 SUMMER 2019 7

on Superannuation now and in the future. Super at 65 is Some of the candidates (photos by Heldur Bender.) under threat and we must put our selfish views to the side Support Auckland’s Heritage Auckland Electing Mayor and start the battle for the 40 and 50 year olds who might Auckland Grey Power hosted a Mayoral Debate where all well be faced with waiting until 67 to get Superannuation.” The Grey Power Zone meeting expressed concern the candidates were invited to speak, at Mount Albert War – Mate Marinovich, Grey Power Zone Director. about the senior community having very little voice in Memorial Hall. This was a good chance to see the active the current political and community environment, and candidates running for Mayor and hear main points on in keeping many of their organisations functioning, issues facing Auckland. It was hoped that it would help with constant reports of groups closing down or members make a more informed choice rather than relying struggling as Auckland’s population and community on some biased media alone. It was a chance for over 70 makeup is rapidly changing. members of the public to hear from the horse’s mouth so to speak! An important element of this is the Council and community neglect of our heritage and community In the draw for the speaking order, John Tamihere got the number ONE! Was that a good omen for him?! Being one character, involving both our heritage community of the leading candidates, he was known to many already. buildings and features that are such an important He pointed to some of the problems of our home city and part of our history and community character, and the solutions he's offering. He showed he’s got the skills Above: President Gillian Dance (left) chairs the Mayoral specifically the recognition and support of our and experience, fire and energy. Phil Goff was running meeting, with timekeeper Paul Yorke at right. community museums and heritage groups who are for a second term and he got number two in speaking Below: Mayoral candidates Phil Goff, Tricia Cheel, invariably dependent on senior volunteers to keep order draw! He was the only candidate who has been a Tadhg Tim Stopford. them going. mayor and got a track record to show. Those who liked it will vote for him and those who don't will not. Phil pointed Grey Power is submitting to Council for more to his achievements and things he still wants to achieve. adequate heritage support and making submissions They were followed by Glen Snelgar, Genevieve Forde, Dr Deborah Russell, M.P. to Auckland Museum and MOTAT, to take a lead Peter Vaughan and Tricia Cheel to present their points. All Our 6th September (regular First Friday meeting) saw in promoting our Auckland history, and to provide under the Grey Power timekeeper with a bell to prevent a moderate attendance at the Senior Citizens Hall, support for our small community museums and them from talking all day! And then came David Feist, Ted Blockhouse Bay. Dr Deborah Russell, Labour MP for heritage groups. Johnston and Tadhg Tim Stopford with their policy points, New Lynn, attended and spoke at length about her and finally were Susanna Kruger, Brendan Maddern and As well as a GP-led submission, we are asking activities, and answered questions from members. Craig Lord. After the policy presentation came a Question community groups and individuals to provide support and Answer session where people from the floor could She was recently appointed Chair of Parliament’s submissions. Finance and Expenditure Committee. seek answers to their burning questions. Many of the If you are involved with a community group, or could candidates had some great ideas: sad that they are mostly assist with a personal submission, contact Anne ignored by the overall winner. Martin, GP North Shore. 445-3370, or “Congratulations Grey Power for upholding the cornerstone [email protected], who will guide you on the of democracy and giving your members the opportunity process. Submissions close shortly so please act to hear from ALL candidates - not just the ones filtered now. through the media… THANK YOU!!” – Patricia Cheel, Mayoral candidate. A chance to make a difference. Above: Mate Marinovich, Grey Power Zone Director, raises -- Bill Rayner, GP North Shore “I was in my element. J T was chatting when I was on stage some issues with a candidate. talking about Grey Power and how it needs to concentrate (All photos by Heldur Bender.)

Above: Grey Power President, Gillian Dance (left) with Dr Deborah Russell, M.P. Below: Grey Power folks at the meeting with Dr Russell. (Photos by Heldur Bender.)

A view of the meeting in the Mt Albert War Memorial Hall.

8 AUCKLAND GREYPOWER ASSOCIATION INC ISSUE 51 SUMMER 2019 9 Northshore Property RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP bother to oppose it? FOR 2020. To get it going – or rejected – would all those in favour or Management MAILBOX opposed to this effort please come forward with questions Auckland Grey Power is run by volunteers. We have no Northshore Property Management is owner- VALUE FOR MONEY and arguments for a friendly and polite discussion or paid staff. Our team give their time to handle all the debate on all the pros and cons of it? operated and provide the hands-on management enquiries, advocacy and administrative tasks of our Hello Auckland Greypower, Jens Meder, Pt Chevalier. you require on a daily basis. We only employ mature, association on your behalf. Thank you for sending the newsletter At $25 a year ($30 a household), this is less than 50c and congratulations for taking the experienced managers. SAVE OUR SUNLIGHT We care about the sort of tenants who rent your a week. $5 is a levy to fund the NZ Federation and the big step to get this organised and up remainder goes to local running costs for the quarterly and running. I have had a very quick Dear Greypower, Friends recently told me that a neighbour property, - we get it right. magazine, postage, telephone and office and meeting look through the pages but look has built a high shed right near the fence line, which now expenses, and publicity brochures. We have thorough accounting systems that are forward to a proper read later. cuts off the sunshine from their house by 1 pm. They used balanced every working day. We do not tolerate late To help Grey Power, you can renew for a year or more in I am very surprised by the work the Executive get done and to get sun all day. payments. advance. If you do, it is less work for our membership secretary. Donations are a great help and help us keep the small charge made for membership. I appreciate we I am worried by this sort of thing, and urge Greypower We carry out regular detailed property inspections. ahead of rising costs. It is much appreciated if you can cannot all pay big subscriptions but have you considered to put a remit at the next AGM to lobby government to We use honest, reliable tradies. They are cost- afford to do so. adding a request for donations to the subs renewal form? pass a “Save our sunlight” act. This should ban any effective and deliver quality work - and our guys On your envelope this magazine is sent in, at the top, you If even a few of us gave $5.00 extra it could ease the construction that would restrict a neighbour’s sunshine. A guarantee it. will see in a small box in the centre, something like this: finances. This would show some appreciation for the help certain vote-winner for any party to adopt! Maybe financial E 2020 – S 38. This is a code: the year following E is the Our current owners can tell you their properties are so many get from the efforts made on their behalf. Just a compensation could be discussed in cases where it was year your membership expires, so if it thought. really necessary, like high-rise buildings. hardly ever vacant. We keep our tenants on long- says E 2019, it’s time to renew. The Many thanks, Violet Barclay. term lease contracts, carry out reference checks on other bit (S) is our postal sorting batch Bruce Henderson, Blockhouse Bay. for the Post Office. all tenants, and credit checks. Thanks Violet, great suggestion! We have added in a We currently have over 800 members donation field on the form as you suggest. – Editor. We offer market-based fees and we believe they are on our books in Auckland. We are ‘cost-neutral’ to you, the owner. We know we add KOWHAI FESTIVAL aiming for 1,000 to 1,500 this year. And IHUMATAO value, and we know we save you money in the long eventually 2,000. Auckland Grey Power were invited by the Rodney Hi, After reading the most excellent article on Ihumatao in Grey Power to visit them at their Kowhai Festival Stall run,- always balancing good tenants, low vacancy, The larger the membership we have the the latest edition of Grey Power Focus, I decided to renew and competitive market rentals. more political clout we have. Auckland in Warkworth. needs a strong organisation to act our membership in the magazine. I hope the money has Editorial supplied by Northshore Property Management as Advocates for Seniors. If people gone through alright, it is from my ASB account. They take part in the festival of the flowering of their who have yet to renew could do so, it would be greatly Regards, Peter Oxborrow, Morningside. kowhai trees in October every year. This year was the appreciated. Bank account details are listed on the 50th anniversary and events were held throughout the membership page, page 14. The Ihumatao subject was divisive, and we also had a response that suggested the article was not fact-based, week. But Sunday 13th October was the day for most but decided not to print that for legal reasons. – Editor. festival activities. Gillian Dance, Auckland Grey Power President, Paula Bennett talks on Marijuana SUPERANNUATION discovered that thanks to lobbying from the good WE OFFER Dear Editor, Our mayoral candidates meeting provided an people in the North, Auckland Transport had recently excellent opportunity for all the candidates to be seen and • Experienced mature property managers started a bus service to Warkworth and the local areas. heard by the public together in one place. You can use your gold card to get there now. • Free rental appraisal Their messages covered also a lot of what is of special One bus out to the Albany Transport Station. Catch • Finding and retaining quality longterm tenants for owners, interest to Grey Power, but on the latter, I would like to we carry out thorough reference checks on all tenants the bus to the Whangaparaoa terminal and then draw attention to what was said by our Zone Director, Mate change to a bus to Warkworth. The buses now go • Benets from accessing high quality maintenance at Marinovich: competitive costs from trusted tradesmen seven days a week every half hour or so. It was well “Super at 65 is under threat and we must…start the battle • Periodic rent reviews to maximise returns for investors worth it and a very fun-filled day. Even though it for the 40 and 50 years old (and their descendants?!) takes six buses plus the ones you need to get to the • Regular thorough property inspections who might well be faced with waiting until 67 to get City! The bus changes are an event in itself. If you can • Peace of mind for owners superannuation.” manage that I think it might prove one does not have Please contact us to discuss in detail. As this battle is winnable only by securing the economic Alzheimer’s yet. sustainability of super at 65, the primary task of Grey M 0274 81 27 26 Power emerges as strongly to urge and support national retirement wealth ownership increasing economic policies, E [email protected] which e.g. through the NZ Super Fund and KiwiSaving also www.propertymanagementnorthshore.co.nz Paula Bennett spoke at a Grey Power meeting on raise our productivity and “catching up with Australia”. 25th November about the Cannabis referendum. The NZ Super Fund already secures NZ Super at 65 for We’ll have a report on that in the next Focus, but our baby boomers, so should we not keep promoting NORTH SHORE here’s a photo with some of your Committee. Left to adequate, steady and permanent contributions into PROPERTY MANAGEMENT right: Kathy Davie, Paula Bennett, Nanette Nathoo, a permanent NZ Super Fund with such energy and and Gillian Dance. consistency, that no political party hoping to govern will

10 AUCKLAND GREYPOWER ASSOCIATION INC ISSUE 51 SUMMER 2019 11 who said “You’re my kind of woman!!!” “Well,” I said, POLICE contact numbers: A cognitively-focused How to be an embarrassing grandmother “I have not even begun on cross dressing women on IF ITS HAPPENING NOW, call 111 the front line yet!!!!” hearing aid may prevent without even trying!!! By Andree Davies in Scotland. IF IT'S ALREADY HAPPENED, use 105 I have always encouraged my children and Many months later I got a message from the officer, Put on your fridge or mark your phone book, calendar cognitive decline grandchildren to play a musical instrument. who said, “I have been dining out on Look up the Fannies for months! Thank you!” or enter in your cellphone. Untreated hearing loss speeds up age-related decline Running for the bus to fix a broken violin. On the way in our ability to process and understand information. home, my neighbour stopped me and said “I saw you *The F.A.N.Y were RETIRED TRADESPEOPLE . Skills WANTED Research has shown hearing aids can slow or halt running for the bus”. “Yes,” I said, “I was going for a the First Aid Nursing you can offer? GREY POWER MEMBERS MAY this decline. The ‘CogniAid’ study is investigating a new G string!!!” Yeomanry in World NEED YOU. Contact Grey Power Office with your de- new cognitively-focused hearing aid fitting strategy. War 1. They provided tails if you are available. Call in to 557 Blockhouse The processing of CogniAid-tuned hearing aids will be Two of my grandsons play the bagpipes. No wonder horseback support Bay Road, or phone 626-0895. simplified to reduce listening effort. We believe this I am deaf, as they practiced in my kitchen. One services. In 1938 novel approach will lead to better hearing outcomes needed his bagpipes fixed so off to Glasgow to they trained in motor A AVAILABLE. Contact Paul transport, then they HOME HANDYMAN and improved performance on tests of memory and the repair shop. The man asks “How can I help?” at [email protected] or ring became a parent attention. As the research uses existing hearing To which I reply, “This young man has an old bag 027-230-2947. Painting, plastering, decks, water unit who undertook aids on the market, our findings could be quickly that needs replacing.” I hear a deep sigh from my proofing, fix door and window locks, etc. espionage duties, implemented into audiology clinics. This will directly grandson!!! The Special Forces A BOOKBINDER and LETTERPRESS PRINTER lead to improved hearing services and cognitive Operational Unit. AVAILABLE. Contact Bruce at health in the ageing New Zealand population. We My youngest grandson went to a sixth form military [email protected] or ring 828-3772. are actively seeking participants who feel they college. I attended an open day. Having lunch with Left: One some of the students, they told me they had to of Andree’s A SHOE REPAIRMAN AVAILABLE. Contact them at are experiencing difficulties with their memory or produce an essay on women and the military. “Oh,” noisesome [email protected] or ring 09-376-3289. attention. Trial clinics are located at the University of I said, “look up the Fannies.”* Much laughter, my grandsons, Andrew, 287 Ponsonby Road. Auckland and University of Canterbury. grandson sinking under the table!!! “Okay,” I said, “I shown piping on ANY SENIOR CONCERNS? For contact details and more information, please see am being serious so get cracking!!” A pair of hands a stamp from her the research advert below. town. CALL IN TO GREY POWER OFFICE, 557 Blockhouse landed on my shoulders, it was one of the officers, Bay Road, Auckland. Monday – Friday 10.30 to 12.30 Editorial supplied by University of Auckland to chat over any concerns. Lend us your ears... USED POSTAGE STAMPS WANTED Don’t need your old stamps? For hearing research. Drop them into the Grey Power Office. Can hearing aids benefit users We can pass them on to good homes! thinking and comprehension? Call in to 557 Blockhouse Bay Road. If you or someone you know is: • 65 years of age or over • Having difficulty remembering things or feeling confused in overwhelming situations • Suspect you may have some hearing loss but have never worn a hearing aid • Would purchase hearing aid(s) to own if selected for this research

We want to hear from you. years. Initial study screening involves a diagnostic 6 hearing test and cognitive screening appointment. Participants will all receive a $20 gift voucher for Hu man 19/07/2017 for for 19/07/2017 When supporting the advertisers within this screening, regardless of selection for the trial. magazine PLEASE LET THEM KNOW. For study information please contact: Their continuation enables our newsletter to Christine Fok Email: [email protected] | Phone: 09 923 1354 be provided free of charge - they need to know where you found them and that the advertising is Approved b y the University of Auckland on Committee Ethics Participants working for them too. 019538. Number Reference Thanks Updated: 5/11/2019

12 AUCKLAND GREYPOWER ASSOCIATION INC ISSUE 51 SUMMER 2019 13 Your Grey Power magazine: RELATIONSHIP CHANGES Join Us Before You Need Us WHY WE HAVE ADVERTISEMENTS IN A VILLAGE Retirement villages are microcosms of the wider society. Membership Application Form 2020 - 2021 Auckland Grey Power has an arrangement with Kiwi Residents’ relationships and obligations can change GREY Publications Limited who produce this magazine at in a village, just as they do elsewhere. But retirement Auckland Greypower Association Inc POWER no cost to Grey Power. village residents' obligations are governed by contracts Applying to Join or Renewing membership and paying annual subscription of They find and sell the advertising content. This that usually don't have the level of flexibility to easily covers the costs of printing and production and the allow for changes when personal circumstances Total: $ Single $25 or Couple $30 plus (if any) Donation $ time involved in finding the advertisers. change. First Name Dr/Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms Last Name This is not an easy task. And it is very time- Over the next couple of issues we’ll look at divorces and consuming. There are usually no members who separations, late life love and moving a child or other Partner's Name Dr/Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms have the time to do this. A similar arrangement may dependent adult in. occur with the Federation quarterly as well. The starting point is the occupation right agreement (ORA), which is usually a personal contractual right to Street Address So we are sorry if there seems to be a lot of advertising, but they are relevant to things that are occupy a unit and is non-transferrable. Residents will usually hold their interests jointly rather than as tenants Suburb Postcode of interest to the Senior age groups. in common. Each village is different, and will approach Phone(s) If we did not help each other in this way the costs of the issue according to the resident’s circumstances, but a magazine would be prohibitively expensive. all disclosure statements are required to disclose the Email @ effect of marriage on an ORA. Year of Birth Partner’s Year of Birth Interested in volunteering Yes/No An ORA usually restricts the length of time that guests Send me extra copies of Focus & Greypower brochures to distribute: Yes/No may stay with a resident without first obtaining the operator's prior consent. This could be no more than Privacy Act. All information remains confidential & is not supplied to any other party. two weeks at any one time and a total of six weeks in Please note promotional material, may be inserted in mail outs in the interests of members. total each year. Issue 51 2019 Summer Divorce, or when a resident couple separates " The ORA will usually be relationship property. As with any separation, one partner may offer to give Cyclists on the motorway! up their right to occupy the unit and their interest in Payment Options: Benefits for Greypower (Photo by Bruce Henderson.) the termination proceeds in exchange for some other 1. Internet Banking transfer into either of our members benefit. Many, but not all operators, will be willing Auckland Greypower Association’s accounts: to acknowledge this arrangement and may formally Kiwibank 38-9012-0058673-000 or 1. Having a voice and influence to protect seniors DISCOUNTS FOR SENIORS rights and interests, welfare and wellbeing. document the change, subject to both residents TSB 15-3968-0008956-000 The latest Super Gold Card discounts announced Advocacy and input into policies and decisions obtaining independent legal advice. Use your surname in Particulars and phone recently by Winston Peters and Tracey Martin at Parliament, Local govt, Auckland Council & It is not uncommon for residents to be concerned about number in Reference fields for identification. (Minister for Seniors) can be obtained by ringing Local Boards/ Watercare/DHB’s/ Auckland 0800 254 565. legal costs and will try to avoid formally documenting 2. Set up direct debit to one of our bank accounts Transport, etc the division of their relationship property. Occasionally payable before 31st March annually. Details as NZ Grey Power Federation have they might try to get the operator to decide. Operators, 2. Regular publications, our newsletter and the of course, do not wish to be put into a position of trying in option one above. arranged discounts for members with Federation’s magazine. to decide who gets what and will actively avoid getting AIL INSURANCE INTERISLANDER FERRY 3. Pay at any TSB or Kiwibank branch convenient involved. 3. Accident Insurance – $2,000 free for our members TRANSALPINE TRAIN SCENIC TRAIN to you. Details as in option one above. Unfortunately, as with any relationship break up, there in the event of death by accident. Your relatives NORTHERN EXPLORER COASTAL PACIFIC may be insufficient assets or income available to allow need to actually claim this from AIL: CHALLENGE PETROL VESTA HEALTH 4. Mail cheque (no Cash) to Auckland Greypower www.ailnz.co.nz/request/ one partner to stay in the village and to pay the other PO Box 48 157, Blockhouse Bay, Auckland 0644. GREY POWER INSURANCE resident out, or there could be angst among other 4. Save with Greypower Electricity on power and ELECTRICITY residents if one party stays and the other leaves. While 5. Pay in person at the office, 557 Blockhouse Bay phone. Call 0800-473 976, village managers will be sympathetic to the change, Road, Auckland (for hours see page 2). www.greypowerelectricity.co.nz it’s not their job to get involved in relationship property disputes. Mail this application with the payment, or simply 5. Savings on own and on partner’s Medical Insurance Next time we’ll have a look at what happens when a email the form’s information to us: – go to www.vestacover.co.nz for more details. [email protected] resident falls in love. editorial supplied by Retirement Villages Association

14 AUCKLAND GREYPOWER ASSOCIATION INC ISSUE 51 SUMMER 2019 15 Hobby Corner carriages. Excursions using railcars are also sometimes run using KiwiRail's Silver Fern railcar plus the Pahiatua Railcar Society has a 1930s built Standard railcar that occasionally runs excursions on the main line. Chasing a fantrip by The fascination of Railways and Steam road for the purposes of photography is often referred to as "Motorcading". Magazines dedicated to railfanning include New Zealand Railfan, NZ Railway Observer, Trains, The Railway Magazine (UK), Steam Railway, Heritage Railway, and Railfan & Railroad (USA). Locally, YARN (Your Auckland Railway News) is published monthly by the RES. Many railfans also collect "railwayana". Railwayana refers to artifacts from railways and railway operations and could include nearly anything to do with a particular railway, including timetables, locomotive number boards, dining car china, passenger train tickets, uniforms, tools and pieces of equipment such as lanterns, or sometimes items as big as train horns. Although few can afford the acquisition cost or A railfan, or railway enthusiast is a person interested, the space for storage, some railfans collect full size rolling recreationally, in rail transport. Railfans of many ages can be stock or locomotives. found worldwide. Railfans often combine their interest with All the railfan groups mentioned here are volunteer-run, so other hobbies, especially photography and videoing, model if you are keen to get involved, they would welcome your railways, studying railway history and participating in railway participation. The railway groups are always looking for station and rolling stock preservation efforts. volunteers to help, as there are numerous tasks that require In New Zealand, railways essentially built this country, so we attention, and a number of tasks do not require engineering have a tremendous amount of history to work with. Most of us skills, so if you are interested in volunteering, contact the can vividly recall travelling by puffing steam trains, often on group. Some railfan groups you may care to visit or join: the overnight express between Auckland and Wellington, then Railway Enthusiasts’ Society, (RES), 38 Alfred Street, on to the inter-island ferry. Onehunga. P.O. Box 13-684, Onehunga 1643. Phone 636- Today, many of us who enjoyed the Railways in their heyday 9361. Meetings held each month at Pearce Street Hall find a lot of pleasure and companionship in getting together in Onehunga, and bi-monthly in Cambridge. Runs railway with others who are also keen on this. The Auckland-based excursions on the main line. Railway Enthusiasts’ Society, or RES, was set up in 1958, and on the closure of the Waiuku branchline in 1967, the RES Glenbrook Vintage Railway, Farm Park Road, Glenbrook. acquired the section of track from Glenbrook to Waiuku to Operates most Sundays from Spring to Autumn, running fulfil the vision of operating their own steam heritage railway. passenger trains to Waiuku and return: see website for details. www.gvr.co.nz The RES subsequently executed a Deed of Trust to establish The Glenbrook Vintage Railway Charitable Trust Board, the Mainline Steam Trust, presently building a new trackside body charged with developing that vision, and the Society depot near Mercer. www.mainlinesteam.co.nz also provided the initial seeding capital and volunteer labour Western Springs Railway, at Motat site 2, Meola Road, Point required. Chevalier (entry from Motions Road). Trains run on the third The Glenbrook Vintage Railway therefore began as an RES Sunday of each month. www.motat.org.nz project, and the Society Bay of Islands Vintage Railway, Kawakawa Railway Station, continues to this day to fund Gillies Street, Kawakawa. P. O. Box 142, Kawakawa 0243. and resource the railway on Phone (09) 404-0684. Runs trains every Friday, Saturday, & an as-required basis. The Sunday, and every day during school holidays. facilities offered to the public www.bayofislandsvintagerailway.org.nz today are a tribute to all those unpaid volunteers past Pahiatua Railcar Society Inc., Pahiatua Railway Station, 2 and present whose dedicated km west of Pahiatua. P.O. Box 67, Pahiatua 4941. Phone efforts have made that (06) 376-7432. Occasionally run mainline excursions using dream possible. The railway restored Standard railcar operates steam trains (and RM 31. www.railcars. the occasional diesel) most co.nz Sundays and public holidays from October to June and the In New Zealand the public is welcome to visit and ride the trains. Federation of Rail A number of railway preservation groups organise occasional Organisations of NZ excursion adventures on the main line, and these are usually (FRONZ) looks after the very popular, with full trains frequently being run. These trips interests of the heritage are both social events, as well as an opportunity for railfans & tourist rail industry in to photograph unusual trains. Excursion adventures on the NZ. The "Our Members" KiwiRail network can be run using a steam locomotive, a section of their website heritage group's restored diesel locomotive or a KiwiRail lists all the organisations diesel locomotive. Carriages can range from the volunteer that they represent and group's vintage wooden carriages to air conditioned big each listing has a link to windows carriages that previously ran on the KiwiRail long the group's website. distance trains that now are equipped with modern new www.fronz.org.nz

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