Party time
From our President, Colleen Singleton
Earlier in the year the Committee met Tamatha Paul, MP for Wellington Central, to discuss issues for older people included in the Green Party’s manifesto for the 2023 general election. Her office was helpful in obtaining information about the review of the Retirement Villages Act. While there is no timeframe for updating the legislation, we work with whoever we can to advance the review.
Tamatha and Lawrence Xu-Nan, the Green’s spokesperson for seniors, will speak at a public meeting Grey Power is holding on Monday 14 October at 1pm in the Tararua Tramping Clubrooms, 4 Moncrieff Street, Mt Victoria. Please invite your friends and neighbours to join you at the meeting when we will meet our local Member of Parliament and have the opportunity to ask about our burning issues. Your Committee wants to hear her vision for older people in Wellington Central.
The Committee has met with Andy Foster, List MP for New Zealand First. We will continue to talk with Andy to arrange to a public meeting next year.
The hierarchy of Grey Power is the Federation Board, seven Zones and 70 Associations. I am the Zone 4 Representative on the Federation Board. Zone 4 meets four times a year in Palmerston North. At the recent Zone meeting we looked at the projects in the Federation’s strategic plan to identify members who would be willing to assist the Board portfolio holder with the tasks. Grey Power has very talented members and there is a place for every volunteer. YES, I have a place for you.
The Federation Board met toward the end of August. While the new Board has met several times by Zoom, this was the first face-to-face meeting with Gayle Chambers, our new President elected at the 2024 Annual General Meeting. Gayle was the Zone 5 Director. We also welcomed Margaret Sole, the new Zone 3 Representative.
The Federation’s new Constitution is ready for registration and the template for Associations will be available shortly. Your Committee will update the Wellington Central Grey Power Constitution to meet the requirements of the 2022 Incorporated Societies Act. It needs to be approved by the 2025 AGM.
Your Committee is holding a Grey Power sponsored Christmas Lunch on Wednesday 27 November. 12.30pm at The Grand, 69 Courtenay Place. We pay $20 a head towards the food portion of your bill. Please rsvp to membership@greypowerwellington.org.nz for an assured place; there is limited seating.
Events
Wednesday 2 October, 9am-3pm: Making Connections/Age Concern, St James.
Monday 14 October, 1pm: Meet the Green’s local MP, Tamantha Paul, at a Grey Power meeting at the Tararua Tramping Club hall, 5 Moncrieff St, Mt Victoria
Wednesday 27 November. 12.30pm: Xmas lunch at The Grand, 69 Courtenay Place; rsvp to membership@greypowerwellington.org.nz
Eat your Greens
Our local Green MP, Tamatha Paul, is speaking at a Grey Power meeting at the Tararua Tramping Club hall, 5 Moncrieff St, Mt Victoria, on Monday 14 October at 1pm. She will introduce Lawrence Xu-Nan, who holds the Greens senior issues portfolio. This is your chance to lobby the Greens to inform their future policies, which are pretty light at the moment on senior issues.
Where were the television cameras?
Alastair Duncan reports on this years’ Greypower AGM.
It’s about two years I moved from being a financial but passive member of Greypower Wellington Central branch, to joining the local committee and beginning the journey that led me this autumn to the National Greypower AGM.
As a younger man, from an early age, I would listen to Parliament on the YC network. Invariably before the days of influencers and instant polling, there seemed to be a series of important, almost institutional bodies that would often be referenced in the house. “Farmers” and “business leaders” were often mentioned and from time to time “churches” and “trade unions”. But when it came to the real words of wisdom, politicians would, from time to time tell the audience that “Greypower” did, or did not support the issues under debate.
So, walking into this years’ conference I looked with interest to see if, hanging around the entrance, there was the odd camera crew and a cluster of notebook carrying reporters. Presumably there would be a selection of Members of Parliament and perhaps the odd lobby group.
But no, there were none to be seen.
Given the current focus on the crisis in the health sector, the cost of living and the considerable public interest on the aging demographics of the country it’s curious that the AGM registered such little interest.
Still, it didn’t mean that the debate, speeches and cut and thrust of which I was anticipating from such a varied constituency would be no less entertaining . I would see the ‘politics’ and the passion of 70 plus affiliated constituents pitted against other. (not as it turned out that all 70 plus turned up)
But it was not to be. Instead, what I encountered as a group of decent, dedicated and often wise individuals sharing intelligent and informed discussion. Yes, there was a contested election, but nothing to rival either national or local body politics. And there was a harmony that suggested wisdom and reflection.
Not that this mean the conference was not without debate. Despite there being a surprisingly small number of remits, the sparks flew when a remit “That Grey Power Federation urge the Government to adopt and recognise English as an official language of New Zealand” was put to the floor. Your Wellington Central delegates questioned the motion given the status quo with three shared languages, English, Te Reo and Signing. The remit passed by a comfortable majority, but in the absence of the press we didn’t turn up on the 6 o’clock news.
Less contentious, but as interesting, was watching the Aged Care Commissioner, Carolyn Cooper (a one-time CEO of care provider BUPA) walk a fine line in her presentation, addressing the challenges of seniors on fixed incomes, the challenge of senior housing options and the fact that the subsidy on hearing aids is well out of date for an increase. Disappointing was her view that the residential care sector was not yet willing to accept that rest homes and hospitals should have legislated minimum staffing levels. She wasn’t opposed, she said, but rather there were not yet the ‘tools’ to measure care and thus assign a set number of staff. Tell that to someone waiting for a bedpan!
By this time next year Greypower members should have their opportunity to contribute to the development of our national strategic plan. A new leadership and the worsening economic challenges for many seniors will hopefully incentivise the press and the politicians to seek an audience. If so, we should welcome them. But we should also spend the coming months raising our voice, sharing our knowledge and using our experience to be a louder and stronger voice for our members. And we should do it in any of the three recognised languages!
Alastair Duncan attended the conference along with David Cuthbert. Branch President Colleen Singleton attended as a ‘zone’ representative.
Supermarket discounts
Some New World and Woolworths/Countdown branches offer a 5% discount on one day a week (usually Tuesday) for Gold Card holders. There’s usually a minimum spend and some items aren’t included (eg lottery tickets). Check out https://supergold.govt.nz/ for details.
I’ve been learning how to be old
From Rachel McAlpine
If you’ve started following my podcast — and telling your friends about it — thank you! Your engagement is my only reward. I’m sending buckets of appreciation your way.
The podcast is called Learning How To Be Old. I’m already 84, so you’d think I had it sussed by now. But no. Recently I’ve learned a good deal from my special guests and from little street polls. You may learn something too, from the last four episodes. They are:
- Hearing aids rock. (I learned why a birder and a theatre critic find hearing aids absolutely crucial. I also learned about a cheaper option.)
- Development in old age. (A centenarian insists that we do continue to develop after 65, despite what psychologists told us last century.)
- Starting a business after 50. (I learned that it’s a strong global trend, with pros and cons.)
- A life in clothes. (As the years pass, fashions change — and so do we.)
Coming up next is an episode about singing in a choir. We’ll hear about this from both sides: from choir members over 50 and from a choir director who is half my age. I was extremely surprised by some of the things they said.
People tell me they listen to podcasts while they are gardening or doing the dishes, and I confess that I listen in bed. How about you, I wonder? Do tell your adult children about Learning How To Be Old, if you enjoy it. It’s on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Rachel McAlpine is a writer and a podcaster. She is the author of 13 poetry collections, most recently How To Be Old, published by Cuba Press, 2020. Her latest play is The Secret Lives of Extremely Old People, a sell-out at Circa Theatre in November-December 2023. Her mission is to entertain, stimulate and encourage you as you look ahead to the next stage of life.
Letting people know you’re in trouble
Living by yourself can be a problem if you fall down in the home. The conventional answer to this can be a St Johns medical alarm; an amulet containing a button you press to summon help (or talk to St Johns). Current prices are about $30/month, but grants are available. Other options include a smart watch (usually you need a smartphone) but the upper end ones can detect falls and automatically dial for help.
Bucket list (for other people)
From Kapiti Grey Power
When someone dies it can be very difficult for the family to find all the documents they need to settle the deceased’s affairs. Tell your family where you have stored your important documents and other important information. It could be:
- with a lawyer
- at a secure document storage facility
- in a secure location on your computer, or
- in a safe place in the house
You can record online where the documents are via the Department of Internal Affairs’ Te Hokinga ā Wairua End of Life Services website . If you prefer paper, Kāpiti Coast Grey Power sells a memory jogger booklet: Why Keep it a Secret. Examples of important documents and information are:
- where to find a copy of your will
- your birth certificate
- information your family will need if they have to apply for a death certificate (e.g. they will need your full name and your parents’ full names)
- a list of people and organisations they need to contact, along with their contact details (Here’s a checklist)
- Instructions about how you want personal belongings to be distributed
- details of all your property and investments (including your KiwiSaver), and who to contact about them
- any land titles and mortgage agreements
- your insurance policies
- Any firearms you own, including their serial numbers and your firearms licence number. Check the Te Tari Pūreke – Firearms Safety Authority website
- any online accounts that you will want shut down, e.g. email and social media accounts – any documents you own (e.g. the original manuscript of a book or music you have written; research you have done on your family history.)
State what you want for your funeral (and after the funeral) NB: Your family will not be able to arrange a funeral if you have nominated to donate your body – or a part of it – to science.
- people you want to attend, and their contact details
- letters to individuals, or a recorded message for the funeral
- whether you have a funeral pre-payment plan. It should also say whether you want to be buried, cremated or something else. NB: In Kāpiti ashes may only be interred in designated cemetery plots. Currently there’s no set area for spreading ash in the district. In Wellington City Council the only approved area is Willowbank Park in Tawa. Scattering ashes in public places in the Porirua District is not allowed. There is a dedicated space at Whenua Tapu.
Lots more information on the Citizen’s Advice Bureau’s site
Menzshed not just for menz
Menzshed has been thought of as a refuge for underfoot men, but things are changing. The Wellington branch is now accepting women as members (contact stuart.hudson0@gmail.com). For those who don’t know what it does, it’s a place where people can do DIY projects (mostly with wood) with tools that are on-site, and often doing projects for community organisations.
DIY jobs
Once you’re over 50, getting another job can be a real struggle. One solution is becoming self-employed, but doing it from scratch takes even more effort. The Office for Seniors has done a small study on courses for older people to equip them with the necessary skills. It looked at five providers who offered courses tailored to our skills and needs. 87% of the students completed the courses, and most found they gave them more confidence in their plans. It was found that shorter courses were better, and they needed to be subsidised in some way because most students couldn’t afford the full cost. Other suggestions for providers were avoiding jargon and hype, avoiding ageist stereotypes, recognising students have lots of experience but may have significant gaps (eg computers), select students carefully rather than taking all comers, and connecting students to the business/innovation ecosystem. More info here.
Making connections day
Age Concern are running a Making Connections event at the St James, October 2, 9am-3pm, with lots of seminars on subjects like brain health, avoiding scams, and downsizing and decluttering. Register (free) and more information here.
Cheaper eats
Post-covid prices in restaurants are a bit of a dampener on a good night out, but there are ways around it. First Table is a service that organises cheap meals in restaurants, generally in offpeak times. They charge a fee (from about $5 -$15 a booking) and you generally get half price food (not drinks). The caveats are that you check the conditions of the booking, and reconfirm it at the restaurant as sometimes there is a restriction on what you can order.
And of course there are other cheap deals outside First Table; good choices are Chow Tory (two for one on Mondays), and various specials at the Maranui. More here but check by phone first as the website may be out of date.
We meet with Andy Foster
NZ First is often typecast as joined at the (replacement) hip to Grey Power, but our members are far more politically diverse and there’s always the danger of been tied to one party in terms of influencing policy and practice. However, we recently met with Andy Foster, who you may remember was the Wellington mayor till he was outvoted by Tory Whanau. We wanted to see what we could do to influence the government on senior issues.
Andy is the NZ First spokesperson on housing, and also is the local MP. We discussed the winter energy payment (still going), cost of living, rate rises, cost of care, Pharmac budget increases, and Andy’s insistence on the necessity for the economy to be boosted to pay for it all. Nothing concrete came out of the discussion but it was a useful first step to seeing how we could influence policy, and we got a promise to come along to one of our public talks, perhaps with other NZ First MPs (such as the Minister for Seniors).
Onward to the other parties . . .
Letter to the editor
The plight of New Zealand pensioners
From Moggie Grayson
After 45 years of working as a wage slave in order to make profits for our employers most people look forward to spending a comfortable retirement in their own homes. Unfortunately for many, the reality is that the government pension is pathetically inadequate and does not cover the cost of paying the bills and buying the groceries.
You may well have a comfortable home, mortgage free, all bought and paid for. You may have lived in it for more than 50 years, but all of a sudden poverty is thrust upon you by Capitalists who feel that they have the right to say, “You can’t afford to live in your house any more. Oh how sad! You will have to DOWNSIZE”. Even if you don’t want to leave your home where you feel safe, secure and happy, you are not given the option of staying there anymore. You are expected to move into a “dog kennel“ in a retirement village. I have spoken to a couple of Social Workers who admit quite openly that their job is to get people out of their houses.
People have been brainwashed for so many years by the Capitalist system into believing that they have the mentality of sheep and they have to accept what the government dishes up for them. We have a Prime Minister who gets paid $471,000 per year plus $22,000 expenses. That is a total of $493,000 per year. He owns 8 houses. By contrast, a New Zealand pensioner is paid $27,000 per year, which is not enough to enable most pensioners to maintain just one home. Is something wrong here? Is this kind of inequality acceptable? It is perfectly obvious that the Prime Minister is in a position to decide who is rich and who is poor and he has imposed poverty upon pensioners so that he can get richer. Are we supposed to accept this situation without question? We are, after all, well behaved little baa- lambs who should feel grateful that our wonderful Prime Minister is throwing us a few crumbs off his table while he gets richer.
This letter was edited for length
Commerce Commission amends 111 contact code
The Commerce Commission has updated its 111 Contact Code, to ensure vulnerable consumers can contact emergency services during a power failure.
The commission recently ran a consultation to amend the existing code for the emergency phone number. The amended code is available on its website.
The final amended code was published along with the Decision and Reasons paper, an updated application form template, and 111 Contact Code FAQs page, in particular for consumers applying to be registered as a vulnerable consumer.
The 111 Contact Code is in place to ensure vulnerable consumers are able to contact the 111 emergency number in the event of a power failure. To be classified as vulnerable, a consumer must be more likely to need to contact 111 (due to health, safety, or disability reasons), rely on a non-copper home phone (e.g, fibre or fixed wireless), and have no other way to call 111 (such as a mobile phone).
The Code sets out mandatory obligations on providers of a residential landline service, to ensure that all consumers are made aware, and are regularly reminded:
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- that the service will not operate in a power outage;
- of alternative ways to contact the 111 emergency service in such situations; and
- that additonal protections are available to vulnerable consumers, if there is no alternative way of contacting emergency services in a power outage (such as a mobile phone).
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If you have any questions, contact Telecommunications@comcom.govt.nz.