COMMUNITY IN ACTION AGE CONCERN KAPITI - AgeConnect Kapiti
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AGE CONCERN KAPITI
COMMUNITY IN ACTION
Celebrating Kapiti’s older people since 1989
August 2020
Community Services Centre 1st Floor Coastlands Shopping Mall
admin@ageconcernkapiti.co.nz P.O. BOX 217 PARAPARAUMU 5032 TELEPHONE 04 298 8879
From the Manager…
Dermot Whelan
important factor for interventions to
The stories of families, prevent loneliness.
neighbours, friends and It’s so good to see that Kapiti Citizens
local organisations Advice Bureau (CAB) has formed a
reaching out to those partnership with Benefit Education
who needed help or Services Trust (BEST) to bring a much-
support during the long weeks of needed free and informed advocacy
lockdown were heart-warming. It’s now service to the district. Kapiti BEST,
so important that we all continue to build which commenced here on 6 July, will
on the strong community spirit that assist, support and empower Kapiti
developed during that period. beneficiaries and low-income people
Four local community organisations – with benefit and housing information
Age Concern Kapiti, Neighbourhood advocacy. An advocate from Kapiti
Support, Kapiti Kindness Trust and Zeal BEST can provide up-to-date
– have teamed together to write to every information on all the benefits and grants
household in Kapiti. The theme of the paid by Work and Income New Zealand
message is to remind everybody that (WINZ). They may also be able to help
there are plenty of local organisations you; apply for main benefits,
here to continue to support our Kapiti supplementary payments like the
residents of all ages. By continuing to Accommodation Supplement and
work together and supporting one Temporary Additional Support and
another we can help to develop more special grants; check if you are receiving
creative, caring and connected streets and all the income support you are entitled to;
communities that benefit us all. accompany you to a WINZ appointment
It’s particularly pleasing for us at Age or sit with you during a WINZ phone
Concern Kapiti to be working with appointment. “We believe that all clients
Neighbourhood Support as our 2019 deserve to live in dignity with access to
survey of older people in Kapiti reported income and housing that meets their
the importance of neighbourhood as an basic needs”, says BEST’s Mission
Statement. So congratulations to Kapiti Healthy Ageing Together.
CAB for bringing this highly regarded Hi everyone, it was great catching up with
service to Kapiti. Face to face our HAT members & some new faces at our
appointments are available on the first July meeting.
Monday of every month at CAB’s Our guest speaker was Angela Robertson
offices, Level 1 Coastlands. who has written a book called “Life On
Our Terms”. It consists of 19 short
JIM ROSS Q.S.O (10 June 1930 – 28 stories about people in our community
June 2020) who are making the most of the second
We were all saddened to hear of Jim half of life. She did a power point
Ross’s passing on 28 June. Jim was an presentation of the people who are
Executive Committee member of Age featured in the book & talked about their
Concern Kapiti for many years. His wise lives. In particular things they have done
counsel and immense contribution to the since finishing their working lives. The
affairs of the organization and his always message that came across was everyone
positive, cheery disposition made him should write their life story to share with
such a valued and deeply respected their family. Everyone achieves great
member of Age Concern Kapiti. Jim had things even if they don’t think so. And
a distinguished career in New Zealand everyone’s life is a treasure to be shared
education and was a key figure in through the generations.
bringing U3A to New Zealand. Angela is willing to talk to anyone who
Following his Resignation from our is interested in writing a life book.
Executive Committee, Jim kept in touch Contact our office for her details.
with us regularly, and it was always a
delight to see him or have a chat on the Something a little different: the talk
telephone. motivated me to start working on my 5th
Rest In Peace Jim, you will be dearly photoshop book. “”My life journey so
missed. far” with my family & the people I have
known & places I have travelled. It really
Age Concern-Otaki Service is fun looking back on old photos &
Age Concern Kapiti continues to operate memories while putting it all into a book
out of the Citizens Advice Bureau in to show your family. I will then do a
Otaki. All of our services are covered photobook for each of my 3 girls. A great
and issues or advice will be addressed. If Christmas present full of memories.
anyone would like to visit or make an
appointment in Otaki please do not Our guest speaker at our August 6th
hesitate to contact our office. We will be meeting will be Angela Morris (ANZ
in Otaki every 3 weeks, Friday mornings Bank service consultant). She will talk
from 9am to 12pm. about “Navigating your banking in a post
Covid world”.
The next date that Age Concern Kapiti
See you there.
will be in Otaki is 14th August.
Kind regards Alison
We look forward to seeing you there.
2
Future H.A.T. Activities for 2020 Curious cat breaks into retirement
Paraparaumu Library village during lockdown
10.30-12pm It was by buttering up the security guards
6th August- library meeting room. that a new resident managed to sneak
3rd September- AGM. into a Wellington retirement village
1st October- library meeting room. during lockdown. Coco the cat arrived as
5th November- library meeting room. a stray during the Covid-19 lockdown in
3rd December- meal out. March, Rita Angus Retirement Village
manager Rob Prior said. “She’s taken a
Rummikub shine to the place, and the residents love
Join Cliff & Marilyn for the monthly her, she has become part of the furniture
Rummikub. This is on the third Thursday in the short time since she landed
of the month, because she is so friendly.”
20th August 20th at the Community Her plan of attack to enter the village
Centre. 10am-12.30pm. during lockdown was to cosy up to the
Refreshments provided. Learners security guards. Once she had won them
welcome. Koha welcomed. Ring over, she quickly made herself at home,
finding sunny spots and smooching up to
2988879 for more details.
residents.
“Coco is a popular talking point at the
Paraparaumu Pop-in Centre
village, with residents taking an interest
Invites
in her whereabouts and stopping to give
Older folk and any seniors who seek
her a pat or a scratch whenever she
company and friendship. requires it.” Her name is derived from
Just pop in for a chat and a cuppa… her arrival at the village; Coco is taken
Meet and make new friends… from the ‘co’ in Covid-19.
Come and go as you please. One mystery remains about her, which is
Where: Murray Jensen Room where she disappears to at night. Prior
Paraparaumu Community Centre, said while staff and residents keep tabs
Ngahina Street. on her during the day, no one knows
When: Fridays 1pm-3pm where she goes when it gets dark. “There
See you there! are suspicions that a resident is providing
nocturnal accommodation for her but no-
Free batteries for hearing aids. one is admitting to this!”
We have had donated to us some hearing Believed to be 6-9 months old, Prior
aid batteries. Power on +13 believes Coco has had human contact in
Anyone using these batteries is most the past. “She is super tame which may
welcome to call into our office at Age mean she had previous human servants
Concern & pick up some free batteries. (cats don’t have owners – just staff!)”
Call Alison on 2988879
3
Coronavirus: The truth about life for not all exactly chipper, even the sombre-
Kiwis returning to New Zealand faced are never as aggro as they can be
More than 47,000 Kiwis have returned elsewhere. Tel Hudson of Whāngārei
home since border restrictions began. says, after nine years in Sydney, his wife
Kiwis returning to New Zealand in their was taken aback when the customs
droves during the global pandemic no officer she handed her passport to smiled
doubt have a renewed appreciation for and said: “Welcome home Denise.”
their homeland: the space, the scenery, “The friendly attitude and the warm
the strong flat whites and the relatively welcome was totally unexpected. And it
slim chance of contracting Covid-19. was so different from the attitude of
But they’ve probably been taken a bit passport control in every other country.
aback by the quirks of New Zealand life That was a good few years ago, but it’s
you forget about when you’ve been the sort of behaviour we have come to
overseas for a while, or never knew know and love from our officers.”
existed until you returned from a lengthy Wellingtonian Michelle McCashin feels
stint away. much the same, but that’s probably no
As grateful as recently returned Kiwis surprise given her ex-husband was strip-
may be to be back, there are some searched at LAX while his friend had a
aspects of life here that it may take time gun pointed in his face. “Their crime?
to get used to. As grateful as I was to They were musicians with dreadlocks in
return to New Zealand in 2017 after black clothes.”
several years in London and San
Francisco, I was also (reverse culture) Groceries are expensive
shocked, realising that we really do Having gotten used to £3 (NZ$5.70)
sound quite a lot like Australians and that salmon fillets and £1 (NZ$1.90) family
good-quality meat is so horrifically packs of fresh veggies at British
priced the population should probably all supermarkets and supersized avocados
turn vegetarian in protest. And then there for US$1 (NZ$1.50) in the States, I was
are the cold homes and crazy drivers. flabbergasted at food prices here. I
With so many New Zealanders wondered why we weren’t a nation of
readjusting to life in this unique wee Skinny Minnies until I noticed how
country of ours, we reached out to Kiwis cheap processed and fast foods are in
who have returned to New Zealand after comparison to quality cuts of meat, fish,
living abroad to help us compile a list of fruit and veg. Te Aroha-based Teresa
things that might take them some getting Kenyon, who spent 38 years in Australia,
used to. If you’re still planning on agrees, saying the “prices of meat here
making the move, you have been warned. are horrendous, given it is all grown
within spitting distance of shops. New
Our customs officers are so friendly Zealand lamb and beef were cheaper to
Anyone who’s been made to feel like a buy in Melbourne.” Mohan Patelkhana of
criminal at an American airport surely Christchurch, meanwhile, noted that
has a soft spot for our comparatively “kiwifruit is cheaper in India than here,
welcoming guardians at the gate. While my dear Kiwis”.
4But the food is pretty good tropics even in midwinter. Typing this
It’s not hard to find good kai in the land story from my Auckland home, on the
of milk, mānuka honey and world- other hand, I’m wearing three jumpers
renowed meat and dairy, even if you do and still have frozen fingers. New
often have to pay through the nose for it. Zealand’s notoriously cold homes are a
Christiian Everts, who lives in Canada, big bugbear with expats and returning
believes “the food is an entirely different Kiwis get where they’re coming from.
ballgame in New Zealand… I had “Freezing sub-par housing is the norm
forgotten what quality fresh food tasted and people just put up with it,” Gemma
like.” The quality of food in our cafes Greenwood, who has lived in Canada,
and bakeries can come as a welcome says, adding: “Heat pumps are a joke.”
surprise to some.
Christina Nicolaou, who lives in But at least they’re a decent size
Australia, meanwhile, says she notices If you’ve come from one of the many
how good the bakeries are: “The long countries where apartment living is the
doughnuts and the pies – yum.” norm, even standard-sized New Zealand
Kelly Pene, also in Australia, says she houses can seem like mansions. And
loves how New Zealanders “show love private gardens a previously
through kai” – her aunty’s “boil up” with unimaginable luxury.
ruruhau mustard greens from her garden, Chelsea McLaughlin lives in Sydney’s
potatoes, kūmara, kamokamo, doughboys inner-west “so it’s all terrace houses and
and “whatever meat she has” definitely giant apartment blocks. Going home to
sounds like it’s worth crossing the ditch actual houses with backyards and large
for. decks in Wellington makes my heart
sing.”
The air is so fresh
New Zealand’s 100 per cent pure image We’re terrible drivers
mightn’t be entirely accurate, but the air If you’ve just returned from India or
smells far sweeter than in many other Egypt, you mightn’t agree, but plenty of
parts of the world. Even in the big Kiwis who’ve lived in Australia think
smoke. New Zealand drivers are among the
Chelsea Espejo, who lives in Madrid in worst. “Most seem to think indicators are
Spain, says she’s struck by the air quality not necessary and speed up at red lights,
as soon as she steps out of the airport. and very few keep left unless passing,”
“Even in the car park. It’s just so fresh April Ochoa-Evans, who returned to
and easy to breathe.” Tracey Porter, who Auckland after nine years in Sydney,
has lived in Australia, says the “pureness says. “Not to mention the fact that almost
of the air” in New Zealand “literally every second driver is on their phone! If I
makes my skin tingle”. was a cop, I’d stand at an intersection for
a day and probably cap my quota for the
Our houses are so cold year.”
Living in a small London flat with a big
boiler, I could make believe I was in the
5Our health system has its advantages We’re exceptionally easy on the eye
With a trip to the doctor costing upwards Mollie Collins, who lived in Australia,
of US$300 (NZ$450) for those without surely speaks for many Kiwis who’ve
health insurance at my local medical returned from overseas when she says
centre in the US, I avoided going entirely she “used to take [New Zealand’s]
during my year there. And it’s not the scenery for granted, but now it takes
only country with exorbitant medical [her] breath away”.
costs. Amy Duff said that, while “Whether it’s winding around the
returning to New Zealand from Canada Rotorua lakes where the ponga are thick
during the pandemic was hard, “not or driving along the coast when the
having to pay over $100 for one lot of pōhutukawa is in bloom,” Collins
prescription medication was the best reckons her homeland’s a beauty.
feeling ever. I ended up sending a pic of Iesha Robinson also acknowledges she
my free meds to a friend back in took New Zealand’s good looks for
Canada.” granted.
Arriving in Porirua from Australia and
We don’t have to worry about wild taking a trip to Nūhaka and Mahia, she
animals attacking was “amazed” by the beauty that
For Kiwis who’ve called Canada home, surrounded her. The “lush” green grass,
simply being able to go for a walk in the the “fresh crisp air”, the “beautiful trees
wilderness without worrying they’ll be and the sound of birds” were all things
eaten alive seems like a blessing. she hadn’t noticed before. And, she says:
Gemma Greenwood said she appreciates “I loved it all.
being able to go for a hike without
stressing she’ll cross paths with a bear or ”We’re kind
cougar, and being able to put out her It’s been New Zealand’s mantra
rubbish safe in the knowledge it won’t throughout the pandemic, but we’ve been
attract a killer beast to her home. pretty good at acknowledging and taking
Having lived in Australia, I can relate: care of each other for a while.
Being able to go for a run without having Ngaire Nukunuku, who lives in Brisbane,
to leap over the odd snake is a relief. says she notices how friendly people are
Courtenay Cross, who recently returned in New Zealand and that even strangers
from Queensland, seems to be of a “say hello and acknowledge you”. Lydia
similar mind. “Last night I had to get up Rose, who has also lived in Australia,
to go to the toilet and I didn’t have to reckons “people are so much nicer all
turn on the light in fear of a huntsman round in New Zealand”.
[spider] crawling on me,” she says. We Kiwis are biased of course, but it
says a lot that returning New Zealanders
notice us being kind to one another. It’s
something that has stood us in good stead
throughout the pandemic and will surely
continue to as well.
6Moment we realise we’ve become our
parents.
Adults finally admit that their mum knew
best when they turn 33 - with most of us
turning into our parents a couple of years
later. They said they did not gain a true
appreciation for their parents until they
became parents themselves. 8 out of 10
found themselves saying the very things
to their children that was said to them.
Top Mumisms we swore we would never
say (but end up saying)
# Money does not grow on trees.
# Wash your hands.
# Because I said so, that’s why.
# Shut that door, were you born in a tent?
# Have you brushed your teeth?
# Do not ear that, you will spoil your
dinner.
# Do you think I’m made of money?
# Go to your room.
# Who do you think you are talking to?
# What part of no do you not understand?
# I am not your slave.
# You have to the count of three.
# Did you flush the loo?
# If you can’t say something nice, do not
say anything at all.
# Life is not fair.
# As long as you live under my roof you
will do as I say.
# When you have children you will
understand.
# Do not put your coat on inside or you
will not feel the benefit.
7You can also read
