Grey Power Motueka
Community House, Decks Reserve, Motueka.
Ph: 03 5289076
Email: greypowermot@yahoo.co.nz
Office hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. 9.00am-12.30pm.
WHAT IS GREY POWER?
Grey Power is a voluntary organisation founded some 20 years ago to give superannuitants a voice against Government policy affecting their superannuation. Since then it has become the Grey Power Federation; 76 associations nation-wide with approximately 80,000 financial members over the age of 50.
As a non-political advocacy group, Federation Board members pay regular visits to Wellington to meet with MP's of all parties. Portfolios of Health, Electricity, Superannuation, Social Services, Local Bodies and Law, Order and Justice are discussed.
Motueka Association is in Zone 5 which includes Marlborough, Nelson, Golden Bay, Buller, Greymouth and Hokitika. Our Zone Director is Pam Schouten from Nelson who attends the Federation Board meetings and presents the views and concerns of our members.
MOTUEKA ASSOCIATION
Grey Power Motueka is considered a community "stakeholder" and is very involved with TDC policies and decisions regarding Motueka; we work closely with the Community Board, our local voice, on matters such as Rates, General and Targeted and for more sensible and realistic approaches to the proposed plans for Water Reticulation and the River Stopbanks. We lobby for Council to prioritise spending with an eye to items of community benefit. An example is the continuing battle over kerb and footpath safety for mobility scooters, wheelchairs, prams and indeed pedestrians - which we feel should have priority over projects like resealing serviceable carparks.
The current Committee for GPM, elected at the 27 May AGM is:
President - Valerie Rae (Treasurer)
Vice President - Arthur Walker (Health)
Secretary - Jim Butler (Minutes and Local Body Spokesperson)
Committee Members - Ed Dadson (Public Relations Officer), John Kelly (Publicity Officer), Barry Simkin (Grey Power representive on the Community House committee), Wendy Schultz (Membership and office assistant), John Krammer (Senior statesman).
Our membership database is maintained and the monthly financial reports prepared by Mary Quested (Office Manager). New committee members always welcomed.
To those of you who have lost loved ones recently, Grey Power Motueka express their sincere condolences and sympathy.
Check out our Facebook page here »
IS YOUR CARD CURRENT?
Subscriptions cease to be current on 31st March each year. If your card has not got a green label then it is not current for the 2011/12 year. Renew or join now to continue to receive discounts from over 40 local business and others Nationwide. Help us help you. Call into our office in Community House, Decks Reserve, and see Wendy to take advantage of this offer. 9am - 12.30pm Tues, Wed, or Thurs.
Discounts from over 40 local businesses and Nationwide. Become part of this NZ lobby group: $20 single, $35 couple.
NEW MEMBERS OVER 50yrs OF AGE WELCOME
You don't have to be grey to be effected by the issues that we address on behalf of our members: rising rates and energy costs, DHB services, responsible Superannuation, accessible Social Services and responsive Local Bodies to name a few. AND with over 40 businesses in Motueka offering members generous discounts, your membership soon pays for itself.
UPCOMING EVENTS
AGM 24th May: 12.30 for a cuppa, meeting starts 1.00pm. Community House meeting room, Decks Reserve. Guest speakers - Guy Burns, "Going Digital", and Tracey Anderson (WINZ) Superannuation Manager Motueka. Here is the agenda for the meeting »
DATES TO REMEMBER
* Committee meetings held on the third Wednesday of each month in the Community House meeting room, Decks Reserve at 9.30am. New committee members always welcome.
RATES REBATES
If you pay rates and receive an income of $22,340 or less (add $500 for partner/spouse or for each dependant) then you can still apply for a rates rebate for the 2010/2011 year.
The maximum rebate payable is $570 and the amount you receive depends on your gross income and the rate amount you are charged by TDC.
The closing date is 30th June 2011 and the TDC office in Motueka has application forms. When applying you will need your Rates notice and Income statement to March 31st 2010. If your name is not on the rates notice, but you pay the rates you need to have a letter from the person whose name is on the rates bill stating what the total rates are, and how much you pay towards them.
ISSUES
GREY POWER SUBMITS AGAINST UNNECESSARY HIGH STREET WORKS
We wrote a letter on November 22nd 2011 to Mayor Richard Kempthorne criticising wastage of money for parking space marking while not attending to road and footpath maintenance. Read the letter here.
SIX-MONTHLY LOBBY TRIP TO WELLINGTON
This was held from March 21st-24th 2011. Roy Reid, Miles Jackson, Dick Stark and Jan Pentecost attended almost all the appointments, and V. McCowatt and Terry King attended several. The purpose of the Lobby Visit was to meet with available politicians, Government Department officials and others to advance, support and protect the welfare and well-being of older persons in NZ, both directly, or in conjunction with other organisations or bodies with similar aims or purposes. Download and read a comprehensive report of the trip here.
FEDERATION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2011
Valerie Rae attended the Grey Power Federation AGM on 6th-9th May 2011. Read her full report here.
SUBMISSION TO THE 2011/12 DRAFT ANNUAL PLAN
You can read our submission here.
AMALGAMATION
GP Motueka Committee has made a submission to the Local Government Commission against a proposed union of the Tasman District and Nelson City. We have long felt that Motueka receives short-shrift from the Richmond-based TDC, and much of this manifests itself to the detriment of our members, and Motueka residents in general. We feel that the proposed amalgamation will only make the situation worse, with an even greater concentration of interest, energy and funding remaining in the Richmond/Nelson area. You can read our submission here. We welcome feedback from our members and the Motueka residents. Email: greypowermot@yahoo.co.nz
In August 2011 Grey Power Motueka made a second submission to LGC following the Draft Re-organisation Scheme. You can read that second submission here.
DHB NOTICE
It has come to our attention that a local member was told by their GP that patients over 80 were required to pay for X-rays. We have confirmed with the DHB that this is definitely not the case. We would be interested to hear if anyone else has been given this erroneous information.
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