Rotorua Grey Power February 2017

Grey Power Rotorua meets with National and
NZ First local MPs
As part of our work locally, throughout the
year Grey Power meets with local Members
of Parliament Hon. Todd McClay and Fletcher
Tabuteau. It’s an opportunity to discuss Grey
Power policy and matters concerning our
members.
RUSSELL HALLAM QSM
President, Grey Power Rotorua
Hon Todd McClay,
National MP, Rotorua
In November Hon Todd McClay
met with our local committee.
These matters were on Grey
Power’s agenda:
• The level of the
Accommodation Supplement
[has not increased since 2003]
• DHB-funded homecare and
the perception cuts to funding
were being made
• DHBs to ring-fence aged care
funding
• State housing and housing
affordability
• Public funding of the shingles
vaccination for seniors
After undertaking to seek
further information about all
the issues, Grey Power Rotorua
recently received written feedback
from Hon Todd McClay.
Accommodation Supplement
- while not increasing is costing
the Government more
as a higher number of New
Zealanders become eligible
for the support. Grey Power
Rotorua’s view is that it is a
fact that housing costs have
increased dramatically but the
level of assistance has not.
Apparently the Government
will consider looking at the
supplement during this year.
Aged care and homecare
Funding - Hon Todd McClay
has contacted the Lakes DHB
about Grey Power’s comments.
Discussions with them
will continue.
State housing - we know
the Government’s policy is
to reduce the State’s direct
responsibility for affordable
housing. In that context
Hon Todd McClay advises the
Government is looking to
work with a number of emergency
housing providers about
the lack of suitable affordable
housing for those in need.
PHARMAC is the Government
agency responsible for deciding
which pharmaceuticals are
publicly funded. There is an
application before PHARMAC
for funding the shingles vaccination,
but Todd McClay
advises it has been given only
medium priority for funding.
Additionally Hon Todd
McClay informed:
• In the USA the vaccine is
approved for use from age
50, but is routinely administered
to over 60s due to
limited supply.
• Australia funds the vaccine
for over 70s
• The UK recommends a universal
programme for 70 to
79-year-olds
• Canada recommends the
vaccine for over 60s but
does not fund.
Fletcher Tabuteau, NZ
First List MP, domiciled
in Rotorua
Three Grey Power Rotorua
committee members met
with Fletcher Tabuteau in
December. The matters on
the agenda were:
• Age of Eligibility for NZ
Superannuation
• SuperGold Card
• Housing
• Elective Surgery – GST
exemption for patients
able to have surgery privately
Fletcher’s responses were:
NZ Superannuation - NZ
First is committed to retaining
the age of eligibility at
65. NZ First believes the status
quo is affordable for the
foreseeable future.
SuperGold Card - NZ First is
committed to retaining and
expanding SuperGold card
benefits by encouraging
more private business participation
in the scheme.
State Housing - they support
the retention of and
possible increase in State
housing, along with supporting
the provision of additional
social housing in partnership
with local bodies and
other providers.
Elective surgery and the
GST exemption idea - Grey
Power supports a GST exemption
for patients who are in a
position to pay for elective
surgery privately [thus taking
some pressure off public
hospital waiting lists]. The
initiative was discussed with
Fletcher Tabuteau and he
undertakes to discuss the
idea and provide Grey Power
Rotorua with feedback.
Regular meetings with
both politicians are planned
for this year. We appreciate
their willingness to listen
to us. We realise they
both have busy schedules,
especially Hon Todd McClay
who is Minister of Trade and
Minister for State Owned
Enterprises.
Health and wellbeing – Getting
the Vitamin D we need
JUDY GREEN
Grey Power Rotorua Treasurer
It’s possible that up to 50
percent of the world's population
does not get enough
of the essential Vitamin D
required by our bodies.
It can be obtained from
both food and some exposure
to the sun.
I guess one reason we lack
Vitamin D is we are conscious
of, or have had, skin cancer
scares, so we tend to cover up
or use sunblock when we’re
outside.
Our western diet can also
be a problem.
However there are healthy
foods high in Vitamin D that
you can eat to supplement
your daily exposure to the
sun.
I love salmon and it is one
of the best foods for providing
you with Vitamin D.
Preferably you need to choose
wild salmon, although the
farmed salmon is still a good
alternative.
Wild salmon has way over
the required daily amount of
this vitamin, and the farmed
salmon has more than 50 percent
in a normal portion.
Canned tuna is also an
easily accessible and adequate
source of Vitamin D. You will
need to eat approximately
170g of tuna a week.
It also provides a good supply
of niacin and Vitamin K.
Oysters, shrimps, sardines
and herrings are all good in
aiding our supply of Vitamin
D.
Cod liver oil is another
source of Vitamin D, though
many of us are not big fans
because we remember it
being administered when we
were young.
I didn't like it then and I
don’t like it now!
Wild mushrooms can supply
vitamin D2, so a small
helping is a good addition to
any meal.
And lastly, don't forget that
egg yolks contain Vitamin D -
from free range chickens if
possible.
Rotorua greypower News – February 2017 17