Hamilton Grey Power June 2017

PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Welcome to the 2017
Hamilton Grey Power AGM
BY ROGER HENNEBRY
HAMILTON GREY POWER
PRESIDENT
We have just had the
fastest year in living
memory. Well mine
anyway, so the good news is it
will be a short report.
Things have gone along
well, although at times we have
been under strain in the "office
volunteer department".
We are down to four troopers
and myself and I would sincerely
like to thank Lyn, Marie,
Grace and Raewyn our computer
whizz. We are looking for
help.
It’s one morning per week
9:30am to noon.
I would also like to thank
my committee for their support
Funeral Director
Ana-Maria
Richardson
Assisting Hamilton and Waikato
families for many years with
professionalism, friendly service
and compassionate care.
For personal service
you can trust,
phone Ana-Maria on:
07 211 4654
Mobile: 021 881 229
Email: ana@ana-maria.nz
Located at:
Woolertons’ Funeral Home
127 Boundary Road, Hamilton
this year.
We have made some changes.
In particular to our Monday
morning seminars now with
one guest speaker a month and
for the other three Mondays
we enjoy a free coffee and muffin
and social get-together and
discuss topical issues.
We have had some good
speakers over the last year for
instance James Shaw, Greens
co-leader, Winston Peters, NZ
First leader. However, getting
good speakers has become
more difficult. Your committee
secretary is corresponding
with our current political leaders
right now inviting them to
come and speak to us before
the October election.
Two weeks ago, Jim your
secretary and I attended the
national AGM in Palmerston
North. It was of more interest
to Hamilton this time as we put
a remit forward.
The purpose of which
was to bring into line all
retirement villages and lifestyle
villages to comply with
government standards.
There have been many issues
about how they are run
and Hon Maggie Barry recognised
these in questions put to
her at the AGM. I am pleased
to say the remit was passed
unanimously by the 126 delegate
votes. This means the
Federation Board on their visits
to Parliament will have the
mandate to lobby for us.
I presented to HCC's annual
plan last week and received a
good reception from the mayor
and councillors present.
Tongue in cheek I accused
them of "elder abuse" at their
suggestion of a 12 percent rate
increase and got away with it as
Roger Hennebry
it was elder abuse awareness
week!
All in all, as I said before, a
very fast year. We are financially
in good heart. Going forward
to this year we have three quarters
of our membership joined
up already. Yippee. It’s been a
lot of work for our office volunteers
and I intend to take
them out to lunch next week to
thank them on your behalf.
And finally, I would like to
invite Russelle (who is retiring
from the committee) and
has been a great help with
the magazine and Jack (who
is stepping down as my vicepresident)
but staying on the
committee to come forward
to receive a gift in appreciation
from Grey Power.
Budget 2017
– what’s in it for YOU
From page 1
ceive their main income from
another source will benefit
from the tax threshold changes
that will apply to their main
source of income.
As a result of these changes,
the weekly rates of New Zealand
Superannuation or Veteran’s
Pension (for those on tax
code “M”, receiving New Zealand
Superannuation as their
main source of income) are
estimated to increase by about:
• $6.60 a week for each
member of a married/civil
union couple
• $7.90 a week for a single
person sharing accommodation
• $8.50 a week for a single
person living alone.
These increases are in addition
to the usual adjustment of
New Zealand Superannuation
and Veteran’s Pension rates
that happens on April 1 every
year. The actual changes in
rates are also likely to differ
slightly from those above, as
the exact figures for the annual
adjustment are not yet known.
The benefits of the tax
threshold changes will be different
for each person. This is
because the change depends
on the final rates of New Zealand
Superannuation and Veteran’s
Pension (confirmed on
April 1, 2018) and on each individual’s
tax code and income.
Accommodation Supplement
Around 15,000 superannuitants
Continued on page 6
4 Hamilton greypower Magazine – June 2017