Grey Power June 2016

30
national Greypower mAGAZINE » june 2016
Advertorial
Swap to AT HOP for your travel concession!
(Your public transport concession is
on the move!)
A
big change is
coming for Auckland’s
SuperGold
cardholders. The public
transport concession
is on the move
- to the AT HOP card.
Last year, the Ministry
of Transport announced
changes to the
SuperGold public transport
scheme.
From 1 July 2016, Su-
Heat pumps make for healthy living
From page 25
they open their power
bill during the winter
period (41%), least likely
(equal with Canterbury)
to have turned off their
heat pump to save money
(42%), most likely to say
that having a heat pump
has reduced their power
bills (48%), and least
likely to remotely access
their heat pump so that
their house is warm when
they get home (14%).
Canterbury: Cantabrians
are most likely
to feel stressed or significantly
anxious when
they open their power
perGold cardholders in
Auckland will need to
have the public transport
concession loaded
onto an AT HOP card
to continue to enjoy the
public transport concession.
The good news is,
when the concession is
loaded on to an AT HOP
card, exactly the same
privileges apply. These
include free travel on
trains and selected buses
and ferries in Auckland
after 9am on weekdays,
and all day on weekends
and public holidays.
(There are some exclusions,
you can find these
at at.govt.nz/supergold)
Almost 42,000 Super-
Gold cardholders have
already loaded their
concession on to their
AT HOP card. For them
there will be no change
after 1 July, they can go
on using their card as
usual.
For everybody else,
bill during the winter period
(44%), least likely
(equal with Wellington)
to have turned off their
heat pump to save money
(42%), least likely to use
their heat pumps timing
functionality (40%) and
most likely to have more
than one heat pump in
their home (48%).
Otago: Those in Otago
are least likely to say
that their health has improved
since installing a
heat pump 33%), most
likely to have turned off
their heat pump to save
money (63%), least likely
to have had a home that
has insulation/was insulated
prior to the heat
pump being installed
(75%) and least likely to
use their heat pump for
both cooling in the summer
and heating in winter
(47%)
Bay of Plenty: Those
in the Bay of Plenty are
least likely to have had
to reduce their spending
on other items so they
can pay their power bill
(21%), least likely to say
that a heat pump is now
a must have in any house
that they live in (61%),
most likely to use their
heat pumps timing functionality
(58%) and least
likely to have more than
Auckland Transport
(“AT”) has come up with
several different ways to
obtain an AT HOP card
and get the concession
loaded. AT has made this
into a three step process.
The steps are clearly outlined
in a special pack
that can be obtained by
calling 0800 AT GOLD,
or by going to at.govt.nz/
supergold. If you’re near
an AT Customer Service
Centre, AT HOP retailer
or ticket office, packs
will be available there.
It starts with pur-
one heat pump in their
home (21%).
About the survey
Canstar Blue commissions
respected professional
market research
agency Colmar Brunton
Australia, to undertake
research on our behalf
using SSI NZ panel.
The outcomes reported
here are the results
from a survey of Kiwis
who have purchased and
used a domestic heat
pump in the last 2 years.
In this case there were
567 people surveyed.
*This geographical breakdown
outlines exceptions
only.
chasing an AT HOP card
from an AT HOP retailer
and you can find details
of retailers at https://
at.govt.nz/retailers. The
card costs $10, and at
the time of purchase
must be loaded with $5
worth of HOP Money.
The $10 card purchase
price is non-refundable.
You then register your
AT HOP card online, by
post, or in person at an
AT Customer Service
Centre and apply for
your SuperGold Concession
at the same time.
We asked Peter Paton,
Customer Experience
Manager from AT what
benefits they saw in the
transfer of the concession
to AT HOP.
“It’s convenient, you
don’t need to carry cash
if you’re in credit and
want to travel out of
concession hours or on
excluded services. For
example if you’re going
to an early morning
medical appointment,
you can use the credit
on your card rather than
cash. And, in most cases,
you’ll get a discount off
the normal cash fare.”
Travel with an AT HOP
card costs at least 20%
less than single trip cash
fares. Excludes SkyBus,
NiteRider and Waiheke
ferry services.
Peter saw several
other benefits. “Because
all you do is tag on and
tag off, you don’t have
to queue or wait for the
driver to issue a Super-
Gold ticket. It means you
get on the bus quicker. “
AT say one of the
questions they’re asked
is whether people over
65 can still pay cash. The
answer is “Yes”, but there
is one thing to watch out
for. “You’ll have to pay
the full normal fare, you
won’t get a discount.
That’s why it makes such
sense to have one of the
new gold AT HOP cards.”
One further word of
advice. Keep your existing
SuperGold Card
because only the Super-
Gold public transport
concession is shifting
to the AT HOP card in
Auckland. You’ll still
need your current Super-
Gold card when you travel
in Auckland as proof
of eligibility, to access
travel concessions in cities
outside of Auckland,
and the other concessions
available through
the SuperGold scheme.
Terms of use and registered
prospectus for
the AT HOP cards are
available at AT.govt.nz/
athop.
The obligations of
Auckland Transport under
the AT HOP cards
are unsecured.
Winter’s here – have you
had your flu shot?
From page 29
health IT and software
firm SimplHealth last
year, is a first for pharmacies
and reduces the
time filling out documentation,
freeing up
pharmacists to spend
more time with their
customers.
Getting vaccinated as
early as possible gives
the best defence against
the flu and immunisation
can last you an entire
year, according to
the Ministry of Health.
“It doesn’t matter
The surgical mesh debate - what’s it all about
From page 12
It is important to remember
that there are
many people with surgical
mesh devices who are
absolutely fine.
This article is to raise
awareness for people
contemplating a surgical
mesh procedure or for
those people who may be
experiencing symptoms
and are unaware they
how young, fit or healthy
you are, you can still get
the flu. Getting vaccinated
is not just for your
protection, but to ensure
you don’t pass the virus
on to others,” Ms Van
Wyk says.
Vaccination is needed
on a yearly basis as not
only does the protection
level reduce over time,
but the circulating influenza
strains change and
may not have been included
in your last dose.
“The vaccine works
by helping your body
to make antibodies that
could be related to mesh
complications.
If you have one of these
devices and are not experiencing
any of the symptoms
below then just leave
it, be aware of the symptoms
associated with mesh
complications and monitor
how you feel. One of
the most important things
is to make sure you have
developed a good relationship
with your GP and
recognise the flu virus
and prevent infection. It
takes a few weeks for the
body to produce these
antibodies and will become
your best defence
against the flu,” Ms Van
Wyk says.
“Getting a flu shot
needs to be a priority for
all Kiwis before winter
hits. It takes less than
10 minutes and can save
you weeks spent in bed
feeling ill,” Ms Van Wyk
says.
Pharmacists are now
able to administer a
range of vaccinations
if you don’t feel as if you
are being listened to, then
don’t be afraid to change
your doctor. There are so
many wonderful doctors
out there it is just a matter
of finding the right fit.
How do I know if I have
a mesh complication?
- Recognising the symptoms.
• Pain- (pelvic, vaginal,
back, groin, buttock
-including referred pain
against not only the
flu, but meningococcal
down leg).
• Infection
• Discharge
• Difficulty urinating
• Bleeding
• Pain during sexual intercourse
(dyspareunia)
• New onset of auto-immune
disorders
• Difficulty sitting or
standing.
• Constant urinary tract
infection
What do I do if I am
disease, shingles and
whooping cough.
worried my symptoms
could be related to surgical
mesh?
Go back and speak to
your GP or your original
surgeon. If you are worried
or feel that you are not
being listened to ask to be
referred for a second opinion.
For further information on
surgical mesh.
http://meshdownunder.
co.nz/
Ms Van Wyk says:
“We strive to be an integral
part of the communities
in which we operate
and a place where
customers can trust they
will receive professional
care and advice at a
time that’s convenient to
them.”
Go to www.flushot.
co.nz to find your nearest
pharmacy and to fill
out an online consent
form.
1 Southern Cross
Wellness in the Workplace
Survey 2015
2 Civil Defence Emergency
Management
Group