Grey Power November 2015

18
NATIONAL GREYPOWER MAGAZINE » NOVEMBER 2015
Flags do NOT
require change
Japan is embarking on
major changes to its
obligations under the
treaty signed with the
Americans at the end of
World War II.
The agreement forced
Japan into a pacifist roll
and prohibited it from having
armed forces save for
self defence whose roll was
solely to protect its people.
The upshot of the legislative
changes passed by
the Japanese parliament,
the Diet; is that defence
forces will be able to join the
Americans in peacekeeping
roles around the world.
In addition, be available,
as is New Zealand, to protect
other countries in situations
such as have arisen in
Iraq and parts of Africa.
The changes are controversial
but one thing is
certain, that when implemented
the Japanese flag;
The Rising Sun; could fly
again around the world. Its
flag embodies a history of
Japanese imperialism in
whose name mass murder
was committed and systematic
brutality was used by its
forces in World War 11.
There is no overt move
to change that flag which
is symbolic of its history in
modern times. Just as New
Zealand’s flag embodies
a history which is not immune
from inglorious moments.
At one time both flags
flew over forces united in a
common cause, the defeat
of the Kaiser’s Germany.
Decades on during World
War 11 New Zealand’s flag
flew along with those of its
allies, forces bent on preserving
free speech and the
right to dissent, the preservation
of democracy, and
indeed still does.
Both flags embody the
past and modern histories
of their nations and will do
so in the future. Neither
flag requires changing and
should continue to represent
their pasts and their
hopes for the future.
Don Robertson
3586928
Access to profits
using Grey Power
Over recent years I have
become increasingly
concerned and disappointed
about the character
and values of Grey
Power as portrayed by
the glossy magazine.
As a very early member
I clearly recall the intent
of Grey Power was to be
an effective political lobby
requiring governments to
treat older citizens with
greater respect and fairness.
There is no doubt the
Wellington lobbyists uphold
this tradition and I
have no problem with the
editorial content of the
magazine.
However it is clear that
the advertising is giving
a completely undesirable
view. It is apparent that certain
advertisers are using
Grey Power to greatly improve
their access to profits.
My particular concern is
the use/misuse of the magazine
to advertise retirement
villages and their ilk.
Originally such developments
were strongly opposed
by Grey Power as the
organisation recognised
the growing fleecing of the
elderly of their lifetimes
earnings to line the pockets
of developers, often overseas.
(Farming and ghettoising
old people.) All too
often these developments
were less than honest with
the money with which they
were entrusted.
I was horrified when an
advocate for retirement villages
was a speaker at last
year’s conference. To see
Grey Power now allowing
these developments to use
the Grey Power profile to
their advantage is surely
contrary to our policies.
Furthermore the amount
of advertising of health
products, some of dubious
benefit gives, along with the
villages, the notion that the
elderly are wealthy and sick
and need more than their
share of the public purse.
I would be happy to receive
a much less glossy
magazine and read the
truth rather than have the
public perception that we
are greedy and needy.
This view has extended
to the associations where
too often, speakers at
meetings are selling health
products, death services
and boring aged facilities
rather than the local and
government policy makers
from which we should be
hearing. Let Age Concern
do their job and leave us to
do ours.
Elizabeth Foster
Warkworth
Rating system
article inspires
Re: “Rick Caddick’s” article
on property-based
rating system—Page 20,
September issue, Grey
Power Magazine, is an
illuminating and informative
article.
So much so, that I was
inspired to track down Rick
and invite him to speak on
the topic at a meeting of
more than 50 people in rural
South Marlborough.
In this historically
traditional farming and
drought-prone district we
are struggling under a land
value-based rating system
administered by the Marlborough
District Council
which is unbridled in its
empire building at the expense
of the few and scattered
people who reside in
the more remote areas.
In the last five years our
rates have gone up by 70
percent.
Compare that with the
bleating from Auckland,
and we don’t grow grapes.
Our council, of course
has its own agenda and is a
past master at First World
War naval battle tactics, e.g.
laying smoke screens repeatedly
to confuse the gullible,
sleep walking public.
Yes, we the public, have
a tendency to sleep walk
through life and simply
put up with these so-called,
life’s expenses, hoping it
will get better.
Believe me it won’t, as we
are traditional cash cows, to
be milked for life, through
old age to the grave.
Rick is an inspiration.
He is 84-years-old and still
battling along, taking the
trouble to share his knowledge
and experiences of life
with us. He deserves 100
percent support of all Grey
Power members.
A big thank you, Rick.
John Elliott
MPs’ travel costs
2015 on us
Periodically the news
media highlights the
ever increasing cost
to the New Zealand
taxpayer with regard
to MPs’ costs, particularly
general expenses
including internal and
external travel.
Cabinet Ministers are
regularly required to
travel extensively overseas
as well as throughout
New Zealand, however it
would appear that back
bench MPs, including opposition
party MPs, also
travel overseas on a regular
basis.
Examples in 2015 of
MPs travelling overseas
include a party led by
the Prime Minister to
the All Blacks versus Samoa
Rugby International
in Apia, Western Samoa
while opposition leaders
(Labour and NZ First) attended
the Coronation of
the Tongan King. These
trips followed a Parliamentary
delegation, led
by the House Speaker,
to Europe and Ireland
in April while the Prime
Minister and the two opposition
leaders travelled
to Rarotonga for the 50th
Anniversary of the Cook
Islands independence
during early August.
In April, May and
June 2015, the current
121 MPs in Parliament
cost the NZ taxpayer
more than $1.8 million
on travel and accommodation
as well as receiving
substantial salaries.
In retrospect it would
appear that MPs, as well
as being well paid, are a
privileged group of NZ
Citizens with the ability
to travel extensively
within NZ and overseas -
all paid from the NZ Consolidated
Fund.
Bill Stirling
Levin Horowhenua
Please continue
Advocacy report
I have read the latest
Grey Power magazine with
interest. Could I say I appreciated
the section dealing
with discussions with
Government and other organisations
and the benefits
obtained.
I hope you will continue
this section of the magazine.
The full reporting of these
discussions (as appropriate)
keeps the membership well
informed of the work done
at National level.
It could well form the basis
of increasing the membership
of the society.
M D Parker
Silverstream
New chief executive for Cure Kids
Frances Benge is returning
to New Zealand
from Hong Kong to
take up the role of CEO
at Cure Kids in December.
Having enjoyed a long
and successful career with
Pfizer, and as a former
nurse, Frances relishes
the opportunity to embrace
Cure Kids’ vision to
achieve a healthy childhood
for all New Zealanders.
Most recently Frances
has been the regional cluster
lead for Pfizer South
East Asia, having joined
the organisation in a sales
role in 1999. Before this
international role Frances
was country manager for
Pfizer New Zealand for five
years.
Her career in the pharmaceutical
industry spans
26 years with leading roles
in sales, marketing and
brand management within
Pfizer, Roche and Eli Lilly
Pharmaceuticals.
Known for its sector
marketing leadership in
the form of songs featuring
celebrities (‘Feel inside’;
‘Team, Ball, Player,
Thing’) and long lasting
campaigns such as Red
Nose Day, Cure Kids enjoys
a high profile as a
loved charity brand.
Cure Kids chairman
Roy Austin said the board
was delighted to have attracted
Frances to the role.
“We welcome Frances’
passionate leadership, her
vision for future growth of
investment in research in
child health and her experience
in leading successful
commercial organisations,”
he said.
Frances has received
the Trevor Eagles Memorial
Award for AMCHAM
Member of the Year and
has been a finalist in
the Women on Boards
Awards. She holds a Graduate
Diploma in Business
and completed the Macquarie
Graduate School
of Management, Strategic
Leadership Programme.
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