Rotorua Grey Power March 2018

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Busy year ahead FLETCHER TABUTEAU NZ First, List MP Rotorua I am very much looking forward to the challenges and opportunities my new responsibilities bring with being the Under-Secretary to both the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rt Hon Winston Peters, and also the Minister for Regional Economic Development, Shane Jones, as I engage with people and organisations who have ideas and plans to grow business, jobs and dignity in our regions and provinces. There are so many people who share a vision for growing our provinces, they now finally feel that they are in a place to talk to a government that shares their passion and is ready to listen. Another key event that occurred before Christmas was my Private Member’s Bill, The KiwiFund Bill, being drawn from the Parliamentary Ballot. It is due to be introduced to Parliament in the next few weeks. This KiwiFund Bill establishes an independent working group with the objective to set up a government-owned and operated KiwiSaver provider, known as KiwiFund. It is intended that the working group would first examine the accountability of current KiwiSaver providers relating to complaints of charging exorbitant fees, unethical investments, and profiteering. The working group made up of 4–5 specialists across banking, savings, and financial fields would advise establishing a KiwiFund based on broad principles such as: • a lower and transparent fee structure; • a government owned and operated KiwiSaver scheme; • a requirement that profits stay in New Zealand; • preferential treatment given to New Zealand-based investments; • a requirement that funds are invested in socially and ethically responsible ways. If passed into legislation, KiwiFund would be a cost effective and meaningful investment alternative for Kiwi savers and would complement the Labour-New Zealand First Government’s efforts to inject life back into our regions through New Zealand First Rotorua Office Fletcher Tabuteau List MP Office Hours: 10am -3pm Dropinorcall for an appointment 07 347 4045 Level6,Hinemoa Tower 1154 Hinemoa St,Rotorua PO Box1561, Rotorua, 3042 www.nzfirst.org.nz the Regional Development (Provincial Growth) Fund. Being part of the New Zealand First negotiations team during the coalition talks, our foremost consideration was to ensure that our common sense 2 9 6 FUNNIES The rain was pouring down. SUDOKU PUZZLE 5 2 4 9 5 2 1 5 9 4 3 1 policy ideas would be included, as much as possible given the election results. I am thrilled to be a part of this endeavour and look forward to helping those who have long sought to help themselves. There standing in front of a big puddle outside the pub was an old Irishman, drenched and holding a stick with a piece of string dangling in the water. A curious passer-by stopped and asked: “What are you doing?” “Fishing,” Replied the old man. Feeling sorry for the old man, the gent said: “Come in out of the rain and have a drink with me.” As they sip their whiskies, in the warmth of the pub, the gent, being a bit of a smart alec, cannot resist asking: “So how many have you caught today?” “You’re the eighth,” replied the old man. 3 6 7 Easy Level The rules of Sudoku are that you should fill a number in to every cell in the grid, using the numbers 1 to 9. The restriction is that you can only use each number once in each row, each column, and in each of the 3x3 boxes. Solution page 14 4 1 4 8 9 5 1 4 1 7 2 10 Rotorua greypower News – March 2018
Looking back in history: the birth of Grey Power Electricity MAC WELCH - Z3 Director Chair – Commercial Agreements Grey Power electricity started with an idea from Bob Thompson, a past president of Grey Power Matamata, which he followed up with a phone call to the manager of Tiny Mighty Power Company who were very actively promoting themselves in Waikato at that time. The reception he got was very positive so he arranged an initial meeting and invited me to accompany him. Initial discussions were very positive and so Bob approached then Federation President – Roy Reid for his blessing for Bob and I to progress negotiations to the next level, which was given. After a couple of meetings with Tiny Mighty Power it became plain that this company did not have the capacity or the coverage to enter into the nationwide power supply that we were looking for Grey Power Electricity to be. Once we all agreed that this was the case, Toby Warren – (manager) Tiny Mighty Power provided an introduction to the senior management of Mighty River Power (the parent company) of Tiny Mighty Power Company. Several meetings took place over an extended period. In fact these discussions were subject to a ‘Confidentiality Agreement’ which remains in force. I cannot divulge much of the discussions that took place other than to say that all parties appeared enthusiastic to form some kind of supply arrangement. At what Bob and I considered to be the eleventh hour, Mighty River Power indicated that they did not wish to proceed any further and terminated negotiations without explanation. Shortly after, I was asked by president Roy to become a member of a committee consisting of Allen Davies, Terry King and myself. King and Davies had started negotiations with Pulse Utilities NZ Ltd and requested that I become part of the negotiating team. Once negotiations were complete and contracts agreed to, they were approved by the Grey Power Board and signed on their behalf by Roy Reid – Federation President. Grey Power Electricity came into being at the end of 2013. Grey Power Electricity is managed by a committee consisting of three members appointed by Grey Power Federation Board and three members appointed by Pulse Utilities NZ Ltd (which is now Pulse Energy Alliance LP). Currently the Pulse committee members are: Gary Holden - CEO; Sharnie Warren – GM marketing and communications and Yogesh Chand. Grey Power Committee members are: Roy Reid – Federation treasurer; Mac Welch – Zone 3 director/ chair – commercial agreements and Allen Davies – co-chair energy. Grey Power Electricity has been and continues to be the most successful commercial arrangement that Grey Power Federation has entered into. The monies contributed to Federation funds have enabled capitation fees to remain very low at $5 incl. GST. It has also attracted several thousand new members to the Grey Power organisation. From the desk of your MP HON TODD MCCLAY National Party, MP for Rotorua NZ National Party Spokesman for Trade and State Services. One hundred days since the change of government and already there’s been a lot of water under the bridge. Promises made during the election campaign seem a long time ago - most have been quickly forgotten. Referendums on reducing the size of parliament or removing the Māori seats have disappeared. In their place Labour, the Greens and NZ First will now hold a referendum to legalise recreational marijuana. Rest assured National will hold the new government to account and making sure that they deliver for you, your children and your grandchildren. In Opposition our job is to fight hard for the values that really matter and ensure that the government does not fritter away the great gains made by New Zealanders over the last nine years. National recognises and respects the contribution that seniors have made to New Zealand and I am proud of our record of achievement for seniors in our country. Under National, the New Zealand Superannuation couple rate increased by more than $7000 a year from $24,062 in 2008 to $31,216 in 2017. We also invested significantly in health and made it easier for seniors to access the healthcare they need, with a record high of 178,000 hip, knee and other elective operations. These gains were underpinned by a strong and growing economy, which your children and grandchildren have also reaped the benefits of. The unemployment rate at 4.5 per cent is now the lowest since the beginning of the global financial crisis. The number of New Zealanders employed has risen to a record high of nearly 2.6 million and the average wage has increased to $59,840 – up more than 28 per cent over National’s time in office. This reflects the hard work of all our businesses and the confidence they’ve had in our economic plan over the last nine years. The new government has inherited a strong labour market and it is National’s intention to ensure they don’t squander the opportunities New Zealanders have worked so hard to create. We are not prepared to let a Labour-Greens-NZ First coalition risk everyone’s future and take us backwards. There is far too much at stake. National’s 56 talented and dedicated MPs will work tirelessly to ensure that New Hon Todd McClay MP for Rotorua Stop by my office, make an appointment, or call for a chat E A P rotorua.mp@parliament.govt.nz fb.com/ToddMcClayMPforRotorua 1301 Amohau Street 07 348 5871 toddmcclay.co.nz Authorised by T. McClay, Parliament Buildings, Wellington. Zealanders continue to get ahead, while holding the government to account for any decisions that risk the progress New Zealanders have made in recent years. We remain ambitious for New Zealand and we remain committed to building a stronger, more confident and more prosperous nation. I hold constituent clinics in my Rotorua office each Friday. If you’d like to meet call Tracy or Michelle to arrange a time, phone 07-3485871. Authorised by T.McClay. Parliament Buildings. Wellington Rotorua greypower News – March 2018 11
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Page 9: Spot the difference Are you a Grey
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Rotorua Grey Power March 2018

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