ACTRET31 [v03] 72ppi

ISSUE 31 WINTER 2021 | YOUR OFFICIAL NEW ZEALAND PROBUS MAGAZINE | $5.50 | THE VISION OF PROBUS 

LANDING 

IN LUXURY 

A WINERY OF GRAND 

PROPORTIONS 

WITH LUXURIOUS 

ACCOMMODATION 

PAGE 24 

A KIWI 

JOURNEY OF 

REMEMBRANCE 

PAGE 5 

HAMILTON 

GARDENS 

WHILE OUR BORDERS 

ARE CLOSED YOU 

CAN STILL TRAVEL 

THE WORLD IN THE 

HAMILTON GARDENS 

PAGE 20 

HOLIDAY 

PARKS. 

VERY 

MUCH 

in fashion 

PAGE 14

ON THE COVER 

Cemetery of second 

world war german 

paratroopers who 

were killed in the 

battle of Crete, 

Maleme, Crete, 

Greece. 

CONTENTS 

Publisher / Editor 

Colin and Joan Gestro 

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P. 027 256 8014 

Postal: Affinity Ads 

Box 13257 Tauranga 3141 

Editors at Large Travel and Wine 

Dennis and Rosamund Knill 

Advertising 

John Emmanuel 

P. 021 055 4635 

E. john@affinityads.com 

Graphic Design 

iMedia Corp 

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Print & Distribution 

Inkwise 

E. info@inkwise.co.nz 

W. www.inkwise.co.nz 

This publication is published on behalf 

of Probus South Pacific Limited 

ACN 152 374 395 

PSPL Administration 

PO Box 1294 Parramatta NSW 2124 AUS 

P. +61 2 9689 0200 

F. +61 2 9633 4799 

New Zealand 0800 14776 287 

Australia 1300 630 488 

E. admin@probussouthpacific.org 

W. www.probussouthpacific.org 

Probus South Pacific Ltd 

Directors 2020-2021 

Chairman: David Simpson 

Immediate Past Chairman: Margaret Drake 

Vice-Chairman: Judith Maestracci AM 

Treasurer: Douglas Newman 

Directors: Tony Blaber, Bruce Morley, Peter 

Turner, Arie Geerlofs, Bill Killinger AM and 

Graeme Brown 

Disclaimer: 

Every care is taken to ensure pricing, 

offers and content is correct at time of 

publishing. Please check with advertisers 

when making a purchase as the 

publisher cannot be held responsible for 

inaccuracies’ in this publication. Please 

note that some content is advertiser 

supplied. This is viewed and edited to 

ensure it is of value to most readers. 

05 TRAVEL 

The battle of Crete. 

Part 1: An inside 

look into the 23rd 

SouthIsland 

Battalion in Crete 

10 RETIREMENT 

LIVING 

RVA launches a 

comprehensive 

blueprint 

14 HOLIDAY PARKS 

Find a renewed 

favour with the 

60 plus age group 

20 HAMILTON 

GARDENS 

While our borders are 

closed you can still 

travel the world in the 

Hamilton Gardens 

24 WINE 

Living it up in the lap 

of luxury at Northlands 

newest winery 

41 CLUB NEWS 

• Probus Social 

Bowls Gala 

• Visual Arts Trip 

• The laughing 

police man 

• Trip to the Temple

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE 

Probus Clubs embrace cultural diversity 

I AM PROUD of the cultural diversity of our membership. Amongst the 14,000 members from 

over 150 Probus Clubs in New Zealand, men and women from across the world have found 

a welcoming, inclusive way to meet new friends and to discover new interests. 

Most Clubs have a sizable proportion of their members who have migrated to New Zealand, 

their contribution to the vibrancy and variety of Club programs and activities is appreciated 

by their fellow members. 

As our Clubs (and members) get older it is paramount that each year we introduce 

new members in our Clubs. One of the ways to achieve this is to have vibrant and fun 

meetings and then potential members will want to join the fun. We should also set a 

goal for the number of new members we want to have join each year and plan for this. It 

needs to be a focus in each Club and often the best place to start is to appoint a small 

membership committee. 

Statistically, most new members are introduced by a friend, so the membership committee 

could encourage a “bring a friend” day to help with this focus. Probus South Pacific have a 

range of complimentary promotional material available and are happy to supply this to your 

Club. The more I visit Clubs the more I realise what a great organisation we have. Let’s work 

together and make Probus a leading organisation for retirees in New Zealand. 

In April this year we celebrated Anzac Day and it was an emotional time to remember the 

sacrifices of the soldiers, sailors, airman and support personnel of Australia & New Zealand 

during the first World War. It was also a time to remember the close ties we have between 

Australia & New Zealand. We were brothers in arms so never let us forget our friendship. 

I have recently returned from five days with 32 Glenelg Bay Probus members in Kangaroo 

Island. Apart from fun and friendship, one of the reasons we went there was to help the 

Island economy which was devastated by bushfires. Happily, they are recovering well and I 

encourage Probus Clubs to consider planning a trip and supporting tour operators around 

the country. Travelling together as Probus members is a great way to 

build camaraderie and friendship with other members. Whilst 

on the island we visited a bird sanctuary and I was proud 

to have an eagle rest on my arm. So, for this month this 

is my photo. 

Remember fun and friendship is Probus. 

David Simpson 

Chairman 

Probus South Pacific Ltd 

4 | issue 31 • winter 2021

PART ONE OF TWO 

JOURNEY OF REMEMBRANCE 

GERMAN 

PARATROOPS 

LANDING ON 

CRETE FROM 

JUNKERS 52 

TRANSPORTS, 20 

MAY 1941. 

A KIWI JOURNEY OF 

REMEMBRANCE Words. 

MAY 20 

Vern Walker 

reveals itself as a keynote date in 

aviation history. On this date in 1927 

Charles Lindbergh spanned the Atlantic on his epic solo flight. 

On May 20 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly 

solo across the Atlantic. On this date in 1941 the Battle of Crete 

began, with the-then largest airborne invasion in history. . . 

issue 31 • winter 2021 | 5


The infantrymen of the South 

Island 23rd Battalion were finishing 

their breakfast in their slit trenches 

on the periphery of the Maleme 

aerodrome in north-west Crete. 

Then came the thunderous roar, as 

they gazed skywards at the mass 

paratroop drop of the German 

invaders. Junkers aircraft hauled 

gliders packed with troops. Stuka 

dive-bombers screamed as they 

attacked the Allied positions. Gliders 

smashed onto the rocky ground, 

and among the olive groves. The 

scene suddenly became that of 

duck-shooting season back home, 

as our soldiers endeavoured to gun 

down the descending Germans 

before they hit the ground. But due 

to poor communications and lack 

of equipment our men faced an 

early defeat. 

Forty years on, in 1981, the 23rd 

Battalion decided to make a 

journey of remembrance to honour 

their mates who had fallen - in 

North Africa, Greece, Crete, and 

at the battle of Monte Cassino, 

Italy. One of my most satisfying 

experiences in my 40 years, in the 

employ of Thomas Cook Travel 

(Auckland), was the organising of 

the travel arrangements of a sixweek 

world tour for the Battalion. 

I certainly recall the significant 

events that played out. I got a call 

from our Christchurch Office. In 

very short order could I provide a 

quote for this extensive tour? Such 

an 11th hour request was often a 

ploy to prove that prices provided 

by any competitors, were sharp. To 

my delight, I landed the business. 

I spent time in Christchurch 

planning the tour, with members 

of the 23rd. Having a keen interest 

in military history I found putting 

the pieces together of the itinerary 

a very engaging one. We poured 

over detailed maps, with the view 

to locating the cemeteries that 

were to be visited. There was the 

arranging of a Papal audience. 

And an evening with their former 

foe, in a beer hall in Munich. 

The previous year I happened to 

be in Athens. I took the opportunity 

to fly to Cairo, to ensure everything 

was in order for the visit of the 

group, which included a visit to El 

CEMETERY OF SECOND WORLD 

WAR GERMAN PARATROOPERS WHO 

WERE KILLED IN THE BATTLE OF 

CRETE, MALEME, CRETE, GREECE. 

Alamein cemetery. To my horror the 

Hotel in Cairo turned out to be a 

disappointment. Not a great state 

of repair with not much room to 

move. Also a very noisy part of 

the City. 

I promptly contacted the local 

agent who was responsible for all 

arrangements during the four night 

stay. In the face of probably losing 

the business, the local manager 

chauffeured me around Cairo 

looking at hotels. I finally decided 

on a lovely Swiss-operated hotel, in 

view of the Pyramids. But I insisted 

that there be no increase in price, 

because I had already quoted 

the cost of the tour. I am pleased 

to advise that I won that battle. 

The Cairo manager even provided 

me a complimentary evening Nile 

cruise, in the company of bellydancers! 

6 | issue 31 • winter 2021 

PICTURESQUE OLD TOWN 

CHANIA. CRETE ISLAND.


THE MOSQUE-MADRASSA OF SULTAN 

HASSAN AND THE PYRAMIDS IN THE 

BACKGROUND, CAIRO, EGYPT. 

In view of the fact that the 

Cairo stopover could have been 

disastrous, I was very keen to 

ensure that the six-night stay for the 

23rd in Greece went smoothly. So 

who should I choose as the travel 

coordinator? Who could I trust? 

Here, I got lucky. On a previous visit 

to Athens, with a group of travel 

agents, I had met up with a man 

I clearly remember. Effusive, with a 

sparkling personality. His name: Teris 

Tafos, a Greek inbound operator. In 

his forties, with tight, black curly hair, 

and a neat moustache to match. 

He was our host for our group of 

travel agents for our time in Greece. 

He would light up anyone’s life. A 

visit to his splendid yacht in the 

Piraeus basin. A yacht with four 

cabins, all furnished with a certain 

theme. One cabin done out with 

an American theme, with a wagonwheel 

as the bed-head. A dance 

floor with winking strobe lighting, 

which was made use of as the early 

hours of the morning arrived. 

Our travel agent group was due 

to fly from Athens to Salzburg. Teris 

quickly pointed out that there 

was a casino located there, and 

announced: “I will get my wife, 

Maria, to pack some shirts, and 

underwear, have them delivered, 

and I will fly with you to Salzburg.” 

And so he joined our group, and 

while at the gambling tables 

he came out a winner of a very 

different kind: I was sitting opposite 

him as he answered his phone. 

An animated conversation. Then 

a gleam in his eyes. Then a loud 

“hooray” as he put the phone 

down. He loudly proclaimed. “That 

was a call from Toronto. A group 

of Greek-Canadians, and they 

want to visit Greece, and I have 

the business.” Here was a “go-to” 

kind of an inbound operator. I had 

confidence in him. And so after 

some discussions I placed the 

Greece and Crete arrangements 

for the 23rd in his hands. 

PART TWO: in the next issue.• 

PANORAMIC VIEW OF SALZBURG 

SKYLINE WITH FESTUNG 

HOHENSALZBURG AND RIVER SALZACH, 

SALZBURGER LAND, AUSTRIA. 


HEALTH 

THE 

CHANGING 

FACE OF 

CANNABIS 

THE reputation of the cannabis 

plant is quickly changing with 

significant potential as a 

medicine. 

Its new human face is 

also very different. Elizabeth 

Plant, with a successful 

career in pharmacy, is a 

Chief Medical Officer for 

Eqalis Pharmaceuticals, 

a Bay of Plenty company 

and one of the new 

emerging medical cannabis 

pharmaceutical companies. 

Her career in pharmacy has 

included President of the New 

Zealand Pharmaceutical Society, 

Chief Pharmacist of Taranaki DHB 

and a consultant pharmacist for 

organizations such as Corrections, 

Southern Cross health Insurance 

and a member of all the national 

medical safety committees. 

“Cannabis is a very complex 

plant with more than 120 

cannabinoid, 200 terpenes 

(compounds that smell such 

as limonene), and flavonoids 

ELIZABETH 

PLANT. 

(flavours), all these compounds 

have therapeutic potential” 

said Elizabeth. 

Elizabeth was attracted to the role 

of chief medical officer because of 

the enormous potential cannabis 

presents as a medicine. “As a 

pharmacist it was an irresistible 

challenge to develop safe and 

effective medical formulations for a 

number of medical conditions” 

she said. 

Medical conditions for which 

the cannabis plant could hold 

potential, include treating chronic 

pain, anxiety, sleep disorders, 

epilepsy, nausea and vomiting 

associated with chemotherapy 

and spascity caused by Multiple 

Sclerosis or spinal cord damage. 

“The components of cannabis 

(THC and CBD) mimic the natural 

endocannabinoids in our body. 

These are responsible for keeping 

the body system in balance. Many 

current mainstream medicines 

prescribed today were derived from 

plants and cannabis presents us 

with a treasure chest of opportunity 

for a variety of treatments. However, 

as with any medicine there are 

possible drug interactions and 

adverse effects such as the 

psychoactive effects of THC (which 

give you a high). So, it’s very 

important that any new medicines 

are formulated to achieve the 

best outcome for each specific 

condition being treated. It’s an 

exciting new field of medicine” 

says Elizabeth. 

Eqalis was established in 

early 2019, with founding 

shareholders resolved to 

build an industry, from 

the ground up, in the 

horticultural heart of Bay 

of Plenty. 

Business Manager of 

Eqalis, Brendon Ogilvy, said 

that since the earliest days of 

this emerging category, tenacity, 

agility and innovative thinking 

would be needed to discover and 

bring the medicinal qualities of the 

cannabis plant to people. “We are 

at the very forefront of New Zealand 

medical cannabis research and it 

is a fascinating journey of discovery 

already” says Brendon. 

Please consult with your doctor to 

ensure both access and supply of 

the Medicinal Cannabis is right for 

the treatment of your condition. • 


HEALTH 

At Eqalis we’re proud of the vision we share 

We’re a New Zealand company growing what we believe to be the best medicinal 

cannabis in the world. Now, we’d like to share our vision with you. So you can see 

where we’re heading and perhaps come to understand why the journey we’re on 

could mean so much to so many 

We’re here for good 

Find out more at eqalis.co.nz 


RETIREMENT LIVING 

RVA LAUNCHES A 

COMPREHENSIVE 

BLUEPRINT 

Words. John Collyns, 

Executive Director 

YOU may have seen some media 

coverage of the Commission for 

Financial Capability’s (CFFC) White 

Paper that proposes a review of the 

retirement village legislation. In our 

view this proposal is misplaced, as 

the legislative framework protecting 

residents’ interests in the village 

is both robust and world-leading. 

The beauty of the regime is that it 

allows a huge range of commercial 

terms that allow residents genuine 

choice about their village. Looking 

for somewhere that shares capital 

gain? There are villages that do 

that. Want the certainty of a fixed 

weekly fees? 60% of villages offer 

that. And so on. 

However, we also recognize 

that there are aspects of the 

commercial terms, which are the 

focus of the CFFC’s White Paper, 

that can create problems for 

residents, especially if units take 

longer to re-licence than expected 

and families have to wait longer 

than desirable for the repayment of 

the capital sum. 

On 25 May 2021, at our 

Conference, the RVA launched 

a comprehensive blueprint to 

introduce a range of improvements 

in the industry. In particular, the 

blueprint includes providing 

residents with a stronger voice, 

strengthening the complaints 

process and working with the CFFC 

to monitor re-licensing times so 

best practice standards can be 

developed. 

The RVA will also explore 

establishing an Ombudsman to 

hear and resolve complaints and 

invite an independent member 

of the public to sit on its Executive 

to represent residents’ interests. 

Retired High Court Judge Hon. 

Dr John Priestly QC is already the 

independent chair of the RVA’s 

separate Disciplinary Authority to 

look at complaints about egregious 

operator behaviour. 

“The growth of our sector, the fact 

more than 100 Kiwis are choosing 

to move into a retirement village 

every week and the overwhelming 

satisfaction levels among residents 

clearly demonstrates that we have 

struck the right balance between 

robust regulatory oversight and 

effective self-governance,” says RVA 

President Graham Wilkinson. 

“However, we accept there is 

always room for improvement 

and refinement around certain 

practices as our sector and our 

offering evolves. This blueprint sets 

out the tangible and definitive steps 

we will be taking to achieve that 

goal.” 

As part of the blueprint, the 

RVA has agreed with the CFFC 

to survey all members annually 



to examine emerging trends and 

work with members, residents and 

the Retirement Commissioner to 

design a best practice approach to 

re-licensing that reflects the reality 

of the local real estate market, yet 

ensures residents’ estates do not 

wait an unreasonable period of 

time for a refund. 

“We agree there is a role for 

continuously educating operators 

and residents about the re-licensing 

process and to encourage best 

practice including dealing with 

potential drawn-out re-licensing 

times,” said Mr Wilkinson. 

The blueprint also sets out plans 

to review Occupation Rights 

Agreements (ORAs) to address any 

perceived unfair terms or confusing 

clauses and ensure clarity around 

what the resident and operator are 

responsible for, in particular, repairs, 

maintenance and replacement of 

operator-owned chattels. 

“We will work with our members, 

residents and the Retirement 

Commissioner to identify best 

practice for future ORAs which 

define each party’s responsibilities, 

so that residents are not responsible 

for usual maintenance and 

replacement of operator-owned 

chattels, whilst protecting operators 

from bearing the cost of making 

good resident abuse or damage to 

chattels. 

“Already some operators have 

moved towards this position and we 

anticipate the majority of operators 

will follow quickly.” 

The RVA has worked with the 

CFFC to develop best practice 

standards around the disclosure of 

information about residents’ transfer 

to care and have called for these to 

be incorporated into the Retirement 

Villages Code of Practice. 

“We also agree that the 

retirement sector can encourage 

best practice standards, as is 

illustrated by the sector actively 

encouraging operators to stop 

charging all fees when a resident 

moves out,” says Mr Wilkinson. 

“This is an example of education 

and market pressure. The practice 

was extremely rare 20 years ago, 

but today the majority of villages 

have adopted this practice and 

we expect more to follow, although 

this will always be a challenge for 

smaller and not-for-profit villages.” 

Last year, the RVA signed a 

Memorandum of Understanding 

with the Retirement Village 

Residents Association of New 

Zealand to work together on 

issues. These include guidelines 

on dealing with the media, 

ensuring complaints raised via 

either organisation are dealt 

with expeditiously and fairly, 

implementing a comprehensive 

village manager training 

programme, and regular meetings 

between both the RVA and the 

RVRA’s Executive Committees. • 

Active 

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TRITON HEARING 

THE CONSUMER’S 

GUIDE PROVIDES 

INDEPENDENT, 

IN-DEPTH LOOK 

AT HEARING AIDS 

TRITON 

Hearing, New 

Zealand’s 

trusted name in hearing 

healthcare for more than three 

decades, has just released the 

latest edition of the popular 

Consumer’s Guide to 

Hearing Aids. 

Independently researched 

and produced, the Consumer’s 

Guide to Hearing Aids provides 

a comprehensive review of the 

latest hearing technology and 

how much it costs. 

A must-read for anyone 

considering a new pair of 

hearing aids, the Consumer’s 

Guide covers the whole 

process, from frequently asked 

questions about hearing 

loss, to what to expect from 

a new pair of hearing aids. It 

also offers a simple guide to 

the hearing aid terminology 

you may need to know when 

considering a new device. 

Featuring a comparison of 

more than 350 of the latest 

hearing aids, the guide breaks 

down the key details for each 

model – comparing what they 

offer in terms of sound, fit and 

additional features. The full 

range of hearing aid shells is 

also covered, highlighting the 

advantages of the available 

options, from behind-the-ear 

and receiver-in-canal styles, to 

custom-fitted shells designed to 

go completely in the ear canal. 

The guide also looks at how 

these custom hearing aids are 

made and fitted. Using modern 

computer-aided design and 

manufacturing technology, 

hearing aids can now be 

created for an individual 

wearer – providing a perfect, 

comfortable fit for their unique 

inner-ear canal. 

The latest invisible hearing 

aid options are also 

highlighted, with the 2021 

guide offering a detailed 

comparison of the devices 

available for New Zealanders. 

These hearing aids are 

small enough to fit within 

the ear canal, making them 

nearly invisible when worn. In 

reviewing the latest available 

models, the guide looks at not 

only how the devices are fitted 

and how long batteries last, 

but also a range of additional 

features, like feedback 

cancellation, noise control 

and remote control. 

The new invisible range of 

hearing aids are just one 

example of the advancements 

made in hearing aid 

technology over the last few 

years. The Consumer’s Guide 

examines how the use of new 

technology in the development 

of the latest hearing devices 

is significantly enhancing the 

wearer’s experience. 

This includes the use of the 

latest smartphone applications, 

which offer everything from the 

ability to turn your phone into a 

personal microphone to using 

it to locate a lost hearing aid – 

there’s even an app to reduce 

the perception of tinnitus. Using 

the latest digital streaming 

technology, TVs, mobile phones, 

music players, and laptops can 

also be linked to your hearing 

aids. This process allows people 

with difficulty hearing to enjoy 

clearer audio at any time, even 

when you’re with others. 

The 2021 Consumer’s Guide 

to Hearing Aids is part of the 

expert hearing healthcare 

provider’s commitment to 

providing the best, independent 

advice for local people thinking 

about hearing aids – for 

themselves or someone close 

to them. • 

The FREE 2021 Consumer’s 

Guide to Hearing Aids can 

be ordered online at www. 

tritonhearing.co.nz and will 

be dispatched to you at no 

cost within 14 days of your 

order. For more information 

about the latest hearing 

solutions and what options 

may be right for you, you 

can also visit your local 

Triton Hearing clinic – there’s 

70 locations nationwide 

– or call 0800 45 45 49. 


XXXXX 


HOLIDAY PARKS 

HOLIDAY 

PARKS 

ARE VERY 

MUCH IN 

FASHION 

Words. John Bishop 

FOR 

an older generation of 

travellers, hotels and 

motels are now less favoured and 

caravans, recreational vehicles and 

flats in holiday parks are in. 

Some traditional destinations like 

Queenstown, Fiordland, Wanaka, 

Dunedin and even Auckland have 

lost their lustre as Kiwis, including 

the over 60s, have sought places 

they haven’t been to for a while 

and places that they have never 

been to. 

Places less visited like Stewart 

Island and the Chatham Islands 

have been hot destinations for all 

ages in the past summer, and that 

has continued into autumn, while 

holiday parks in New Zealand’s 

more scenically attractive places 

have steadily climbed in popularity. 

The numbers tell the story. In 2021 

domestic tourism figures show 

holiday nights in Fiordland were 

down 67% in February 2021, by 72% 

in Wanaka, and 77% in Queenstown 

compared to two years ago (well 

before covid was even known 

about). 

By contrast over the same period, 

nights in Clutha district (which 

includes the Catlins) were up 108%, 

48% in Hurunui (North Canterbury) 

and a whopping 164% in Tairawhiti 

district (Gisborne and up the East 

Coast.) 

Stays in hotels and motels are 

down by over 40% in two years 

while stays in holiday parks are 

up by a third or more, some areas 

by massive amount: Northland by 

95%, Taupo by 186% and the Bay of 

Plenty by 139%. 

Operators are seeing the trend on 

the ground. At the Himitangi Holiday 

Park, operators Reuben and Alice 

Emery have noticed an increase 

in demand for fixed or “roofed” 

accommodation. In Whanganui, 

Ben Kay and Jeanie Marshall are 

seeing a trend to self-contained 

flats and their onsite motel units. 

Likewise in the Bay of Plenty. In 

March I visited several Holiday Parks 

along this lovely coast from Waihi to 

Opotiki in a camper van. 

Mine was only a two berth but 

looking around the campsites 

there were plenty of the bigger, full 

motorhome variety, mostly driven by 

middle aged and retired people. 

Discussions with the operators 

confirmed the trend. The call for 

people to get out and see their 

own country has worked. Until the 

Australian bubble opened in April, 

there was no other travel option 

for most – unless you were willing 

to quarantine on your return from 

overseas and to pay for it as well 

– and assuming you could get an 

MIQ place. 

New Zealand rapidly became an 

attractive option for people of all 

ages. 

At the Holiday Park at Lake Rotoiti, 

co-manager Kelsi Hira told me 

caravan visits were down, stays 

in their ten motels were up and 

“powered tent sites are the first sites 

we run out of.” 


HOLIDAY PARKS 


HOLIDAY PARKS 

MIKE AND MINEE JONES WITH 

BABY ROSE FROM THE WAIHI 

BEACH HOLIDAY PARK. 

accommodation but don’t need 

luxury, and who would rather spend 

money on a good meal or on a 

glamourous experience. 

“Holiday Parks are also good 

places for families to gather. They 

can all be in one place but aren’t 

living on top of each other. They can 

come and go as they please. Some 

are in tents; others are in motor 

homes and the older group take the 

flats/motels,” Mr Brown said. 

STAFF MEMBERS CORMAC O’KEEFFE, AIMEE O’KEEFFE, JO DOWAITHE, AND 

SAM FINNERTY WHO IS THE OPERATIONS MANAGER AT THE OHOPE BEACH HOLIDAY PARK. 

John Bishop is a Wellington based 

travel writer who work can be seen 

at www.eatdrinktravel.co.nz • 

“We are getting more older 

people and more motorhomes. 

Young people come and then they 

tell their parents and they come, 

either by themselves or with the 

rest of the family. We are very family 

oriented. This is not party central.” 

A sensible policy. It’s a beautiful 

spot with great facilities including a 

hot tub. 

At Ohiwa Beach, the other side of 

the harbour from Ohope, Todd and 

Nola Morgan have just completed 

their 21st summer. “We are seeing 

people who have never been in 

a holiday park before,” says Nola. 

“we are getting 60% occupancy at 

weekends, less during the week but 

business is ok.” 

Sam Finnerty, who manages 

the Holiday Park at Ohope Beach 

outside Whakatane says park 

owners are building more roofed 

accommodation because that is 

where the demand is. 

Nationally Holiday Parks 

offer 31,000 places for tents 

and caravans says their trade 

association’s chief executive Fergus 

Brown. Plus 2500 cabins and 2000 

self-contained flats and motel units. 

“It’s often difficult to tell the 

difference between a flat and 

a motel: all have kitchen and 

bathroom facilities in the unit. 

“We have found there is a 

growing market for people who 

want a reasonable standard of 

FAMOUS HOLE 

IN THE ROCK 

TARAWERA FALLS 

FLOWING OUT 

OF THE CLIFF 

FACE NEAR THE 

LAKE TARAWERA 

OUTLET CAMP 

GROUND. 


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TRAVEL 


RAIL TRAVEL 

MOUNTAINS SPRINKLED WITH 

SNOW, FULL RIVERS, WATERFALLS 

AND BEAUTIFUL SUNSETS 

Winter is coming … 

with crisp mornings 

and later sunrises, 

having a warm cup 

of coffee in your hand 

as you depart on your 

next adventure is a 

welcome addition. 

The must-see season 

To give you an idea of magic you 

can experience along the way if 

you travel in winter – think changing 

landscapes - mountains sprinkled 

with snow, full rivers and waterfalls, 

beautiful sunsets and a more 

relaxing stay at your destination. 

And whether you’re wanting to stop 

and explore, or you’d rather enjoy 

the sights from the warmth of the 

train, this journey has something for 

everyone. 

A comfortable journey 

As soon as you board one of our 

scenic trains, you’ll be impressed 

with spacious seats, panoramic 

windows, glass shelves and 

skylights. These details bathe our 

carriages in light and bring the 

famous landscapes of Aotearoa 

to your seat. Quite simply, we have 

done everything we can to ensure 

you feel at peace as you sink 

back in your seat and soak up the 

scenery. 

Where to next? 

This, of course, if the most difficult 

part. The Great Journeys of New 

Zealand is proud to offer three 

unique scenic train journeys – 

two of them, Coastal Pacific and 

TranzAlpine take approximately 5 

hours one way, whereas Northern 

Explorer is an 11 hour journey with 

some wonderful stop over options 

like National Park and Ohakune 

along the way. 

Travelling between Christchurch 

and Picton, the Coastal Pacific hugs 

the coast, passing breathtakingly 

close to the sea, where the Pacific 

Ocean meets the Kaikõura 

mountains. 

TranzAlpine crosses the 

Canterbury Plains and traverses 

along the thrilling viaducts of New 

Zealand’s Southern Alps. Your train 

climbs up to Arthurs Pass National 

Park, before descending through 

lush beech rainforest to the West 

Coast town of Greymouth – a great 

base for visits to Punakaiki and the 

popular glaciers. 

And then there is the Northern 

Explorer, travelling between 

Auckland and Wellington where 

you can experience the extremes 

of New Zealand’s scenery, from 

the fertile farmlands of Waikato to 

the volcanic peaks of the Central 

Plateau and the sparkling Kapiti 

coast. 

Delicious food on the go 

Our journeys are all about relaxing, 

so perhaps you’ll care to indulge 

in a freshly brewed speciality tea 

or barista coffee married with a 

sumptuous cake? Or perhaps toast 

your special journey with a bottle of 

bubbles or an award-winning local 

wine? Or keep it simple with a cold 

beer? 

Whatever it is that makes you 

smile inside; you are likely to find it 

in our licensed café carriage. 

New weekend timetable 

If you have been thinking of giving 

Coastal Pacific a go, this season, it 

operates throughout winter, much 

to the delight of our customers. 

From the 3rd of May until 17th of 

October, Coastal Pacific will depart 

Christchurch on Saturday and 

Sunday. TranzAlpine will operate 

on Thursdays and Fridays also 

departing Christchurch, with 

additional services running over the 

school holidays. 

There will be no changes to 

Northern Explorer, travelling from 

Auckland on Mondays, Thursdays 

and Saturdays, with return journeys 

from Wellington on Wednesdays, 

Fridays and Sundays. 

Our premium Scenic Plus service 

is in hibernation until next year with 

some really exiting changes to be 

revealed in the due course. 

Find out more at 

www.greatjourneysofnz.co.nz • 


RAIL TRAVEL 

Here’s an exceptional 

opportunity to see 

the snow-capped 

mountains of Kaikōura 

alongside the frozen 

beaches of the Pacific 

Ocean, previously not 

available in winter! 

The Coastal Pacific 

scenic train now 

operates a limited 

timetable over the 

cooler months. 

Travel all the way 

from Christchurch to 

Picton, or stopover in 

Kaikōura or Blenheim 

and visit two of New 

Zealand’s most famous 

destinations. 

Our special winter 

fares start from just 

$79 one-way for travel 

until 17 October 2021. 

*Terms and Conditions apply. Subject to 

availability, book before 15 October 2021. 

Book online at greatjourneysofnz.co.nz 



HAMILTON 

GARDENS 

While our borders are closed you can still travel 

the world in the Hamilton Gardens. Charmian 

Smith explores gardens from the Italian 

Renaissance, Mogul India, late 1700s Europe 

and pre-Pakeha New Zealand in one of the most 

inspiring of New Zealand’s civic gardens. 

I LOVE walking through the shady 

bamboo forest in the Chinese 

Scholar’s garden in Hamilton 

Gardens. The thick bamboo trunks 

make a soft, hollow clunk brushing 

against each other in the breeze, 

and the sunlit pagoda and bronze 

turtle at the end overlook the bushclad 

Waikato river. You’ll already 

have wound through the exotic 

Moon Gate, Ting Pavilion and 

wisteria-clad zigzag bridge over the 

goldfish pond. 

Hamilton’s themed Paradise, 

Fantasy and Productive gardens are 

one of the wonders of New Zealand, 

a place I visit every time I’m anywhere 

near that part of the country. 

Cross the Cloud court, one 

of several from which enclosed 

gardens branch off, and enter the 

plain passage to emerge in the 

Indian Char Bagh garden. The riot 

of golds, reds, oranges and purples 

in the four flowerbeds suggests 

a Persian carpet, the soft tinkle 

of the central fountain, the cool 

canals extending in each direction 

and the backdrop of the pavilion 

evoke the heat, colour and lush 

decoration of the Mughal empire. 

During our visit an Indian visitor was 

so inspired he sang a Hindi chant 

which topped off our experience. 

Walking into the Modernist 

garden past a bright teal blue wall 

and spiky succulents, you feel you 

could be in California. The pool with 

a curvy sculpture, pavilion, wooden 

chairs for sunbathing and mural of 

Marilyn Monroe evokes something 

from a 1960s film. In hot weather 

children splash in the pool. 

But to escape the Sunday 

afternoon crowds, relax in the 

summerhouse overlooking the neat 

lawn and charming herbaceous 

borders with doves cooing in the 

dovecote behind. You feel a genteel 

afternoon tea might be served in 

this late 19th century English flower 

garden inspired by Gertrude Jekyll. 

Afternoon tea is served in the 

Katherine Mansfield garden - all is 

ready for the guests to arrive. This 

early 20th century New Zealand 

garden is based on Mansfield’s 

short story, The Garden Party. 

There’s even a vintage car parked 

in the drive and food (carefully 

researched by culinary historian 

Helen Leach of Otago University) 

laid on the table under a marquee 

on the tennis court. Piano and 

chairs stand ready for the trio that is 

to provide the music. 

A favourite of mine, where a 

wedding was taking place last time 

we visited, is the Italian Renaissance 

garden. Enter beneath a long 

pergola and come across the 

grotto depicting Romulus and 

Remus (twin founders of Rome) 

being suckled by a she-wolf as 

the legend goes. Below, a parterre 

with neat geometric pools and a 

central fountain leads to a loggia 

overlooking the river. It’s like 

something from Romeo and Juliet 

with a balcony on one side where 

the wedding guests were dining. 

On the far side of Juliet’s balcony is 

an outdoor theatre. 

Since I visited last, Picturesque and 

a Surrealist gardens have opened. 

The former, inspired by the late 18th 

century Romantic movement, blurs 

the line between art and nature. 

There’s a craggy gorge to negotiate 



IN THE SURREALIST 

GARDEN HUGE, 

IVY-COVERED 

TREE FORMS WITH 

JAGGED BRANCHES 

AT THE TOP MOVE 

SLOWLY, CREAKING 

AS THEY GO, LIKE 

SOMETHING FROM 

A WEIRD DREAM. 

LIKE SOMETHING FROM ROMEO AND 

JULIET - THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE GARDEN. 

at one end and a Gothick ruin at 

the other, a Greek temple, caves 

and symbols representing Mozart’s 

opera The Magic Flute such as 

trombones, Papageno the bird 

catcher, and winged lions. But the 

wild views of nature, the river and 

forests provide views to stir the 

Romantic imagination - Wordsworth 

might have been inspired to write 

write a poem here. 

Walking into the Surrealist 

Garden is - well - surreal, rather like 

disappearing down Alice’s rabbit 

hole. You’ll already have passed 

statues of Alice, the Mad Hatter 

and the Rabbit in the court outside. 

Tiles on the floor seem to surge, 

there’s an unexpected fireplace in 

the wall and you encounter huge, 

ivy-covered tree forms, jagged 

branches at the top move slowly, 

creaking as they go. To make you 

feel even tinier, a giant wheelbarrow 

and fork flanked by a giant door in 

a tall hedge, is like something in a 

weird dream. 

Four productive 

gardens are intriguingly 

different. Te Parapara 

demonstrates a 

traditional Mãori garden that might 

have flourished in the Waikato a 

couple of hundred years ago. A 

carved pãtaka (storehouse) stands 

in the middle, surrounded by small 

mounds in which kumara are 

grown encircled by a palisade. 

Then there are Western food 

gardens. The large herb garden 

is divided into culinary, medicinal, 

cosmetic and perfume sections, 

and plants for dye and herbal 

teas. Next to it is a walled kitchen 

garden such as might have been 

found on estates to supply stately 

homes in Britain and France in the 

17th to 19th centuries. In summer it’s 

flush with vegetables with fruit trees 

espaliered along the walls. 

But perhaps the most fascinating 

of the productive gardens is the 

sustainable backyard garden, a 

small plot full of vegetables, flowers, 

chickens, bees, compost bins and 

places to sit, that demonstrates how 

an urban family can more or less 

feed itself sustainably. 

There are many other gardens 

but to exit, pass through the Tropical 

garden, cleverly designed with 

warm colours and lush plantings of 

tropical-looking temperate plants. 

I’m looking forward to visiting 

again when I’m next up north to 

see the Baroque garden, Medieval 

garden, an ancient Egyptian 

garden and a Pacifica garden 

which are under construction. 

To top off a visit, take a leisurely 

river cruise on the Waikato Explorer 

from the jetty below the carpark. 

It passes under the city’s many 

bridges old and new and parks 

and domains. 

www.hamiltongardens.co.nz • 



Staying safe on the roads 

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency believes 

that it’s vital that everyone has the freedom 

to get around easily in a form of transport 

that works for them, so that we can all 

enjoy the benefits of senior living. 

From the age of 65 onwards, you need to 

renew your driving licence more frequently 

because bodily and sensory changes are 

more common. From the age of 75, these 

more frequent licence renewals involve a 

medical check. This gives you peace of 

mind that you are still safe to drive. 

Senior drivers have great experience and 

knowledge of the roads, so overall they are 

very safe drivers. However, senior drivers 

are more likely to experience serious injuries 

in crashes, as the body can be more easily 

injured. 

You can get a driving knowledge refresher 

by attending one of our friendly Staying 

Safe courses, which are provided by Age 

Concern, or you might want to do an online 

‘Self-rating assessment’. Both are available 

via the ‘How’s your driving?’ link at 

www.nzta.govt.nz/senior-drivers 

You may have also heard that we now have a 

child restraints video library, 

which will be particularly relevant to you if 

you care for tamariki, or if you transport your 

precious mokopuna around. 

www.nzta.govt.nz/buying-and-installingchild-restraints 

Additionally, we also have some useful 

information regarding the effects of 

medication on driving. Did you know that 

it’s illegal to drive if you feel impaired by 

medication? 

www.nzta.govt.nz/medication 

This work helps achieve 

Road to Zero, New Zealand’s 

road safety strategy. 

Happy driving and stay safe on the roads! 

Visit www.nzta.govt.nz/senior-drivers 

or contact Waka Kotahi on 0800 822 422 

for free printed copies of our new booklets 


Helpful advice for senior drivers 

Road safety resources 

New booklets and webpage for senior drivers 

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has just released 

five new booklets, a new pamphlet and a new set 

of webpages for seniors: 


The road ahead 

for seniors 

Road rules refresher 

for seniors 

A refresher on core road code knowledge 

Driving safely 

as a senior 

Useful information to help keep you safe 

The road ahead 

This pamphlet discusses 

‘six good things to know’ 

Road rules refresher 

An overview of key road 

code information 

Driving safely as a senior 

How to check out yourself 

and your car 

Supporting 

senior drivers 

Getting around 

as a senior 

Renewing your driver 

licence as a senior 

Discussing driving and transport options 

Knowing your transport options 

The process from age 65 onwards 

Supporting senior drivers 

How to have helpful 

conversations around safe 

driving 

Getting around as a senior 

An exploration of varied 

transport options 

Renewing your driver licence 

An explanation of the 

processes around renewal 


VINE ROMANCE 

VINE 

ROMANCE 

Amid the splendour of the Far North DENNIS 

& ROSAMUND KNILL visit a winery of grand 

proportions with luxurious accommodation to 

share a bounty of fine wine and gourmet delights. 

Don’t worry about packing 

an alarm clock. You only 

need to listen for the Kiwis 

that routinely punctuate 

the morning. And if you 

sleep through the dawn 

then there’s the chorus of 

the native birds as they 

warm up for the day ahead. 

While nature and eco themes 

imbue all of The Landing’s features 

you will begin to feel a million miles 

from the nearest town. With only 

four luxury villas delicately located 

around the property the designer’s 

instinct with an eye for characterrich 

heritage architecture lends 

itself to contemporary makeovers 

that have been built around 

mother-nature. The feel here is eco 

cool with enough mod cons to put 

it in the luxury class. Fringed by six 

beaches The Landing is a sanction 

of peace and tranquillity combined 

with privacy and discretion. 

And in a land that is not short of 

competition in terms of sumptuous 

multi-million dollar winery 

developments this commodious 

1000 acre span of elegance with 

breath-taking views over islands 

and the sea has an immediate 

impact the moment you drive 

through the security gates. 

After entering the grandest of 

gates we are right in the middle 

of Northlands most coveted 

stretch of exclusive beachside real 

estate that has established itself 

as one of the world’s most front 

ranking wineries. You can sense 

the imposing atmosphere from the 

very beginning. As the anticipation 

grows you pass vast fields of 

grapevines, manicured rolling hills 

as far as the eye can see, millions 

of native trees that are indigenous 

to the area with endless bushwalks 

of sheer beauty that will give you 


VINE ROMANCE 

One less thing 

to worry about. 

Right dose. 

Right time. 

Right medication. 

Available at your local pharmacy. 


VINE ROMANCE 

muscles that you never knew 

you had. 

It’s not often that we are 

speechless but as we drop our 

bags in the living room of The 

Boathouse we don’t know whether 

to turn left or right or just stare 

straight ahead at the spectacular 

coastline. 

There is something impossibly 

romantic about a place that 

changes with the wind or hour of 

the day. During a sudden storm 

one afternoon the sun fled, the 

trees shook before a gusting wind 

sent waves crashing over the 

coastal wall and soon a torrent of 

rain enveloped the property. Then 

just as abruptly the storm ended 

the sun reappeared, the turquoise 

was restored to the sea and the 

terraced lawns were greener 

than ever. This is such a special 

place where you want for nothing 

except perhaps for a handful of 

your closest friends to share the 

experience with. 

The food is the responsibility 

of Head Chef Jackie Smith who 

pursues a predominantly modern 

yet classic French approach with 

menu combinations of tastes and 

“AFTER ENTERING THE GRANDEST 

OF GATES WE ARE RIGHT IN THE 

MIDDLE OF NORTHLANDS MOST 

COVETED STRETCH OF EXCLUSIVE 

BEACHSIDE REAL ESTATE THAT 

HAS ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS ONE 

OF THE WORLD’S MOST FRONT 

RANKING WINERIES” 

textures supplemented with their 

own outstanding in-house garden 

and farm produce. From fresh fruit 

and vegetables to free-range eggs 

and locally caught fish and farmed 

meats the daily menu offers a 

taste of magic that lingers on. The 

freshness and balance of flavours 

is a document of her passions 

captured in highly worked plates 

united with a rare finesse that will 

keep your taste buds alive. Her 

smarts are well showcased with 

imaginative and enduring food 

over breakfast lunch and dinner. 

Alternatively for those that want 

self-catering you have the option 

of bringing in your own ingredients. 

Either way this is an engaging 

feature and part of the of the 

overall package. 

And then there’s the wine. As 

winemaking gets more and more 

sophisticated it has never been 

more important for a new winery 

to be able to stand out from the 

crowd. Northland is one of our 

newest wine growing regions and 


VINE ROMANCE 

has come a long way since wines 

were first nurtured back in the 

eighties. Forty years on and the 

industry today has grown from three 

wineries to over sixty producing 

some exceptional value for money 

award winning wines. 

The diversity of Northlands unique 

climate and coastal soils allows 

for a wide range of grapes grown 

with chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, 

syrah, pinot gris, viognier, rose and 

chambourcin making a presence. 

Whilst New Zealand’s wine trail 

has a wealth of wine riches there 

has been a dramatic expansion 

of vineyard holdings throughout 

Northland who are pushing the 

boundaries and stealing the march 

on their southern competitors. 

Peter Cooper born and bred in 

Kaitaia and a lover of wine is the 

latest entrant to join Northlands 

growing wine trail. Prior to choosing 

The Landing’s site on the Purerua 

Peninsular Peter was a corporate 

lawyer in Auckland before moving 

to the USA as a property developer. 

His enthusiasm for fine wine 

resulted in the initial planting of 

pinot gris, chardonnay and syrah 

and with the assistance of Rod 

McIvor of Marsden Estate fame 

and Ben Byrne and Warren Gibson 

BEN BYRNE WINEMAKER. 

winemakers extraordinaire the 

winery today is producing some of 

the country’s finest wines. 

But what makes The Landing’s 

wines really different is Ben’s 

combinations of grape varieties 

the most notable being Vino 

Rosso a common wine throughout 

Feeling breathless? 

Dizzy? Fatigued? 1 

You may think it is a normal sign of ageing and 

put up with it, but it could be a valve in your 

heart. 1 Aortic valve disease affects 1 in 8 people 

over 75 years. 2 If detected promptly, your doctor 

can help you find the best treatment option. It is 

a short and simple check. Just ask your doctor to 

listen to your heart. 

Ask your doctor to listen to your heart 

1. Mayo Clinic Staff. www.mayoclinic.com https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/aortic-stenosis/symptoms-causes/syc- 

20353139. Accessed December 7, 2020. 2. Nkomo VT, Gardin JM, Skelton TN et al. Burden of valvular heart diseases: a population– 

based study. Lancet 2006;368:1005–11. 

NewHeartValve.co.nz and NewHeartValve logo are trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation. All other trademarks 

are the property of their respective owners. ©2021 Edwards Lifesciences Corporation. NZ-2021-190 

All rights reserved. Edwards Lifesciences (New Zealand) Ltd. PO Box 28654 Remuera New Zealand. P: 0800 222 601 


VINE ROMANCE 

THE BOATHOUSE. 

Italy. Dominated with sangiovese 

and montepulciano grapes this 

adventurous wine is blended with 

cabinet franc and merlot that 

makes this a food friendly wine. 

We meet up with Keith Barker at 

the cellar door to taste our way 

through barrels of chardonnay. The 

savoury style of Ben’s wines are 

evident. The new oak is kept from 

a minimum to the underlying and 

for those that like their chardonnay 

they were fresh, vibrant and finely 

balanced showing great richness 

with instant appeal. 

Making our way into the rammed 

earth tasting room we get to 

sample the syrah, pinot gris and 

rose and get into lively discussion 

about various wines styles. So many 

wines all with loads of character 

that all taste so different. 

It’s almost time to return to the 

real world but not before we meet 

with Laura Moreno Guest Service 

Manager for a personal tour of 

the villas. 

COOPER RESIDENCE 

Perched on the headlands with 

360-degree views of the ocean 

and countryside this is the largest 

of the four residences with five 

bedrooms, intimate corners and 

spacious living. and entertainment 

areas, floor to ceiling windows 

complete with inside and el fresco 

dining enhanced with one of New 

VINEYARD RESIDENCE. 

Zealand’s largest collection of 

Maori artefacts. Once inside we’re 

immediately impressed with the 

natural architectural elements with 

each room leading to another 

perhaps more rewarding than 

the last. 

GABRIEL RESIDENCE 

Situated above the tranquil waters 


VINE ROMANCE 

“WHAT MAKES THE LANDING’S 

WINES REALLY DIFFERENT IS 

BEN’S COMBINATIONS OF GRAPE 

VARIETIES THE MOST NOTABLE 

BEING VINO ROSSO A COMMON 

WINE THROUGHOUT ITALY. 

of the bay below the residence 

features four equal status king 

bedrooms all with spectacular 

views. Also included are four selfcontained 

indoor living areas 

including a full size billiard table 

for the boys, a library and an 

enormous dining area ideally 

suited for entertaining or hosting 

corporate events. 

VINEYARD VILLA 

Built quietly alongside the vineyards 

with a more rural feel the villa 

boasts magnificent vistas across 

the property and out to sea. With 

two equal status king bedrooms 

and a spacious master on-suite 

the living quarters are open yet 

intimate with spacious outdoor 

entertainment where guests can 

enjoy al fresco dining alongside 

the infinity swimming pool. 

THE BOATHOUSE 

Inspired by the original woolshed 

on the water’s edge with two 

gorgeous bedrooms with one in 

the loft. The earthy scent of the 

macrocarpa pervades, vaulted 

ceilings, flagstone tiles and floor 

to ceiling sliding cedar doors 

that open from all sides to three 

separate outdoor living areas. The 

open fire place, pizza oven and 

large BBQ make this a fitting place 

to entertaining a crowd. 

If this is all too much to absorb 

on offer are two wine tasting 

tours departing daily by a private 

boatfrom Russell, Paihia and 

Waitangi. • 

TASTE OF 

THE LANDING 

$250PP 

A two-and-a-half hour tour with a 

tour of the vineyard with wine tasting 

and a gourmet platter. 

CELLAR 

DOOR LUNCH 

$450PP 

A four-and-a-half hour tour with 

a tour of the vineyard with barrel 

tasting and a two course lunch 

served with two glasses of wine. 

We say our goodbyes and board Iti 

Rangi for our 20 minute journey back 

to Waitangi. In true style The Landing 

influence reached its highest levels 

with great wine, great food and a 

sense of deep relaxation of doing 

nothing! 

*PURERUA PENINSULA IS THE FIRST CHAPTER IN NEW 

ZEALAND’S HISTORY AS A NATION OF MAORI AND 

EUROPEAN. IN 1814 THIS IS WHERE REVERENT SAMUEL 

MARSDEN AND HIS MISSIONARIES ARRIVED AND SETTLED 

UNDER THE PROTECTION OF CHIEF RUATARA. IT IS ALSO 

THE PLACE WHERE THE FIRST GRAPES IN NEW ZEALAND 

WERE PLANTED. 

One less thing 

to worry about. 

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improving lives 


FINANCE 

Freedom to 

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retirement 

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FINANCE 

ARE INCREASING COSTS 

PUTTING A STRAIN ON 

YOUR BUDGET? 

IT 

is no secret that times have 

changed – and so has the 

cost of living. Kiwi retirees may be 

facing some or all of the below 

financial challenges. 

• Housing and food price 

increases: Between 2008 and 

2020, the cost of housing for 

the average NZ Super recipient 

increased from around $67.50 

to $105 per week – and the 

average weekly price of food 

increased from around $63 to 

$103, according to data from 

Statistics NZ. The overall cost of 

living has also increased in all 

but one quarter since June 2015. 

• Council and insurance rate 

increases: Cities like Auckland, 

Christchurch, Wellington and 

Hastings have made news 

recently for their exorbitant 

proposed rate increases. Council 

rates are expected to increase 

by over 5% per annum in many 

areas, while insurance costs are 

forecast to rise 3-5% per annum. 

• Savings interest rate decreases: 

Many retirees rely on the interest 

their savings are earning them, 

but we are living in an extremely 

low interest rate environment. 

With inflation currently at 1.4%, 

as measured by the Consumer 

Price Index (CPI), and most 

interest rates below 1.0%, those 

savings might actually be 

eroding rather than increasing 

in value. 

New Zealand Super is not 

enough to cover these costs 

Considering these costs, and the 

fact that many retirees no longer 

have salaried income, it can be 

incredibly challenging to live a 

comfortable retirement on NZ Super 

alone. 

As of 1 April 2021, a retiree living 

alone receives $873.88 fortnightly 

(after tax) from NZ Super, while 

a couple receives $672.22 each 

according to Work and Income. 

According to the New Zealand 


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HAVE SALARIED INCOME, 

IT CAN BE INCREDIBLY 

CHALLENGING TO LIVE A 

COMFORTABLE RETIREMENT 

ON NZ SUPER ALONE” 

Retirement Expenditure Guidelines, 

a couple wanting to live a ‘no frills’ 

lifestyle in a major city would need 

$898.73 per week. This results in a 

shortfall of almost $250 a week. For 

a couple wanting the freedom to 

live more comfortably with some 

luxuries, they would need $1,436.00 

a week. 

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home. 

This is where equity release 

options, such as a reverse 

mortgage, can be helpful. 

A reverse mortgage allows 

people over 60 to access some 

of the equity in their home, giving 

them the freedom to relieve 

financial pressure and fund a more 

comfortable retirement. Importantly, 

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Unlike a regular mortgage, you’re 

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as the total loan amount (including 


FINANCE 

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accumulated interest) is repayable 

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think you could afford. 

Heartland has helped over 18,000 

Kiwis fund a more comfortable 

retirement. To find out more about 

how a Heartland Reverse Mortgage 

could help you take the stress out 

of increased living costs, get in 

touch with our customer care 

team on 0800 488 740 or 

reverseinfo@heartland.co.nz 

to discuss your options. 

Applications are subject to loan 

approval criteria. Terms, conditions, 

fees and charges apply • 

WIN 

$500 OFF 

THE TOUR COST 

Book one of these great tours 

and go in the draw to win! 

Seemore Tours is a family run business who operate group guided travel 

around New Zealand for mature travellers. We put a lot of effort into building 

memorable itineraries & ensuring all the details are taken care of. 

Congratulations to our last winner Mary from Tauranga! 

Free home 

pick-up and 

drop-off service! 

WIN $500 off… 

HISTORICAL HOMESTEADS 

7-12 Sept 2021 | 6 days / 5 nights 

Twin share 

$2,995pp 

Single 

$3,195pp 

What a great way to swing into spring! 

Enjoy 6-days visiting the remarkable 

old homesteads of Rangitikei and 

the famous Art Deco town of Napier. 

Amongst the nostalgia, we visit the 

coast of Cape Kidnappers and head 

home on the Northern Explorer train. 


SOUTH ISLAND HIGH COUNTRY 

26 Sept - 2 Oct 2021 | 7 days / 6 nights 

Twin share 

$3,495pp 

Single 

$3,995pp 

This 7-day tour takes us to the rustic 

high country where we explore 

Molesworth Station, Hanmer Springs, 

Erewhon Station and everything in 

between. The vast landscapes seen 

contain scree-scarred mountains, 

wide river valleys and tussock slopes. 


TARANAKI GARDEN FESTIVAL 

29 Oct - 2 Nov 2021 | 5 days / 4 nights 

Twin share 

$1,995pp 

Single 

$2,495pp 

This 5-day tour showcases some of 

New Zealand’s most stunning private 

and public gardens. It’s a fusion of 

some of the greater pleasures of 

life: gardens, art, food and events 

combined to make up a delectable 

serving of enjoyment for everyone. 

We have a great suite of tours on offer, to view an itinerary and learn more, 

visit our website or contact Nikki for more information: Call 0800 SEEMORE (733667) 

Email win@seemoretours.co.nz Visit www.seemoretours.co.nz 

Prize is x1 $500 tour credit for one of these advertised tours. Entry will be validated upon booking form & deposit received. Competition drawn 7/08/31. 


FOOD & WINE 

The Wine Rack 

Words. Dennis Knill, wine writer 

THE Giesen Group is a family 

enterprise and powerhouse 

winemakers with over three 

decades of winemaking 

experience. Giesen’s were 

also one of the first converts 

to plant sauvignon blanc in 

Marlborough the engine room 

of New Zealand’s wine industry. 

Founded by three brothers Theo, 

Marcel and Alex in 1981 Giesen’s 

have become an industry leader 

with an uncompromising drive for 

quality, innovation and expertise 

resulting in highly awarded 

premium wines that fuel the fire. 

Giesen’s newly appointed chief 

winemaker Duncan Shouler aims 

and aspirations is to produce 

exceptional wines that wine lovers 

can drink and enjoy. The Clayvin 

label is the latest innovation 

in setting the standard for 

premium wines grown throughout 

Marlborough. The handpicked 

grapes used to produce 

chardonnay, pinot noir and syrah 

come from vines planted 24 years 

ago in the Southern Valleys sub 

region. The Southern Valley was the 

first hillside vineyard in the region 

and is the cornerstone for Giesen’s 

premium wine program. 

And if you’re a hungry visitor 

wanting to sample their wines 

matched with some great food the 

tasting room that opens out onto an 

airy courtyard will make you feel like 

lucky benefactors. On offer is friendly 

food served on a platter with one 

of their many wines. Alternatively 

you can settle for tasting the entire 

range or buy wine at cellar door 

prices. Otherwise the winery is worth 

visiting just for the view! • 


FOOD & WINE 

$55 

’17 Giesen Clayvin 

Southern Valleys single 

vineyard Marlborough 

chardonnay 

This upfront skilfully crafted fullbodied 

fruity wine is fresh, ripe 

and finely balanced. Matured 

in German Fuder oak barrels 

long enough to give instant 

appeal. Plenty of pleasure 

for the price. 

$57 

’19 Giesen Southern 

Valleys single vineyard 

Marlborough syrah 

An elegant and aromatic classy 

wine that belies the quality with 

its consistency and fruit flavours. 

Displaying great texture structure 

and balance that carries all 

the way across the palate. 

Will cellar well. 

$57 

’16 Giesen Clayvin 

Southern Valleys single 

vineyard Marlborough 

pinot noir 

An easy drinking seriously 

good wine. Deep in colour with 

concentrated depths of flavour 

that is fresh and pure on the 

palate. An excellent example 

of pinot’s coming out of 

Marlborough. 


EASY LIVING 

NEW ZEALAND 

MADE FURNITURE 

– COMFORT AND 

STYLE YOUR WAY 

Furnishing your home is no small decision. 

The pieces that you invest in need to not 

only be practical but should also match 

the vision you have for your space. A way 

to tick both of these boxes is to buy New 

Zealand made furniture. One of the major 

benefits of buying furniture made in New 

Zealand is that you can customise it to 

make it work for you – here’s how. 

ALTHOUGH you’ve no doubt heard about 

New Zealand made before and seen the little 

Kiwi symbol, what many people don’t realise 

about Harvey Normans New Zealand made 

furniture is that it’s completely customisable. 

• You can select the fabric colour, pattern, 

print or texture that works best for your 

interior style – make a statement with a 

bold coloured suite or keep your colour 

palette neutral and let the accessories 

do the talking. 

• You can choose your leg type and timber 

stain to match your décor - whether your 

style is traditional or more contemporary. 

• You can also select the size and 

configuration of your furniture so that 

you have a dining or lounge suite that 

perfectly fits your space – whether you 

need a dining setting big enough to fit 

the extended family or a small table and 

a couple chairs for your cosy unit, we can 

make it happen. 

As well as being able to choose exactly 

what you want, buying New Zealand made 

means you are also contributing to our 

national economy and supporting New 

Zealanders in business. So next time you 

decide to update your living spaces, why not 

support local and shop New Zealand made. 

Shop in store at one of our 27 Furniture and 

Bedding stores nationwide or head online to 

harveynorman.co.nz • 


EASY LIVING 

ADJUSTABLE 

BEDS – EASE 

AND COMFORT 

AT THE TOUCH 

OF A BUTTON 

Buying a new bed is an important 

decision to ensure you get a great 

night’s sleep. These days there are 

so many options so it’s a great idea 

to talk to a bedding specialist who 

can help you select the right bed. An 

adjustable bed is a great solution that 

gives you the ability to adjust the bed 

to different positions as well as also 

having a range of additional features. 

When you buy an adjustable bed, 

you’re purchasing a bed that can be 

adjusted so it’s perfect for you. 

Features and Benefits 

• Adjustable bed bases allow you to raise 

and lower the head and foot of your bed 

to different heights. These adjustments can 

help with things like poor circulation, heart 

burn, snoring and breathing problems. 

• You can choose from your favourite leading 

brands - Harvey Norman stocks adjustable 

bases and mattresses from the most 

trusted names in bedding. Each brand has 

features unique to them like Tempur’s Nova 

mattress that features exclusive Cool Touch 

Technology to help you sleep comfortably 

all night long. 

• If you and your partner prefer to sleep in 

different positions, you can choose a split 

model. With a split bed base, each side of 

the bed can be independently moved 

– one person can have the bed laid flat to 

sleep while the other can lift the back up 

and read in bed at the same time. 

• Another advantage of a split bed is that 

you and your partner can each select the 

mattress comfort you desire – even if one 

person prefers super firm and the other 

likes their mattress soft, there’s no 

compromise needed. 

• The base can be paired with different 

customisable headboard styles to suit your 

bedroom décor. Select from upholstered 

headboards or beautifully crafted timber 

designs. Adjustable bases also come with 

interchangeable leg options, meaning you 

can adjust the bed to your desired height. 

As well as having movement features, upgraded 

models have additional functions such as 

vibrating massage settings, alarms, speakers, 

Bluetooth capability and under bed lighting. 

You deserve a rejuvenating, restful sleep 

every night, so head into your local Harvey 

Norman and let our sleep experts help find the 

perfect bed for you - an adjustable bed might 

be just what you’re looking for. 

Shop in store at one of our 27 Furniture and 

Bedding stores nationwide or head online to 

harveynorman.co.nz • 


TRAVEL 

ACTIVE MARKETPLACE 

TARANAKI RHODODENDRON 

GARDEN FESTIVAL 

Coach tour from Auckand/Hamilton to Taranaki’s Garden 

Spectacular. A variety of private gardens are visited from small 

town sections to large country estates. Includes Pukeiti, 

Crosshills Garden and a night at the Chateau. 

6 days. Departs 2nd November 2021 

WORLD OF WEARABLE ART 

Travel from Auckland/Hamilton via Chateau Tongariro, tour through 

the beautiful Wairarapa and enjoy two nights in Wellington with 

an evening at the Wearable Art show before flying home. 

6 days. Departs 3rd October 2021 

CHATHAM ISLANDS 

Getaway on an adventure to the Chatham’s. Staying 7 nights 

at Awarakau Lodge, explore the diverse landscape and discover 

the history, heritage and culture of these peaceful and unique 

islands with your Chatham Island hosts. 

Departures: Ex Auckland 14th October 2021, 10th February 2022 

Ex Wellington 26th January 2022 

All tours are escorted from Auckland, options from other 

centres available. Phone Shavourn for further information: 

TWILIGHT TRAVEL & TOURS 

Freephone 0800 999 887 

www.twilighttravel.co.nz 

A member of Travel Managers Group – IATA Accredited 

ESCORTED TOURS 

Scenic Southern 

Splendour 

Featuring Catlins & Stewart Island 

Departs 27 Sept / 12 Oct / 16 Nov 2021 

9 days | $4149pp share twin 

Fly to Dunedin (3 nights) – Chinese Gardens, Royal 

Albatross Colony, Larnach Castle. Coach through 

scenic Catlins (Nugget Point) to Invercargill (1 

night). Fly to Stewart Island (2 nights) – cruise 

Paterson Inlet to Ulva Island – spectacular bird 

life. Dinners at the South Sea Hotel. Return to 

Invercargill and coach to Queenstown (2 nights) 

– Arrowtown, TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak for 

farewell dinner. All breakfasts/dinners and sights. 

Flights from Auckland/Wellington/Christchurch/ 

Tauranga (ask about other centers). 

Taranaki Garden Festival 

Departs 28/29 October 

5 days | $1899 from Auckland, $1919 from Tauranga 

6 days | $2198 from Wellington or Christchurch 

Single room supplement only $150pp 

Wellington/Christchurch passengers fly to Auckland and overnight with 

breakfast before joining tour. Tauranga passengers transferred to and 

from Hamilton. Coach to New Plymouth (3 nights) Novotel Hobson – all 

breakfasts and dinners. Visit to a variety of fabulous Festival Gardens, 

Len Lye Gallery. Travel Forgotten Highway via Whangamomona. Chateau 

Tongariro for overnight before home via Hamilton Gardens. Includes return 

airfares from Christchurch or Wellington (ask about other centres), full size 

touring coach, all breakfasts, dinners and some lunches, entrance to Festival 

gardens, quality accommodation. FREE home pick up and return from 

Wellington/Christchurch/Tauranga/Auckland within 25k radius of airport. 

Travel & Tours 

ESCORTED NEW ZEALAND TOURS 

Southern Explorer 

Featuring overnight Doubtful Sound cruise 

Departs 24 Oct 2021 8 days | $4099pp share twin 

Queenstown (2 nights) including sights, TSS Earnslaw & Walter Peak dinner cruise, 

coach to Manapouri and through Wilmot Pass to join our overnight cruise to the 

unspoiled and unforgettable Doubtful Sound. Twin share cabins with private 

bathrooms, stunning scenery, onboard nature guide. Coach via Riverton, visit Te 

Hikoi Museum featuring life size displays and engaging stories of how our Maori 

and European ancestors adapted to survive on natures edge. Invercargill (2 nights) 

including visit to Bluff, enjoy a visit with lunch at Bill Richardson Transport World, 

(optional day trip to Stewart Island). Travel through spectacular Catlins to Dunedin 

(2 nights) including sights and guided visit to Olverston House. Includes return 

airfares Auckland/Tauranga/Wellington and Christchurch. Quality accommodation, 

sightseeing, full size touring coach, overnight cruise Doubtful Sound, all breakfasts, 

most dinners and some lunches. FREE home pickup and return within a 25km 

radius Auckland/Tauranga, Wellington or Christchurch Airport. 

East Cape Panorama Tour 

Departs 15 Nov 2021, 7 Feb, 8 Mar, 4 Apr 2022 

6 days | $2399 from Auckland 

7 days | $2690 from Wellington & Christchurch 

No extra cost for single room 

Coach via Tauranga through to Whakatane. Pacific Coast 

Highway – an epic stretch of road with picture postcard views 

via Opotiki, Te Kaha, Whanarua Bay, to renowned Hicks Bay 

Motor Lodge for overnight. Follow the rugged coastline through 

Te Araroa, Ruatoria, Tokomaru Bay and the Wharf at Tologa Bay. 

Enjoy a picnic lunch here. Then on to Gisborne, Wainui Beach, 

Botanical Gardens and the famous Eastwoodhill Arboretum. 

Coach to Rotorua for overnight before back to Auckland via 

Hamilton. Includes coach travel, accommodation, all breakfasts 

and dinners, some lunches, all sightseeing. 

Proudly New Zealand owned and operated 

Southern Circle 

Featuring Tranz Alpine & Coastal Pacific Trains & Abel 

Tasman National Park 

Departs 27 Oct 2021, 9 Feb, 23 Feb, 16 Mar, 6 Apr 2022 

8 days | $3999pp share twin from Auckland/Tauranga/Wellington 

Christchurch (2 nights) with sightseeing and dinner onboard the Christchurch Tramway 

Restaurant. World famous Tranz Alpine train from Christchurch to Greymouth and 

coach to overnight at Punakaiki. Visit Pancake Rocks and Blowholes before coaching 

through to Charleston to join the fabulous Nile River Rainforest Train. Via Wesport and 

onto Nelson for 2 nights. Enjoy a cruise to the spectacular Abel Tasman National Park. 

Travel to Blenheim for 2 nights. Visit Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre as well as lunch at 

Wither Hills Winery with a glass of sauvignon blanc. Take the scenic Coastal Pacific train 

along the coastline via Kaikoura to Christchurch for overnight stay before flying home. 

Including quality accommodation, all breakfasts and dinners, sightseeing, full size 

touring coach. FREE home pick up and return greater Auckland/Tauranga/Wellington 

areas (25km radius from airport). Price available from other centres. 

Southern Vista 

Featuring Dark Sky experience at Aoraki/Mt Cook 

Departs 3 December 8 days | $3875pp share twin from 

Auckland/Wellington or Tauranga 

6 days | $3240pp share twin from Christchurch 

Christchurch (2 nights), visit French township of Akaroa, Giants Garden and dinner on the 

Tramcar Restaurant. Scenic Aoraki/Mt Cook, Hermitage (2 nights). Enjoy the International 

Night Sky Reserve, voted world’s largest (weather dependent). Take a turn at the telescope 

and enjoy a 3D presentation in the Dome. Head to Wanaka before on to Queenstown (3 

nights). Day trip to Glenorchy with lunch cruise on the TSS Earnslaw and gourmet BBQ 

dinner at Walter Peak. Includes return airfares from Auckland/Wellington/Tauranga 

(Christchurch visitors join on day 3 and fly back from home Queenstown). Quality 

accommodation, all breakfasts and dinners, some lunches. Full size touring coach and 

experienced driver. All sightseeing including Dark Sky Experience and Dome Presentation. 

FREE home pick up & return Auckland/Wellington/Tauranga or Christchurch. 

SUPREME TOURS & TRAVEL LTD 54 Wellesley St, Auckland City 

Freephone: 0800 809 300 • Email: statltd@xtra.co.nz • www.supremetoursandtravel.com 

TAANZ bonded for your protection and member of Iata 

38 | issue 27 • autumn 2020

TRAVEL 

Some of our upcoming Tours 

Call to book or browse our website to 

learn more and/or details of all our tours 

Phone: 07 282 7663 

www.hinterlandtours.co.nz 

Fun trips and tours 

around New Zealand 

for the “Young at Heart” 

WOW in Wellington 13-15 Oct .......................$1595pp 

Great Barrier Island 16-20 Oct......................$2695pp 

Chatham Islands 28 Oct-4 Nov ...........from $4600pp 

South Island Highlights 10-23 Nov ....from $4995pp 

Christmas on Waiheke 22-28 Dec ................$2595pp 

Stewart Island 14-20 Jan 2022 .....................$3895pp 

Warbirds at Wanaka 13-20 Apr 2022 ...........$tbc 

SENIORS & TRAVEL 

EXPO 

Baypark Bay of Plenty 19-20 March 2022 

WHAT TO SEE: 

OVER 40 EXHIBITS on health and comfort 

care plus mobility matters. Home sale and 

purchase plus retirement villages, trusts, wills, 

reverse mortgages and more. New vehicles, 

RVs and Caravans. 

WHERE TO TRAVEL: 

Group and independent options New Zealand 

and future overseas bookings. 

ACTIVE MARKETPLACE 

BAY OF PLENTY 2022 

issue 27 • autumn 2020 | 39


NEW VILLAGE WORKSHOPS: PRACTICAL TIPS TO HELP YOU AVOID THE FISHHOOKS AND 

GET THE BEST DEAL WHEN DECIDING ON OR LIVING IN A RETIREMENT VILLAGE. 

‘INSIDER ADVICE’ 

TO VILLAGE LIFE 

WHETHER you’re already living in a retirement 

/ lifestyle village OR thinking it might be time to 

consider moving into one - you will have questions. 

Starting July, the Retirement Village Residents 

Association (RVRANZ) and AgedAdvisor New Zealand 

are running back-to-back 60-90 min workshops for 

getting the most out of either moving into or living in a 

retirement village. 

• “Insider Advice to Choosing a Retirement Village” 

is a 60-90 minute workshop for those thinking 

about moving into a village. Ever wondered what 

retirement village living is all about but didn’t want 

to ask because you might get ‘sold’ to? At these 

events you’ll get to hear about the pros and cons 

of moving into a village, the differences between 

village providers, as well as the key questions to ask 

when looking around. Plus, some insider tips that 

could help you save thousands! 

Admission Cost: 

$25 single (or $40 with single take home magazine 

- Save $5). 

$35 couple (or $50 with single take home 

magazine - Save $5). 

• “Show Me the Money” is a 60-90 minute workshop 

for existing residents in retirement or lifestyle villages. 

It looks at sharing capital gain vs getting your 

money back quicker. If you’re a member of the 

RVRANZ, then this workshop is free. For non-members 

it’s a $5 donation - with the full amount refunded if 

you become a member on the day. 

Tea / Coffee is included and both seminars will 

have a time for Q&A. Peter Carr, National President of 

the RVRANZ says “If you’re interested in a resident-led 

perspective on moving into or living in a retirement / 

lifestyle village then you will not want to miss these.” 

For a list of all North & South Island locations, 

along with dates & times, please visit; 

www.agedadvisor.nz/seminars 

or www.rvranz.org.nz or phone 0800 243 323. 

Seminar Promise: These seminars have been 

specifically designed to help Kiwi’s interested in 

or living in a retirement village. It’s a big financial 

decision. So, if at the end of the seminar you believe 

you are no better informed – we will refund your 

admission fee in full. • 

GOVERNMENT 

PETITION 

The RVRANZ has launched a government petition 

calling for an urgent review of the Retirement 

Villages Act and Code, as well as a guaranteed 

return of residents capital within 28 days of exit. 

In response to the Retirement Commissioners 

latest report on Retirement Villages, Peter Carr, 

President of the RVRANZ says “It is a sensible and 

professional approach for a long overdue opinion 

with regard to the need for a level playing field.” 

“This petition (initiated prior to the report) 

supports that call for an urgent review.” 

You can find out more at; 

www.rvranz.org.nz/petition 


CLUB 

NEWS 

PROBUS CLUB NEWS 

PROBUS 

SOCIAL 

BOWLS 

GALA 

Representatives from 5 Probus 

Clubs across Kapiti participated in 

the 2021 Probus Social Bowls Gala 

at the Paraparaumu Beach Bowling 

Club and enjoyed a day of bowls, 

great food and good company. The 

day was hotter than expected, and 

that was not just the competition, 

but an afternoon breeze helped 

make the end of the tournament a 

bit more comfortable. 

Combined Probus Club of 

Paraparaumu won the trophy and 

Waikanae Central won the other 

(team with most potential) prize. 

Many participants said they would 

like to come again next year. 

Thanks to the organising 

committee Vanessa, Gill, Richard 

and John and to all those 

volunteers who helped make it 

such a success. A special thanks to 

Richard and Gill for managing the 

event on the day. 

VISUAL ARTS TRIP TO PARNELL GALLERY 

Nine members of the 

Newmarket Probus Club 

visited the Parnell Gallery. 

It was very interesting 

hearing about the 

process involved in 

creating some of the 

lovely works they viewed. 

They then visited three 

galleries and finished 

with lunch together at 

Biskit Cafe. 



ROLLESTON 

COMBINED PROBUS 

CLUB OUTING 

A bus load of Probus members from 

the Rolleston Combined Probus Club 

recently took a day trip to Geraldine. It 

was a glorious autumn day and after 

a coffee at the new Barkers Coffee 

House, they had the opportunity to do 

a little retail therapy and walk among 

the autumn leaves along the river bank. 

They all enjoyed a superb roast lunch 

at the Stonebridge Function Centre 

before travelling home again. A lovely 

day out enjoying friendship fellowship 

and fun among stunning scenery. 

TRIP TO MT 

LINTON STATION 

Members of the Invercargill East Probus 

Club headed out to Mt Linton Station and 

Aulds Farm Distillery. They were educated 

on how the distillery produces Whiskey 

and Gin. The day was surely filled with 

fun and laughter and ended with all the 

members enjoying a nice lunch together. 

DINING OUT 

A group of members from Wellington Combined 

Probus Club enjoyed an outing and dining out 

visit to Penthouse Cinema to see ‘Nomadland’. 



ROLLESTON 


CLUB OUTING 














TRIP TO MT 









DINING OUT 






ROLLESTON 


CLUB OUTING 














TRIP TO MT 









DINING OUT 






Will you leave 

1% to give them 

a life worth living? 

Your legacy is important to them. 

With just 1%, you can make 

a world of difference. 

Scan the QR code 

for more information 


PROBUS SOUTH PACIFIC LTD 

FRIENDSHIP, FELLOWSHIP AND 

Fun In Retirement 

What are you waiting for? 

Come and join PROBUS! 

What is Probus? 

Probus provides you with the 

opportunity to meet with fellow 

retirees on a regular basis, listen 

to interesting speakers and join 

together in activities, all in the 

company of new friends. 

There are over 150 Probus Clubs 

with more than 14,000 Probus Club 

members all over New Zealand. You 

can join a mixed Probus Club or 

Clubs for Ladies or Men, the choice 

is yours. 

Membership is open to any 

member of the community who is 

retired or semi-retired and is looking 

for friendship, fellowship and fun. 

Great reasons to join PROBUS 

• Enjoy the fellowship of retirees in 

your community 

• Listen to interesting guest 

speakers 

• Attend monthly meetings in your 

local area 

• Participate in a wide range 

of activities with fellow Club 

members 

• Travel locally or around the world 

• Stay in the loop with Active 

Retirees publications 

• Develop new interests and 

stay active 

How do I join PROBUS? 

Find your local Probus Club by 

visiting the Probus website – 

www.probussouthpacific. org and 

select a location that is suitable for 

you. Once you have selected the 

Club you are interested in, we will 

"THERE ARE OVER 150 PROBUS CLUBS 

WITH MORE THAN 14,000 PROBUS CLUB 

MEMBERS ALL OVER NEW ZEALAND" 

provide you with further information 

about how you can join that Club. 

Alternatively you can contact one 

of our friendly team who will find a 

Club that suits you. 

Join thousands of Probus Club 

Members across Australia and 

New Zealand, enhance your 

retirement and join Probus today. 

Contact Us 

• www.probussouthpacific.org 

• admin@probussouthpacific.org 

• Toll free NZ 0800 1477 6287 



PROBIANS 

AMAZING 

Call out to all Probians! 

Within our Probus Community, we are 

fortunate to have so many amazing 

Probians. These individuals have made a 

great contribution in their field of study, 

work or as a volunteer. Some have lived 

through interesting or unique experiences. 

If you have had an interesting career or 

lived through an extraordinary event, we 

would love to share your stories with the 

Probus community. 

Please send your stories through to 

marketing@probussouthpacific.org to be 

featured in our next issue. 

Too busy to go to the pharmacy to pick up your medication? 

Well, now you don’t have to with all your medication sent straight to your 

doorstep. Probus partner, PillDrop manages the end-to-end pharmacy 

experience which includes delivering medicines direct to your home. Each 

delivery contains a month’s supply of the household’s medication, pre-sorted 

and pre-packaged into rolls of personalised easy tear PillSachets. These 

PillSachets, remove the hassle of managing multiple medications. Your 

medicines arrive already sorted by date, time, name and dosage. This means you 

can safely and confidently move on from manual tasks like handling multiple 

medicine bottles or packs, counting and sorting each pill, or waiting at a 

pharmacy. 

PillDrop provides a personalised pharmacy experience which includes medicine 

dispensing, home delivery of your prescription and non-prescription medication, 

automatic delivery of your repeats, and access to a 24/7 Pharmacist by phone. 

They offer same-day delivery to Auckland and next business day delivery for the 

rest of the country. 

As a Probus partner, Pilldrop is offering members an exclusive offer including 

the PillDrop service being available to all Probus members and their families free 

of charge. 

Call 0800 745 537 to find out how PillDrop can simplify your pharmacy 

experience or for more information, please visit https://pilldrop.co.nz/ 



50+ & MATURE TRAVELLERS - NO HIDDEN COSTS! 

FREE HOME PICKUP - ALL DINNERS & COOKED BREAKFASTS 

SOUTH ISLAND GRAND TOUR 

15 Days - $5499 13 Days - $4999 (start day 3) 10 Days - $4299 (start day 5, finish day 14) 

DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE! Home Pickup & Dropoff + Return Flight(s)* from: Auckland, Warkworth, Whangarei, Hamilton, Thames, Cambridge, Tauranga, 

Waihi, Te Awamutu, Rotorua, Whakatane, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Napier, Hastings, Whanganui, Levin, Kapiti, Wellington, Nelson, Blenheim, 

Christchurch + MORE! TOO MANY TO LIST! (call or email for details, inlcuded flight options may vary based on selected tour duration and home/hotel address) 

LAST SEASON TOURS SOLD OUT! COMPARE US WITH OTHER TOUR COMPANIES! UPGRADED FROM LAST SEASON!: ALL 4 Star Accommodation 

INCL: TE PAPA + GALLIPOLI, CHRISTCHURCH, ARTHURS PASS, SHANTYTOWN, FOX GLACIER, QUEENSTOWN, TSS EARNSLAW 

CRUISE & WALTER PEAK DINNER, MILFORD SOUND, BLUFF, CATLINS, OLVESTON HOUSE, LARNACH CASTLE DINNER, MT COOK 

2021: 9 Oct, 11 Oct, 23 Oct, 25 Oct, 20 Nov, 22 Nov. 2022: 5 Feb, 12 Feb, 14 Feb, 19 Feb, 21 Feb, 26 Feb, 28 Feb, 5 Mar, 7 Mar, 12 Mar, 14 Mar, 19 Mar, 21 Mar, 26 Mar, 28 Mar, 2 

Apr, 18 Apr, 23 Apr, 25 Apr. Day 1: Home/Hotel pickup, join luxury touring coach for journey to Wellington via Taupo. (optional: Northern Explorer Train - $178), Wellington (2 nts 

Rydges Hotel). 2: Te Papa “Galipoli - The Scale of War” Exhibit. 3: 13 Day Start Cruise Queen Charlotte Sounds to Picton, then continue along South Island’s east coast via Kaikoura 

to Christchurch (optional: Coastal Pacific Train - $138). (2 nts Pavilions Hotel). 4: CHC at Leisure. 5: 10 Day Start Arthurs Pass, (optional: Tranz Alpine Train - $196), Greymouth, 

Shanty Town - pan for gold, ride Steam Train (1 nt Ashley Hotel). 6: Fox & Franz Josef Glacier (1 nt Bella Vista Fox Glacier). 7: via Haast Pass, Wanaka to Queenstown (2 nts Heritage 

Hotel). 8: Tour Arrowtown. Evening cruise Lake Wakatipu on TSS Earnslaw, Dinner & Show Walter Peak. 9: Scenic Cruise Milford Sound, Te Anau. (1 nt Distinction Luxmore). 10: Invercargill, 

Bluff, Optional: Stewart Island. (1 nt Ascot Park Hotel) 11: The Catlins, Dunedin. (2 nts Distinction Hotel). 12: Olveston House, Larnach Castle & Dinner (Exclusive to Gold Club 

Tours only!) 13: Mt Cook, Lake Tekapo (1 nt Peppers Bluewater Resort - Deluxe Rooms). 14: To Christchurch 10 Day Finish (1 nt Pavilions Hotel). 15: Day at leisure until transfer 

to return flight (inc), met & returned home. * Please note, optional trains not yet confirmed by on all dates. 

NORTHLAND COASTS & CAPE 

48 | issue 31 • winter 2021 

LAST SEASON TOURS SOLD OUT! 

7 DAYS - $2699 

3 & 4 Star Hotels, 2 Nt Opononi, 2 Nt Doubtless Bay, 2 Nt Bay of Islands - Stay in Russell at iconic DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH HOTEL! 

HIGHLIGHTS: OPONONI / HOKIANGA, NINETY MILE BEACH, CAPE REINGA, KERIKERI, PAIHIA, RUSSELL, KAWITI GLOW WORM CAVES 

DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE! EX: Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua + MORE. EX: Welington & Christchurch + MORE add $199pp Day 1: Home Pickup, Fly Auckland. Day 7: Fly home, return. 

21 Aug 2021, 18 Sep 2021, 23 Oct 2021 HALF FULL! 11 Nov 2021 HALF FULL! 21 Dec 2021, 12 Feb 2022, 12 Mar 2022, 02 Apr 2022 

Day 1: Home Pickup, Matakohe Kauri Museum, Lamb on Spit Dinner (+ non-lamb / vege options), Opononi (2 nt Opononi Hotel). 2: Tane Mahuta Giant Kauri & Footprints Waipoua Experience. 3: Rawene, Clendon House & Old 

Jail, Taipa (2 nts). 4: Tour Ninety Mile Beach on the beach inc Te Paki Stream & Giant Sand Dunes, Cape Reigna. 5: Kerikeri, Stone Store & Kemp House, Makana Chocolates, Te Waimate Mission House, Haruru Falls, Paihia 

(2 nt Duke of Marlborough Hotel) 6: Kawiti Glow Worm Caves. 7: Kawakawa, Hundertwasser Toilets, Returned Home from Auckland. 

For Free Full Brochures & Bookings Call: 09 930 7682 www.goldclubtours.com 

Prices per person sharetwin. Optional tours at additional cost. Airfare & Hotel addons/extensions subject to availability of seats/rooms & fares. 

Solo Traveller? Guaranteed Matched Twin - No Extra Cost.

ACTRET31 [v03] 72ppi

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