12 <strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Wednesday <strong>June</strong> <strong>14</strong> <strong>2023</strong>
Wednesday <strong>June</strong> <strong>14</strong> <strong>2023</strong> <strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong> NEWS 13 INCENTIVE: Giorgia Hickey with the prizes handed out to students who learned how change a tyre or jump-start a car. Flat tyre jump-starts project to teach basic auto skills CHANGING A TYRE probably wasn’t among the skills Giorgia Hickey thought she would learn at Lincoln University. The Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology student was in a friend’s truck when it got a flat tyre – and she realised she “wasn’t too sure what to do”. But Hickey didn’t let the situation deflate her. Instead it jump-started the idea of teaching students’ basic auto-skills. As a future leaders scholar at the university, she works on beneficial projects for the community. With a team of five other scholars (Troy Volman, Brock Stuart, Charlie Ludbrook, Levi Astle and Anna Stuart), she decided to teach high school and university students “what to do” when their own vehicles’ breakdown. “We headed to GB Motors in Sydenham and got taught how to change a tyre, jumpstart a car and check important things under your bonnet,” Hickey said. The team then shared their knowledge with Rolleston College students and on campus. Prizes were handed out to the winners of two car-related quizzes and for learning how to change a tyre and jump start a vehicle. “Alongside teaching the skills, we also created a booklet for students to aid in remembering these skills in the long term. “We also contacted local mechanics and vehicle-associated businesses, and got some awesome prizes, including emergency breakdown kits, car cleaning kits, WOF vouchers and much more,” Hickey said. The district council road safety team, VINZ Rolleston, Challenge Lincoln, Springston Auto and Rolleston Automotive helped out with the auto-skills programme. “Overall I heard students enjoyed it and learnt something new. Most that attended had not known these skills.” Hickey said when the students encounter a problem with their vehicles, they won’t find themselves in the position she was in when her friend’s truck got a flat tyre. Legal Matters A Due Review - The Retirement Villages Act The Retirement Commission is required to monitor the effects of the Retirement Villages Act 2003 (the Act), its Regulations, and the Retirement Villages Code of Practice 2008. This process is well underway following the release of a White Paper by the CFFC (Commission for Financial Capability – sometimes known as the industry’s “regulatory watchdog”). The White Paper recommended that a full policy review should be undertaken to analyse future trends, consider if protections are adequate and able to adapt to change, and to investigate different models. The common “license to occupy” model has long been the dominant one and precedes the Act and Code which were largely drafted with this model in mind. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is now working with the retirement sector on reviewing the Retirement Villages Act. The purpose of the Act is to protect the interests of residents and intending residents; and to enable retirement villages to develop under a legal framework that is simple for residents and village operators to understand. The review is expected to consider whether or not the current legislation, associated Codes, and Regulations remain fit for purpose to ensure: 1. Suitable protections for residents of retirement villages and intending residents; 2. A balance is struck between the responsibilities and rights of the residents and operations of the retirement villages; and 3. The future viability of the retirement village sector and its ability to provide a range of retirement housing options. The review isn’t limited to existing and intending residents. It is expected the review will consider the rights of exiting residents. The assistance we offer to exiting residents and their families is no less important. We expect the review to consider minimum standards with regard to the termination of weekly fees once the dwelling is vacant; the resale and return to the resident of the capital; and the treatment of the deferred management fee and capital gains and losses. It has been almost 20 years since a review of the Act was undertaken. We consider this timely and look forward to the discussion paper which should be released in September. We are passionate about this area of the law, with many existing, intending and exiting resident clients. Get in contact if we can be of any assistance to you. Please contact us to make an appointment in one of the four convenient office locations Darfield • Ashburton • Rolleston • Christchurch Kate Warren (Senior Associate) Mobile: 0273843054 Email: kate.warren@tp.co.nz Rolleston & Darfield office: 03 317 9099 Christchurch office: 03 374 9999 Ashburton office: 03 308 4188 TEACHERS: Members of the auto-skills team Troy Volman, left, Brock Stuart, Charlie Ludbrook, and Levi Astle work on a car. Rural and Agricultural Law, Conveyancing, refinancing, leasing & property transactions, Land acquisitions, boundary adjustment and subdivision, Insurance Law, Occupation Right Agreements and Estate and Succession Planning, including Enduring Powers of Attorney, Trusts, and Wills.