April 2025 | Grey Power Rotorua

C Bavister

Secretary

April Ramblings

Well, we have turned the clocks back and the mornings are cooler. A hint of what is to come. If you have a heat pump, check that you have switched the setting back to heat. Also, a reminder to clean the filter in your heat pump. If it is a wall mounted version, have someone get up on a chair or step stool and vacuum the filter. It will run more efficiently and use less electricity.

Check also the hot water bottles. I just used mine for the first time this year and it had sprung a leak. Oh, well, time for a new one. Dig out those winter woollies and air them in the sun. Smells and feels so much better after that.

I know the next bit may sound like a repeat from last month, but hey, we need that sometimes.

We will be having Tracey Martin CEO of Aged Care come to speak to us, so put a ring around the calendar for 7th May. We will let you know more details later. The AGM will be on 29 May, again more details later.

Talking about the AGM, this is the time and place where we elect our committee. We have four candidates who said they will stand. That is just the bare minimum to run Grey Power Rotorua on a daily basis. We need up to ten more committee members to be able to move forward, to liaise with council, to better interact with the members, community and other similar organisation. Send us an email indicating your interest and in what area you think you can help. We also need your support to amend our constitution to meet the requirements of the new Incorporated Societies Act.

Now it's time for cocoa and hot scones. See you at the office when you renew your subscription and/or at the next forum.

Consumer NZ

Editor

How to Start Saving for Christmas

There are various Christmas savings plans, including hampers, supermarket clubs and retailer Christmas clubs.

Chrisco Hampers and Gifts
Chrisco is the big player in the Christmas hamper world. It offers a selection of festive hampers. You choose one then spread out payments over the year until you cover the cost for it. The earlier you sign up, the cheaper the weekly hit.

You’ll pay a lot more for the groceries than if you’d bought them at the supermarket though. Another downside to Chrisco’s hampers is that you can’t choose what’s in them, and you might not want all the items. Also, everything arrives at once, so you’ll have to find room to store it all, including the meat and many frozen goods.

Supermarket Clubs
New World, Pak’nSave, Woolworths and Four Square South Island stores issue Christmas club cards. You top them up at the checkout, or you can arrange regular bank payments. Cards are valid at any of the company’s stores, but they can’t be used for online shopping, and there are some things you can’t buy with them, such as lotto or instant kiwi tickets.

Supermarket Christmas clubs are better value than Chrisco hampers. They offer a bonus on top of your savings. You can choose the goods you want. If you don’t spend it all, you can use it the following year.

Hampsta Christmas Savings Club
With Hampsta, you make deposits throughout the year by direct debit or automatic payment. Hampsta also lets you make deposits at some retailers (Mad Butcher or Super Liquor).

You can use your Hampsta card in-store at 17 chain stores, including Briscoes, Rebel Sport, Toyworld and the Mad Butcher, or buy gift cards from Hampsta’s website.

There’s no guarantee the retailers listed with Hampsta will stay the same throughout the year. The Hampsta Christmas savings club isn’t good value. You automatically lose $39 with its annual fee and can only access your savings from 1 December to 10 January.

Bank/Credit Union Saving Accounts
Most banks offer a bonus saver account, with no monthly fees. The account offers a low base interest rate but gives you a bonus interest rate if you don’t take out any money and make regular deposits.

Bank accounts are flexible – you can decide what you spend your money on, and the cash is there in case of an emergency. However, interest rates are dropping, so if you’re just wanting to save for groceries, a supermarket club gives better returns.

Tenancy Services NZ

BoP Regional Council

IRD

myTrove

Editor

Healthy Homes’ Tips - from the Healthy Homes Standards

A warm, dry, and well-ventilated home isn’t just a luxury – it’s essential for good health. Here’s a few simple tips:

Use a dehumidifier in damp-prone rooms to reduce moisture.
Open windows daily to encourage air circulation.
Check for leaks and ensure gutters are clear to prevent water damage. Have a friend help.
Invest in quality curtains to retain warmth during winter months.
Consider heat pumps or energy-efficient heating to maintain a comfortable temperature year-round.

Heating and Insulating your Home for Less

As the weather is starting to cool down, you might be wondering if you should insulate your home and improve your heating. There is the opportunity for homeowners to have free insulation and heating supplied by BOP Regional Council. As well, there is a free burner removal option (coal ranges, chip heaters, indoor open fires, wood or coal burners etc.). If you have any questions regarding this, or if there is a cost, please contact:
Marion Henton

Phone: 0800 884 881 Extension 9245

Email: Marion.Henton@boprc.govt.nz

What to do when Someone Dies

Click HERE for steps and information to help you through the death of a loved one. In this part we will concentrate on how to deal with IRD.

Notify IRD of the Death
Use myTrove to notify IRD of the death. When you use myTrove, there is no need to provide IRD with a New Zealand Death Certificate.

If you choose, myTrove can also notify the Department of Internal Affairs (for passports), a number of Banks and Insurers, and other organisations as they are added to the myTrove service.

Get proof you can act on behalf of the person who has died
IRD needs proof you can act on behalf of the person who has died. This means you can send IRD information about them and receive information from IRD.

This proof must be written confirmation, such as a:

letter or secure mail through myIR from a lawyer
letter of administration
copy of the will
copy of probate.

If no will, probate or letter of administration exists you may also complete a IR625 Statutory Declaration form. Please be aware the IR625 Statutory Declaration form only gives you the ability provide a bank account number for a refund of less than $15,000. The form does not give you authorisation to speak or action any changes on behalf of the deceased.

Send IRD the Documents
You can upload a PDF of the required documents in myTrove when you complete your notification, or send them to IRD by post:

Inland Revenue, PO Box 39010, Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045.

If you send the original, please include a return address so IRD can send it back to you.

What happens next
Once IRD receives proof of death and confirmation you can act for the person who has died, IRD will process this. This can take 10 weeks.

You should contact the KiwiSaver scheme provider directly to claim KiwiSaver funds that are not held with Inland Revenue.

If they had a student loan IRD will write this off.

Your Responsibilities

Contact IRD to tidy up the person’s tax and other financial affairs.
If the person who has died was a paying parent for child support, you need to let IRD know that payments will stop.
If the person who has died was a receiving carer, you need to let IRD know they will no longer receive payments. Any child support owing will go to their estate.
You must arrange for the estate of the person to pay any outstanding debt, including child support.
You must let IRD know if the estate of the paying parent has no funds available. IRD may write off any outstanding debts, including child support.
Notify IRD about any changes to your Working for Families situation.
You might want to search the unclaimed monies register in case there is money in the name of the person who died.

Contact IRD

0800 227 774 if you have any questions about this.

Grey Power Subscription

More than half of our members have already renewed their membership. We'd like to thank them for the continued support of Grey Power. Without your support, the organisation would fold very quickly. The new payment method using the credit/debit card has been popular and we are looking at additional options in the office to make this process easier there as well.

If you just realised that you haven't renewed your subscription yet, why not do it right now before it is forgotten again?

Note: Paying by credit/debit card is not available in the office (only EFTPOS and cash).