Advocacy for our Older Community
C Bavister, Secretary
April Ramblings
If you sent an email through in the last few weeks and it was not answered, apologies. It took a while to set things in place with the absence of the secretary who is now back if only at half speed. At least I can pen my Ramblings again.
Having been away from all actions for a few months, I'm slowly getting back. Well, it is still raining and the grass is extra long. As soon as it is mowed, it rains again. So, nothing has really changed.
The government has increased our pension, eaten up in the increase in fuel of course except if you have an electric vehicle. Even those of us who don’t have a car, it is an excuse for food prices to go up.
Thank you to all of you who have paid your subscription fees for 2026/2027. Just over 50% of the total membership have renewed. Let's make it to 100% by the end of the month.
The latest Grey Power Federation magazine is available from the office. If you are like me and prefer to read a paper magazine rather than a digital one, come and grab one.
If you have an idea for forums or would like a person to come and speak to us please send us an email.
Lastly, just in case you missed the annual general meeting (AGM). We had 16 apologies and 13 members attending. The lowest attendance of any AGM in living memory. Once the committee has reviewed the minutes we will send it out.
BreastScreen Aotearoa
Grey Power Electricity/Editor
Greg Brookes
BreastScreen Aotearoa Programme
BreastScreen Aotearoa is the national breast screening service offering free mammograms every 2 years to women aged 45 to 69. The age range started to be extended in October 2025.
The BreastScreen Aotearoa programme aims to:
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detect breast cancer early, when it is most treatable
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reduce deaths from breast cancer through early diagnosis and treatment
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provide equitable access to screening.
The current coverage target is for 2-yearly screening of 70% of eligible women.
The programme is delivered throughout the country by 8 breast screening providers who provide services from fixed sites and mobile screening units.
Grey Power Electricity Complaints and Queries
The contact details for complaints or questions are:
Phone: 0800 473 976
Website: https://pulseenergy.co.nz/feedback-or-complaints/
Email: customer.care@greypowerelectricity.co.nz
Your local Grey Power association is unfortunately not able to resolve such issues. If you have communication issues, feel free to come to the office for assistance
The Japanese Secret to Fat Loss
Most people approach fat loss and fitness the same way. They decide things need to change, they change everything at once, and within two weeks they're back where they started, frustrated and wondering why it never seems to stick.
It's not a willpower problem. It's a strategy problem.
The people I've seen get lasting results share one thing in common. They didn't try to fix everything overnight. They picked one thing, improved it, and built from there.
The Japanese have a word for this: kaizen. It translates roughly as "continuous improvement." Not revolution. Not reinvention. Just the steady, patient practice of getting one thing slightly better, then moving on to the next.
It applies to every area of life. But nowhere more powerfully than in how we eat and how we train.
Start with your diet
Most people approach fat loss by trying to fix everything at once. Cut out alcohol, stop eating sugar, meal prep every Sunday, hit the gym 5 days a week.
By week 2, they've abandoned all of it because the gap between where they are and where they're trying to be is simply too large.
The kaizen approach is different. You look at your diet honestly and ask one question: "What is the single thing doing the most damage?". Not five things. One thing.
For most people it is obvious when they look closely. It might be the nightly glass of wine that became two. The chocolate after dinner that became a habit. The fizzy drinks, the Friday takeaway, the mindless snacking after 9pm.
Whatever it is, that is where you start. Not by eliminating it overnight, but by reducing it. One less drink. A smaller portion. 3 nights a week instead of 7. Just that one thing, for a month. When that feels manageable, find the next thing. Then the next.
This is not sexy advice. But it works, because it is sustainable. And sustainable always beats dramatic.
Greenpeace (edited)
Plastic and Reusables
Let's talk about Plastic and Reusables. Believe it or not, you have more power than you think when it comes to tackling plastic pollution.
The truth is, plastic hasn’t been here long. Plastic was invented after World War Two and the tsunami of plastic waste has massively multiplied in just the last twenty years. Global plastic production doubled from 2000 to 2019.
While this can feel overwhelming, it also means we can turn it around!
Only 9% has ever been recycled. The rest? Burned, buried, or dumped into our environment. Recycling won’t solve the plastics crisis – but together, we can. It needs a strong global approach to dramatically cut plastic production.
We need to usher in a circular economy, where what is produced and used by us is in turn reused for as long as possible, and properly recycled. Here are some tips on how you can incorporate this into your daily life, starting today!
🛍️ Tip #1: Carry your reusables
Every tote bag, drink bottle, and coffee cup you use is a direct refusal to support more plastic production. Make them part of your daily essentials – like your keys or phone – so those “just this once” moments disappear.
🧃❌ Tip #2: Refuse the unnecessary
Say no to plastic straws, lids, cutlery, and anything designed to be used once and tossed. Next time you’re offered something single-use like this, politely refuse.
🗣️Tip #3: Conversations
Ask your favourite cafes or stores if they accept reusables – or if they will offer a discount for using them! Encourage them to try non-plastic takeaway items – you can also see if your workplace can provide reusable cups for coffee runs.
📣 Tip #4: Call out the polluters
Corporations shift the blame for plastic pollution onto consumers, people like you and me. This needs to change and those who are causing the majority of the plastic production and waste, need to be held responsible and accountable. Call for the New Zealand government to support a strong Global Plastics Treaty, which could cut plastic production by at least 75%!
Homework! Even if you just do a couple of these things you will be having an impact.
⏹️ Use only your reusables for a whole week
⏹️ Politely decline any takeaway plastic items
⏹️ Have a reusable with you for all occasions when you’re offered single-use plastic
⏹️ Talk with your favourite cafe or takeaway spot about using non-plastic items
You don’t have to be perfect to make a difference. Every reusable you carry, every conversation you have, and every time you speak out chips away at the plastic problem and helps build a better future. Together, we can turn the tide.
Consumer NZ (edited)
Bumps in Power Prices
Households should brace for another big bump in power prices in the year ahead. The price predictions from Consumer NZ come at a time when nearly half of all New Zealanders are concerned about the cost of their household energy.
“Power bills are hiking up because of an increase in lines charges’ costs – that’s the cost of delivering power to your house, and it’s the amount on your bill that stays the same regardless of how much power you use,” said Paul Fuge, Powerswitch manager.
The lines charge makes up just over one-third of the power bill, and a small hike to that fixed cost makes a big difference to monthly bills.
Consumer recommends budgeting for an increase to power bills from the end of April. Customers can expect line charges alone to climb by an average of $5 per month through to 2029.
“The lines charge will add an average of $5 per month to your bill, but this figure will vary depending on where you live and who your retailer is. As well as the fixed costs, we expect consumers will face increases to the cost of the electricity they use too,” said Fuge.
Why power prices keep going up
The cost of running and maintaining the electricity networks has increased, and this cost flows through to people’s power bills.
“It’s an unfortunate reality that households are being asked to shoulder higher charges to have electricity delivered to their homes. But at the same time, heavy rainfall over summer – so extensive that major hydro lakes are spilling water – has driven down wholesale electricity prices. Those lower generation costs should be easing the pressure on consumers by offsetting these rising lines charges. That doesn't seem to be happening. And that’s deeply unfair."
The impact of ever-increasing power bills
Consumer’s research found that, last winter, one in five New Zealanders went to bed early to stay warm, one-quarter of people went without heating when it was cold and nearly one in five people cut back on food or other essentials to pay a power bill.
“These drastic measures to manage power bills are not limited to one age group – young adults, older New Zealanders and everyone in between are being forced into uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe choices.
“Based on our price predictions for 2026, we think the situation will only get worse,” says Fuge.
Consumer’s tips for managing power price surges
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Check you’re on the cheapest plan – Power retailers are constantly changing their offers. Just because you picked the cheapest plan last year, it doesn’t mean it’s the best plan available now. You can find if there’s a plan that’s better for you through the free and independent power comparison website Powerswitch. Grey Power Electricity should be the first port of call for Grey Power members to check if they are on the best plan.
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Keep your eye out for April price rises – Power retailers typically increase their prices from April. Check your invoice for any changes.
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Understand your power usage – If you can do most of your power-hungry activities, like running your washing machine and dryer, in off-peak periods, you could make big savings. Off-peak periods are usually late at night, the middle of the day and weekends. You need to be on a time-of-use plan to save the most from your off-peak power usage. Being careful with when you use your power could potentially help you offset the price rises that we are predicting.
