retirement today issue 7

NEWS I TRAVEL I SOCIETY I AROUND THE HOME I LIFE & LIVING MOTORING I WILLS & TRUSTS I GARDEN I LIVING OPTIONS

COMPLIMENTARY!

Living well and ageing gracefully in a modern societyISSUE 72012

Wine aeratorPG 30

10 Trends we’re over PG 26

Volvo’s “geartronic”PG 44

IMPACT SKIN REPAIR AND OTHER PRIZES TO BE WONSEE PAGE 3 FOR DETAILSThe sustainable

way PG 54

TEN STEP GUIDE TO MAKING A WILL PG47

HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH FOR RETIREMENT? PG 13

TAKE THE OUCH OUT OF GARDENING PG 52

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE...

PROFILES

8 - 11

AROUND THE HOME

28 - 33

WILLS & TRUSTS

45 - 50

TRAVEL

14 - 21

LIFE & LIVING

34 - 38

SOCIETY

22 - 27

MOTORING

39 - 44

LIVING OPTIONS

55 - 63

FEATURE PROFILE

4 - 7

GARDEN

51 - 54

2 Retirement Today Issue 7 2012

Contents

Publisher Gary Collins

General Manager Rebecca Harris

ADVERTISING Sales Team: Evaon Watkins Verne Williams

PRODUCTIONProduction Co-ordinator: Katie Bolt [email protected]

Chief Designer: Vanessa Karabassis

NEWSROOMEditor: Jonathon Taylor [email protected]

ADMINISTRATION47b Birmingham Dr PO Box 1879 Christchurch 8140 New Zealand

Phone: 03 961 5050 Fax: 0800 482 7438 www.academy.net.nz

DISCLAIMER: This publication is provided on the basis that A-mark Publishing is not responsible for the results of any actions taken on the basis of information in these articles, nor for any error in or omission from these articles and that the firm is not hereby engaged in rendering advice or services. A-mark Publishing expressly disclaim all and any liability and responsibility to any person in respect of anything and of the consequences of anything done, or omitted to be done by any such a person in reliance, whether wholly or partially upon the whole or any part of the contents of this publication. Contents Copyright 2012 by A-mark Publishing. All rights reserved. No article or advertisement may be reproduced without written permission.

Issue 7: 2012

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Issue 6 Winners!Luke Raharuhi – RichmondJoan Ford – LeestonDawn Drummond – GoreBev Mantle – ChristchurchRebecca Fisher – AucklandJude Collins – HastingsSherrie Tucker – Morrinsville

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32012 Issue 7 Retirement Today

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Thinking outside the proverbial box is more than just an overused expression for the Wizard of New Zealand. He has built his entire identity on thinking laterally. Of course the irony is that said boxes are quite literally taking over his favourite city. So it’s not surprising he’s a little miffed.

“It’s cruel barbarism. They are destroying the soul of our city,” he says of the temporary cargo container stores occupying Cashel Mall. Never one to take insult lying down, he’s armed himself with flyers and petitions to protest against what he describes as the “emotional destruction of our physical heritage”.

While the earthquakes and devastation they caused were a natural disaster, the destruction that followed them was

The WizardBy Melinda Collins

what he calls a “man-made disaster”. “Often independent engineers’ reports obtained by owners of significant buildings, stating that they could be saved and strengthened, were simply ignored and the buildings razed to the ground.”

Instead of carefully rendering the ruins safe and fencing off sites to decide what to do later, he says the Government demanded the demolition, often unnecessarily, of many heritage buildings and the immediate clearing of the sites.

“Tourists might want to come and see interesting fenced-off ruins, but no one wants to look at empty bomb sites and tourists certainly won’t come to see this,” he adds, gesturing again towards the container mall. “The world is full of boxes. It’s the way our minds work now; sterile… no passion,” he explains.


Profiles

He’s certainly lacking none himself. The English born educator, comedian, magician and politician has become somewhat of an icon in New Zealand. In fact, if the number of tourists who approach him as we talk are any measure of global status, he is likely one of the most successful brands, with a reach even the most successful can only dream of. He’s what we call world famous in New Zealand; about as Kiwi as Phar Lap and pavlova, but unlike the aforementioned, Australia actually did have him first. It was across the Tasman where he honed his ability to challenge the most embedded of conventions.

With a double honours degree in psychology and sociology from the University of Leeds, Ian Brackenbury Channell, as he was then known, moved to our neighbour’s corner of the South Pacific to both teach and learn. It was here where he began to challenge the “complacent and dull” university

bureaucracy and while he did achieve reforms in participatory democracy, a significant part of his fulfilment was from the entertainment he provided.

So he set out to “blow the university up with funpower” by starting one of the first student movements in Australia with the moniker Alf (Action for Love and Freedom), which later implemented ‘The Fun Revolution’.

If the Sydney Morning Herald’s description of the University of New South Wales as “the university that swings” was anything to go by, Channell’s

movement was a success.

While his “inactive and irresponsible” head of department was convinced he was mad and succeeded in getting him dismissed from his sociology thesis, he was able to convince the Vice Chancellor to appoint him as the official University Wizard with a small honorarium paid to allow him to continue his social experiments.

Continued on next page

“He’s what we call world famous in New Zealand...”


Profiles

He allowed his driving license, social security ID, passport and other important documents to lapse so that he could become a fictional character... a radical new conceptual art form. He received backing from the World University Service headquarters in Geneva to travel around Australian universities to promote his new revitalisation movement, until the headquarters were taken over and he was cut off. He began to work for Melbourne University as an unpaid Cosmologer, Living Work of Art and Shaman.

But it wasn’t to last. “I could sense a dead end coming from the intellects; the rational thinkers. The more rational you try to be, the more insane you get. Rational thinking is what damages the world. I couldn’t join the academics; the universities were preventing free speech; it was calculated utilitarianism. I couldn’t see a future in that.“

So in 1974 the Wizard migrated to Christchurch and began to speak on a ladder in Cathedral Square.

Wearing a brown, animal skin like costume, a la The Flinstones, he began addressing astonished locals in the recently improved Cathedral Square on such topics as the evils of usury, the need for an established state religion, the necessity for men to inspire obedience in their wives and the dangers of secularisation, especially multicultural, Disneyland type Americanisation.

The City Council attempted to have him arrested, but he out-manoeuvred them and became so popular they were forced to make the square a public speaking area. In 1982 the New Zealand Art Gallery Directors Association issued a statement which deemed the Wizard to be an authentic living work of art and the City Council appointed him Wizard of Christchurch. In 1990 the Prime Minister, Mike Moore, an old friend, appointed him the official Wizard of New Zealand.

Then, in 1995, the City Council actually joined forces with the Wizard, hosting a ‘Wizard’s Conclave’ involving various ‘wizarding rituals’ around the city.


Profiles

While he does not intimidate others, or even break the law, satisfied with bending it into some rather surprising shapes, he has continued to stand up for what he considers the greatest social injustices of the city, including the telephone box war which broke out in October 1988.

On one side the Wizard and a few members of Alf’s Imperial Army; on the other Telecom New Zealand. This massive organisation had recently taken over the telephone operations of the dismantled Government Post Office, which proceeded to paint the historically red telephone boxes blue. It was a war the Wizard would ultimately win.

Today he is most notable perhaps for his controversial utterances on the now crippled pavers of the Cathedral Square, dressed as a prophet with his pointy wizard’s hat. But it’s the controversial viewpoints he proposes that have played more of a part in his image. “He hates women,” I am told emphatically as I animatedly tell others of my imminent meeting with the Wizard himself.

The subject comes up in discussion too. It’s then that I begin to realise his modus operandi, or at least think I do. He’s written academic papers on the evolution of gender roles and I suspect he just plain and simply likes to challenge the norm. Comments such as “Good women are educated feminists who don’t like kids and housework,” do nothing to dampen this suspicion. He has his own feminist at home. “The feminist works; she’s the one supporting me,” he explains quite proudly.

While he does receive a modest annual honorarium, it is through his partner

Alice Flett’s support that allows for his radical lifestyle. While he goes so far as to say he thinks women are trying to take over the world, he seems only to take issue with the men who allow themselves to be controlled by women. He’s averse to working too, explaining that he “couldn’t possibly have a job; I wouldn’t think it right to work for someone.”

He’s probably not far wrong. An incredibly intelligent and fascinating human, one couldn’t imagine him conforming to any degree of conventional living. “My life is an experiment in reality,” he tells me. “In 40 years no one has been able to understand what I’m doing.

“And you know what? They don’t need to.”

But if what he’s trying to do is to stir debate, get people thinking and challenge convention, he’s certainly succeeding.


Profiles

April, 1962. A restless John Anderson sits in his London bedsit, itching to see Europe. The young Kiwi has caught the travel bug. Badly. It’s been fueled by high school geography classes, a weekend in Paris and the trip to England from New Zealand via the exotic Middle East.

It soon dawns on him that he isn’t the only Kiwi desperate to see the Continent and starts to do some research. He crunches a few numbers and figures out if he fills a combi van with other young people, takes them around Europe staying at campsites, he can charge them a set rate and go himself for free. He’s only been to France before, can’t speak any of the languages, but is determined to give it a shot. He puts up hand-written signs detailing his concept, finds some unsuspecting passengers, piles up the second hand van and is off.

But as this haphazard van of mayhem meandered through Europe, the wheels of a new empire were turning. Contiki was underway. Nearly 50 years on from that original trip, Contiki tours have taken more than two million passengers to places all around the world.

Anderson believes he was born an entrepreneur. As a child he kept chickens and sold their eggs to neighbours; grew plants and sold them at local shops. Like many of the entrepreneurs he’s met, Anderson wasn’t a shining star at school.

“Quite often when you’re in the B stream you’ve got to try that much harder. A lot of

the guys or girls in A stream just take it for granted they will make it to the top, while for us in the B stream, we’ve just got to try that much harder and it just follows through later in life, you make that extra effort because it’s become a habit.”

It was that drive that spurred the creation of Contiki from a couple of successful trips in 1962. In 63, Anderson ran the tour a few more times, learning from his mistakes and making it smoother. It grew and grew. Soon he was employing drivers and tour leaders, sending several vans a year off to Europe.

Always hungry for ways to make the trip better, he built tent villages within camp sites, and then bought iconic places such as a French chateau and an Italian villa for Contiki groups to stay in.

The company went global. Within a few decades Contiki buses explored routes through New Zealand, Australia, the USA and Canada. Other operators jumped on his concept and formed rival companies, but all but a few went under in the end.

Anderson left Contiki after losing a lot in the 87 stockmarket crash. But at age 72, he’s far from retired. He works the professional speaking circuit, has started another tourism company and written a book titled ‘Only Two Seats Left’ about Contiki’s success.

The trip of a lifetime By Bridget Gourlay

John Anderson


Profiles

Contours Nearly 50 years after his first Contiki trip, and no spring chicken, Anderson is the force behind a new company – one called Contours. This company takes people aged 45 plus around South America, a place Anderson and his wife fell in love with when they first visited three years ago.

Contours is run by Anderson and one of the first Contiki drivers, a man named Ted Dziadkiewicz, who has run South American tours for decades.

“The theory was a lot of Contiki passengers who had a good time in their 20s could come and trust us again now they’re over 45. Also I believe South America could well be challenging Europe in the next 10-15 years as the in place to go. At the moment they’re getting the infrastructure together, they’re not ready for mass tourism yet.”

Again, Dziadkiewicz and Anderson knew they needed a point of difference, especially as today there are numerous tours of South America. The pair decided that like Contiki, Contours would be about quality.

“We’re going to go for comfort – four and five star hotels, we’re going to put in all those unique features the other

tour programmes don’t have. We’ve put environmental features in as that’s what the market now wants.

“We want the experiences to be authentic and not ruined by a large crowd of tourists, so we cap the group at 18. For example, when we found a great restaurant in Buenos Areas, we decided to divide the group up – nine for one night, nine for the next to keep it small.”

The first Contours trips left in February and seven have returned successfully. There are currently only three routes, as the company wants to have them well-established before it adds more. Contours trips to Cuba and Mexico are being developed – and Anderson already knows one person who has booked based on word of mouth advertising.

Hitting the road again In the northern hemisphere summer of 2012 Anderson and his wife Ali travelled around Europe once more, tracing the original Contiki route. It will mark 50 years from that memorable trip of 1962 that started what is now a tourism empire.

Of all his successes, Anderson says he loves speaking about Contiki and when people from the audience tell him about the life-long friends and relationships that were formed as young people on a bumpy road, winding through a foreign land.

On the trip in 2012, Anderson is bound to see several brightly coloured Contiki buses, as this generation sets off on its own life-changing experiences. As he always does when he sees a Contiki bus, Anderson will wave as they go past. I’m sure many of the excited young people will wave back, thinking he is just a friendly older gentleman wishing them well, not knowing who he is or what he has created.

www.contourstravel.com.auwww.onlytwoseatsleft.com


Profiles

When Julie Biuso was 13, she lied about her age and got a job waitressing in a Chinese restaurant. She’d fallen in love you see – not with a boy, but with a country.

Her French teacher regaled the class with tales of food; the warm fresh bread, the delicious meals, the raft of cheeses and Biuso was determined to experience it for herself.

Of course, she needed the money to get there which was how she wound up washing dishes in a busy, steamy kitchen in only her first year at high school. It’s an apt summation of the woman she remains today; when Julie Biuso has a goal, she works as hard as she can pursuing it and it’s not often she doesn’t make it in the end.

It’s a quality which has seen her varied career as an award winning chef, broadcaster and food journalist span decades; one that has married food, business and much in between.

Growing good food Biuso remembers a 1950s childhood of meat and three veg, when items like garlic and peppers were considered exotic. But, she says, New Zealand shed that mindset decades ago.

“There’s all sorts of new things that are popping up, like the gorgeous pine nuts that are just coming onto the market that are grown in Blenheim. The trees were first planted in 1998, they took quite a few years to produce sufficient quantity to put on the market, and they are amazing! All these off-the-mainstream little industries are rumbling away and are coming into fruition. They will explode soon.”

By Bridget Gourlay

Take olive oil, something Biuso fell in love with in Italy. “There’s one huge estate in South Australia that produces more olive oil than all of New Zealand put together, but a lot of that oil is flabby and second tier and what we do produce in New Zealand is of very high quality; it’s low acid, fruity and has peppery flavours. What we do do, we do very well and there are other industries like honey and elderflower.”

As with almost everything we do, the New Zealand industry must look to quality not quantity. Often this means taking a commercially viable staple and adding value – and that takes creativity.

“I think we’ve got very good products to begin with but we’re very experimental. I see us becoming quite a force because we don’t have those old ties to any country so we’re free as a bird. That’s a great thing because it allows our creativity to come through.

“Maybe we’ve got good soil and good climate but there’s some of that tenacity too. We want to do well and it shows in the end product.”

it out

Julie’s raspberry fairy cake

Julie


Profiles

However, today’s modern life often means a sense of disconnect, something Biuso is worried about. In a world of plastic pre-packaged meals, New Zealanders can go for days without preparing and eating something fresh.

“I’m really concerned that people are losing touch – and I mean that in a real physical sense – with what they eat. We need to be pushing the message to cook from scratch. Don’t buy garlic squeezed in a tube - why can’t you just peel a clove of garlic for goodness sake? Then you’ve got your own garlic with nothing in it, in a natural state.” This passion for fresh and local led to her role as an ambassador for Farmers’ Market New Zealand. But it’s not just the good food she thinks is important, but the way we eat it.

“We’re losing a little bit of that eating around a table and sharing; not just for the good feeling of the family being united and it doesn’t matter what your family consists of - but the sharing thing over food.

“It’s a binding thing. We’re eating at a desk over the computer working late, grabbing something to eat before we go to the gym. Dashing off here, that really starts to destroy the fabric of daily life and to me that’s an important thing we teach our young kids.”

Sweet feasts Biuso’s latest recipe book, Sweet Feast has hit the bookshelves. Sometimes clichés are all that fits, and each page of Sweet Feast is quite literally mouth-watering. It features light fluffy sponge cakes, exotic looking almond tartlettes and Kiwiana twists on classic dessert items – such as rhubarb brulee.

And Biuso thinks people shouldn’t be wary of what occasional homemade baking will do to their waistlines. “The message gets a bit convoluted,” she says.

“My father lived until he was 99 and he grew his own vegetables until the last year of his life. He totally believed in moderation and that included sweet things. I think that’s the way to go, if it’s part of a healthy diet, homemade cakes and biscuits are gorgeous, they make a special occasion.

Sweet Feast is her 15th book. Today she combines her writing with running cooking classes in Auckland for the passionate amateur.

Most exciting has been her recent – and what she describes as her most prestigious - appointment as the Ambassador for the New Zealand branch of the famed Le Cordon Bleu cooking school. Her career has gone full circle, from a 20-something newbie at the prestigious culinary school in London to being an ambassador for it back home.

“Funny how life works!” she says.

Reflecting on her life, Biuso is thankful for being able to make a career from combining her cooking and writing talents. “It’s a nice lifestyle to be able to do things you enjoy,” she reflects. “I consider myself really lucky.”

Julie doing a live cooking demonstration

Julie’s 15th book


Profiles

Four simple ways to improve

A new year is viewed by millions as a time for new resolutions, new schedules and a clean start. These resolutions are often made impulsively, with little thought given to long-term goals which means they are usually short-lived. Examining a few health facts and implementing some simple lifestyle changes each day will make a difference to overall health.

Meditation minimises diseaseMeditation is a phenomenal way to instantly take control of your health. Studies indicate that a mere 20 minutes of quiet time a day can halve one’s risk of heart attack or stroke, by reducing high blood pressure and cholesterol. In countries such as India and China, meditation has been used for centuries as a way to lower stress levels and improve concentration. Scientists have found that transcendental meditation, which promotes deeper relaxation through mantras, is even more beneficial for the mind and body. Tests show that sufferers of atherosclerosis were able to reduce their risk of a fatal heart attack or stroke by 47 percent, compared to those who simply followed a healthy diet and exercise program.

Replace hazardous laundry detergentsCertain liquid laundry detergents contain cancer-causing chemicals. Research shows that these harmful cleaning aids contain around 25 volatile compounds, which may make people sick. Fumes from washing machines and dryers release harmful chemicals, such as acetaldehyde, into the atmosphere, which may also find their way into the water supply. Shop for safer, less dangerous detergents which will help your health and the environment too.

By Fleur Hupston

Juice your own fruits and vegetables for better healthBuying a carton of juice from the store can be hazardous to your health. Just because the label says “100% pure” or “freshly squeezed” does not mean it is true. In processing orange juice, for example, most manufactures remove all the oxygen molecules from the liquid, which allows the juice to be stored for up to a year. As this process strips the juices of their flavors, juice companies then add fragrance and flavor additives to the product. Avoid processed, stored products and take the time to juice your own fruits and vegetables as a great kick-start to better health.

Reduce beer consumption and drink alcohol in moderationHeavy beer drinkers risk liver damage and a bigger beer belly. According to experts who studied the health of more than 500,000 people between the ages of 35 to 70, it was found that those who drank 30g of pure alcohol a day from beer had a massive 75 percent increased risk of developing stomach cancer. Worse still, heavy beer drinkers with a particular gene variant in the cluster of three genes that metabolize alcohol have an even greater chance of getting stomach cancer, according to the American Association for Cancer Research. Ideally, all alcohol should be taken with food, such as a glass of wine with a meal, and spirits should be enjoyed in moderation.

About the authorFleur Hupston is a professional freelance writer. She is passionate about natural, healthy living and is currently studying to be a naturopath. She divides her time between studying, writing and home-schooling her children. Article kindly provided courtesy of NaturalNews.com


News

http://www.naturalnews.com

Four simple ways to improve

New Zealanders are living longer and expecting more from their retirement, but the ongoing research says Kiwis may not be saving enough.

Russell Investments managing director Alister Van der Maas says if New Zealanders are looking for a place to start in deciding their level of retirement funding, then Target Replacement Income (TRI) is a formula that provides a realistic, if slightly scary place to begin.

“The formula works by taking your expected final salary in retirement and asking you to decide what level of income you think you could comfortably live on. In order to have about a 90 percent probability of achieving that level of income for retirement, you multiply that number by 30 percent and that tells you how much of your current earnings you should be saving to reach that level in retirement.

“The 30 percent is a number that comes from all sorts of actuarial tables and other calculations, but it is universally regarded as the right number to realistically have a chance at achieving that target income. “

“For example, if you earn $100,000 now and feel you can comfortably retire on $60,000 per year, you multiply $60,000 by 30 percent and the amount you need to be saving from your $100,000 current earnings is 18 percent.

“Now for Kiwis currently saving two to four percent in their Kiwisaver and probably also

investing in their home, that’s a difficult number to achieve and even harder for those on lower incomes. If you factor in selling the home, you add maybe five to seven percent, but smaller style homes, apartments and townhouses are currently closing the price gap on the large homes people are looking to sell.”

Mr Van der Maas says changing demographics and potential changes to government policy also further complicate the retirement savings picture.

“You are looking at requiring an income for 20-25 years without working and earning anything additional. At the moment in New Zealand we have government super, but a universal allowance is something people like me in their forties can’t rely on in the future, as it may just become too expensive for governments and future taxpayers to sustain.”

Mr Van der Maas says factors such as healthcare costs and the possibility of the requirement for long-term care add to retirement being an expensive business.

“Some of the research out there points to $500,000 as a minimum each individual should aim for, but while the circumstances will vary widely for each person, what we do know for certain is that the number is a lot higher than most people expect. So if you save more over the course of your working life you will definitely be better off in your retirement.”

How much is enough for retirement?


News

By Bridget Gourlay

French Pacific Paradise

An array of fresh crusty bread stands before me, the smell of baking scents the muggy air. There are very few places in this world I’d rather be then in a French bakery. As I stand in line, desperately trying to make a choice, I watch the bakers weave in and out of the shop with trays of delights – pastries, brioche, croissants. When it’s my turn, I bring out my rusty French to order and am handed a pain au raisin; the smell intoxicating, the bread warm.

Despite this very French scene, I’m not in Europe at all but much closer to home – Noumea, the capital of New Caledonia. Outside the bakery, palm trees wave in the wind, the sun beats down on the sparkling sea.

There’s no doubt about it, the essential Pacific ingredients of sun, surf and sand exist here giving it a double appeal – it’s both a slice of France a few hours from Auckland, but also does the Pacific Island paradise thing very, very well.

Although it is one of our Pacific neighbors, I and many other New Zealanders probably don’t know as much about New Caledonia as we do countries like Fiji and Tonga. But it has a rich and fascinating history that greatly impacts on its politics today.

Until 1755, New Caledonia was home to the Kanaks, a Melanesian people

who hunted and fished on the exquisite islands. When it was colonised by the French, it was turned into a penal colony and many of the indigenous people were rounded up and enslaved in sugar plantations in Queensland, Fiji and Samoa. This practice, called “blackbirding”, is one of the ugliest moments in the history of the Pacific.

A century and a half on, New Caledonia today is home to a mélange of cultures. Firstly, there’s the French fresh from Europe that work on the island, usually in the top jobs like running hotels, in the military and in the lucrative nickel industry.

Then there’s the New Caledonians descended from the 18th century prisoners and other French settlers – a mix of white, African and Arab people, and then the Chinese and Indonesians who arrived over a century ago.

With the indigenous Kanaks, all these cultures live together in Noumea; the country’s humming capital. As you explore you’ll see Buddhist temples and Catholic churches, typically French treelined boulevards by the sparkling Pacific Ocean, menus that have Asian, French and Kanak food.

To really soak in Noumea’s charm, chill at the Place de Cocotiers. That’s the grassy square right in the city’s heart; lined with trees and humming with cicadas.


Travel

There’ll be children playing, heat-exhausted tourists seeking shade and locals napping beneath the trees. In the middle of it stands an historic rotunda where bands frequently play, there’s a giant chess set in one corner, and – of course - a petanque pitch.

They say never judge a book by its cover, and I believe you should never judge a city by its capital. France is filled with friendly people and a slower-paced lifestyle, which you’d never believe on a trip to Paris.

The same can be said about London and England or Madrid and Spain. Walking in Noumea you could think you were in a small French city, but you’d never make that mistake in the rest of New Caledonia. In the countryside, there’s lush rainforest, crystal lagoons and some of the best beaches in the world.

That’s why I visited Amedee Island, only an hour’s boat ride from Noumea but truly a world away. The tiny island’s centre has an historic lighthouse, which the more energetic climb for an amazing view, while other visitors laze on the beach. It’s a tourist hub, and locals enthusiastically put on a number of demonstrations; there’s dancing, and an enormous buffet. But the thing that will forever be burned into my mind was an encounter with one of the island’s reptilian residents.

I was standing under the shade of a large tree watching a Kanak man climb a coconut tree to the top in the lazy, effortless way we might walk a couple of metres. He was helping a tourist try to do the same thing while we cheered them on.

Suddenly, a foot long snake dropped out of the branch in front of me, hung

in mid air for a second, looked me right in the eye, then fell to the floor. They say travel is about finding yourself; and I really never knew I could yell so loud or run so fast.

Worst of all was catching the look from the group of Australians next to me, who hadn’t moved an inch throughout the entire hullabaloo. There was a smirk on their faces that seemed to say ‘Kiwis. A foot long slightly-venomous snake is nothing.’

It wasn’t until I was on the boat riding back to Noumea, reflecting on the day at the barely inhabited island, that I realised the incident with the snake had actually been a highlight of the whole trip. Because, just for a moment, I’d looked a wild creature right in the eye.

Sure, I’d made a fool of myself and my country by screaming my head off, but that didn’t really matter. I sat on the roof of the boat, watching the imposing island lighthouse shrink to a pinprick in the distance. A local pointed out a giant turtle to his son, and later dolphins swam alongside us.

It’s not everyday a city girl gets that close to nature. Just for an instant, I forgot the hustle and bustle of Noumea, the traffic that awaited me, and was simply overwhelmed by the wild animals, the noise of the waves, the blue and endless sea.


Travel

Fantastic, fabulous, unforgettable Santorini deserves all the superlatives it gets. Every traveller succumbs to the beauty of this surreal, postcard landscape. Santorini is a relic of what was probably the biggest volcanic eruption in recorded history.

If you want to experience the full dramatic impact of Santorini it’s worth arriving by a slower ferry with open decks, rather than by enclosed catamaran or hydrofoil. Santorini is famous for its spectacular sunsets. The village of Oia on the northern

tip of the island is a hugely popular sunset viewing site because there is an uninterrupted view of the sun as it finally sinks below the horizon. Further south the last of the setting sun can be obscured by the islands of Nea Kameni and Thirasia.

Santorini has a wide variety of accommodation to choose from. Many are nestled and built in high among the cliff tops. Spiliotica Villas offers stunning views down over the ocean.

Check out: www.avatonresort.com or www.anastasisapartments.com

Santorini A place in the sun


Travel

You’ll feel like a modern version of Tarzan and Jane with this unique New Zealand accommodation, nested 30 feet above the ground in the canopy of a native Manuka grove. Each tree house has spectacular views of Kaikoura’s dramatic mountains and surf-washed Pacific coastline. The tree houses provide the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion- escape and treat yourself to the Tarzan & Jane Tree House retreat package.

This package includes one night in a luxury tree house, a bottle of wine on arrival, dinner and breakfast at $795 per couple (excluding GST). Whether you are looking for relaxation, nature, excitement, art, history and culture, or fine wines and cuisine, Kaikoura offers it all.

Hapuku Lodge & Tree Houses

For more information visit: www.hapukulodge.com


Travel

Leaving your home unattended is always a bit nerve wracking. However, if you are planning a holiday there are some simple measures to help protect your place from burglars.

ADT Armourguard general manager Ian Anderson says it’s important that home owners remain vigilant and take time to carefully evaluate home security measures.

“Nobody wants to return home from a relaxing break to find their house has been damaged or broken into.”

Ian says the best defence against burglary is prevention and planning, and generally making a home unappealing to burglars.

The following tips can help keep home owners’ property safe:

• Beware of who may be listening. Never announce travel plans in public areas close to home where others can overhear your conversation, or in online chat rooms and websites such as Facebook

• Don’t leave notes for family or friends outside your home as potential burglars can and will read them

• Notify a trusted neighbour of your travel dates and discuss a reciprocal arrangement involving:

• Putting out your rubbish on collection day or putting their bin in front of your house.

• Clearing flyers, mail and packages left in front entrances and mailboxes.

• Occasionally parking their car in your driveway or in front of your home.

• Make sure all windows and doors are properly closed and locked. Use quality deadbolt or door locks as it is surprisingly easy to open a lock without one

• Never hide spare keys in mailboxes, under doormats, above doorways or anywhere visible from the entry. Burglars know most of the hiding places

• Don’t leave tools lying around outside as this can invite impulse burglars to use them to break into your home

• Do not let valuables be seen from the outside of your home. If you buy a new appliance make sure that you crush and conceal the boxes in your rubbish.

• Leave curtains slightly parted so your home doesn’t look empty.

• Put mail on hold and suspend any daily newspapers.

• Install automatic timers for lights, radio and TVs; preferably at random or programmed intervals to create visual and audio deceptions.

• Install motion-sensor outdoor lights around your home and mount them high enough to prevent intruders from disabling them.

• Never leave an answer machine message indicating you are out or away. Instead, just say: “...you can’t come to the phone.” Also, lower the telephone ringing volume so that it cannot be heard from outside your home.

While you’re away


Travel

Aroa Beach + Lagoon Marine ReserveRarotonga l COOK ISLANDS

P (+682) 25800 l F 25799 [email protected]

Motu Akitua (Akitua Island) Aitutaki Lagoon | COOK ISLANDS

P (+682) 31 200 l F 31 [email protected]

AitutakiLagoonResort.com

S A N C T U A R Yrarotonga

Aroa Beach + Lagoon Marine Reserve Rarotonga l COOK ISLANDS P (+682) 25 900 l F 25 988

[email protected] SanctuaryRarotonga.com

Sanctuary Rarotonga-on the beach. Rarotonga’s leading new adults-only

absolute beachfront resort. Stunning swim-up pool bar! South Seas sophistication.

A itutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa. The only resort directly on the World’s Most Beautiful Lagoon,

Aitutaki. Breathtaking views. One of the World’s 12 Best Private Islands. Your Bucket List must-do! NEW! Premium Beachfront Bungalows now launched!

The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa. Rarotonga’s leading beach holiday, wedding

group and family resort. Experience the true Cook Islands spirit! NEW creche (0-3yrs)! NEW teen zone! KIDS STAY, PLAY + EAT FREE!

John Lennon once said: “Life happens when you’re busy making other plans”. Now is the time to reconnect with yourself, your partner or your family. Our lovely sister resorts offer you the place, the space

and the freedom to make beautiful memories together. Take the time now to stop and… smell the frangipani!

C O O K I S L A N D S ’ I C O N I C S I S T E R R E S O R T S

ife is not Measured by the Breaths we take, but by the Moments that take our Breath Away.

http://www.therarotongan.com

http://www.sanctuaryrarotonga.com

http://aitutakilagoonresort.com

Rarotonga is the capital island of the Cook Islandslots of people think that Rarotonga and the Cook Islands are two different places, or they think that Rarotonga and Tonga (a separate country) are the same place. Not so. Rarotonga is the capital island of the enchanting Cook Islands, 15 in all. Aitutaki is another of the 15 - named by Getaway show host Catriona Rowntree as the most romantic place on Earth (then again, she did have her honeymoon there).

Rarotonga is in the very heart of the South Pacificboth geographically (it’s just west of Tahiti) and because it is still very much a ‘paradise, from the heart’ – with warm, natural, unaffected island people.

When you touch down on Rarotonga, you’re minutes away from starting your vacationnot a further 2-hour coach ride, small plane or boat ride away. Just 3.5hrs hours from Auckland and you’ve found yourself in the South Seas!

The Cook Islands enjoys lovely weather all year roundbest time to go? Frangipani Season from November through to March is a stunning time of year because it’s typically warm and balmy (not too hot or wet), fragrant frangipani and flame trees are in bloom, mangoes are ripe, and the days are longer (‘more sunshine for your dollar’ so to speak), plus sizzling tropical sunsets. A delicious time of year to visit.

Small but perfectly formed Rarotonga is one big playground - at just 32km in circumference, it’s small enough to easily get around, but big enough to pack in heaps of activities. Enjoy the freedom of the island on scooter, bicycle, car or soft-top jeep - or the friendly island bus. In the centre of the island are majestic high mountains clothed in lush cloud forest, perfect for a cross-island trek or the island’s most popular tour, a Raro Mountain Safari Tour. Rarotonga is fringed by beautiful white sand beaches, and beyond the reef is deep ocean, perfect for diving or gamefishing. Leave the knitting at home.

10 Things you didn’t know about your next favourite island destination


Travel

10 Things you didn’t know about your next favourite island destination

The Island’s Best Snorkelling Spotis the decade-old Aro’a Lagoon Marine Reserve, directly in front of the Cook Islands’ signature resort, The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa. The resort offers complimentary snorkelling lessons and snorkelling safaris, and also an extra-special treat, night snorkelling. Or you can feed the reef fish straight off the restaurant deck. Whatever way you do it, making friends with the lagoon locals is fascinating fun for the young and the young at heart.

Then there’s all the eating and drinking you can dothe island has about 50 cafes, bars and restaurants dotted around the Circle Island Drive. On Wednesdays The Rarotongan offers an authentic Umu feast slow-cooked in the earthoven, with succulent coconut-fed island pork, fresh gamefish and traditional vegetables, followed by a riveting show of island drumming and dancing. You’ll soon realize why Cook Island drummers and dancers are considered the best in the Pacific. To kick up your own heels, board the funbus for The Rarotongan’s Friday NiteLife Tour of the island’s colourful bars and clubs (never too old!). Atone on Sunday at one of the uplifting Cook Islands Christian services held in the island’s historic coral churches; the hymn-singing is out of this world.

This ain’t no shopping mecca but a lot of fun can be had at the Saturday morning Punanga Nui Market for local handicrafts, pareus (sarongs), T shirts, island CD music, ukuleles, carvings ~ and the all important Cook Islands black pearls in mysterious hues of peacock blue, green and gray. For your dose of cultural enrichment, go on a tour of the island’s art galleries which range from funky to high art. And it’s all using the great-value New Zealand dollar too!

Location, location, locationfor that delicious ‘easy like Sunday morning’ feeling every day of your vacation, nowhere compares to The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa. Enjoy the island’s best beach (with all-day sun), off-beach snorkeling (all-tide Aro’a Lagoon Marine Reserve), best shows, best free activities, best range of facilities and services, and best sunsets. If you’ve ever wanted to dance the hula (‘ura), make a lei (ei), play the ukulele or husk a coconut, this is definitely the place to learn! It’s also ideal for a multi-generational family holiday as it offers KIDS STAY, PLAY & EAT FREE! Visit www.TheRarotongan.com or email [email protected] for more info.

Now’s goodleave it all behind and getaway to Rarotonga or Aitutaki for a complete break away from it all. If you feel like you’ve ‘been there, done that’ and are searching for a fresh new destination for your holiday, then we know just the place …


Travel

The RSA is one of the largest voluntary organisations supporting our community with over 117,000 members.

RSA offers assistance to war veterans and ex-service people in the local community by giving advice on government entitlements and other services widely available to all ex-servicemen and women. You don’t have to be an RSA member to receive advice or assistance.

New Zealand war veterans and ex-servicemen and women may be entitled to a War Disablement Pension and appropriate assistance from the Government. War Disablement Pensions are available to everyone who has a health concern or disability that they can link to their service in the New Zealand Defence Force before 1 April 1974, or in operations that have been recognised for inclusion in the war pensions’ legislation since then.

RSA aims to ensure that no ex-serviceman or woman suffers undue hardship. The Advisor at your local RSA is the first point of contact for all support enquiries. They have knowledge of Government assistance and other help within the local community, and support administered by the RSA national body. RSA support services are available to the entire ex-service community and range from monetary grants to help with practical tasks, visiting the sick, providing assistance with transport, meals-on-wheels, and offering friendship and support in times of need. Contact your local RSA if you wish to talk about RSA support. Your RSA Advisor will treat your enquiry in complete confidence.

Members of the public are encouraged to call the local RSA if they are concerned about the wellbeing of any ex-service person. RSA undertakes to approach each individual with tact and offer appropriate assistance without offending their dignity.

Ask an Advisor

Case study 1

Tommy has a scheduled check-up at the hospital. Due to his stroke he is no longer able to drive. His son is away on holiday and there is no one else to help him. Tommy approaches the local RSA to ask if someone can drive him to the appointment. The answer is yes, and the person who takes him in will also wait and take him home.

Case study 2

John has hearing loss and tinnitus from serving in the artillery, and heart disease and emphysema from smoking cigarettes he was given in his ration pack whilst on active service. His RSA Advisor helps him to complete the appropriate application form and ensure that he has all the available medical evidence to set the process going.

As John is a veteran he is also entitled to claim a Veterans’ Pension, which is based on his service and level of accepted disability. At over 65, John has to have a War Disablement Pension of at least 70% to qualify. His 60 year old brother Tommy is

also receiving the Veterans’ Pension as he too is a veteran but is no longer able to work after a stroke, and therefore qualifies. When John told his RSA Advisor that Tommy was having difficulty living on the Invalid’s Benefit, the Advisor recommended Tommy change to the Veterans’ Pension, which is paid at the same rate as New Zealand Superannuation.

A Surviving Spouse Pension may be granted to widows/widowers or partners of ex-service people whose death was attributable to their service in the New Zealand Defence Force before 1st April 1974. For service after this date, it is only payable in connection with a recognised operation. John asked his RSA Advisor if his wife Mary will receive part of his War Disablement Pension after he dies. His Advisor told him that she will receive a pension in her own right if his death is directly due to his service, or he was or could have had 70% War Disablement Pension, and that it won’t be taxed or treated as income for means tested benefits. He also reassured John that an RSA Advisor would help Mary when the time came.


Society

Margaret Snow National Manager Support Services

The RSA is dedicated to supporting ex-servicemen and women and their dependants. It provides material assistance to thousands of men and women each year, through grants for financial help and through practical action, such as taking them to doctors’ appointments or visiting them in their homes and hospitals. The RSA also provides advice on applying for War Disablement and Surviving Spouse Pensions, as well as Work and Income benefits and assistance.

If you need assistance of any nature you can call your local RSA Advisor. You do not need to be a member to receive support. The contact details will be in your telephone book or you can find an RSA online at www.rsa.org.nz.

If you don’t need our help, but would yourself like to help those who have served New Zealand, your gift or bequest will help to provide support to ex-servicemen and women and their dependants, whether they are RSA members or not.

Contact us:

Margaret SnowNational Manager Support Services

RSA National OfficeP O Box 27 248 Wellington 6141

(04) 384 7994 [email protected]

The RSA will celebrate its first centenary in 2016, 100 years after the first Anzacs returned from Gallipoli.

We look forward to sharing the celebration with you.

www.rsa.org.nz

In the 1960s we started to crack down on cigarettes. Despite the best efforts of multi-million dollar tobacco lobbyists, it was becoming obvious there was a direct link between smoking and lung cancer, as well as a whole host of other nasty diseases.

Successive governments sprung into action. In 1963, smoking ads were banned. Ten years later, it was the law to have health warnings on all cigarette packs. Smoking was gradually outlawed in movie theatres, schools and aeroplanes. Special sections for smokers were put in place in restaurants, until it was stubbed out completely in 2003.

The reason for it was that smoking was dangerous to our health. So, the argument goes, why don’t we do the same for obesity?

Sure we have campaigns about the importance of exercise and healthy

eating, but a glittering display of junk food is available everywhere we go. Filling up petrol? Pies, coke, sweets are all available at the counter. It’s the same with the supermarket. Local dairies and fast food chains are found in most suburbs. All this and we have rising obesity rates that are, if you’ll excuse the pun, weighing heavily on our health system. Statistics show three in ten children and six in ten adults are overweight or obese.

This health crisis costs $460 million to our health system every year, but also hits the nation’s pocket in indirect costs such as lowered productivity rates.

Denmark recently introduced a ‘fat tax’ – hiking the GST on everything which has 2.3 percent or more saturated fat. Fellow European country Hungary has done the same, with a slightly different system, taxing foods with high levels of fat, sugar or salt. Even Tory Prime Minister David Cameron was recently quoted in the Guardian as looking into following suit.

Les Mills CEO Phil Mills says the junk food industry is getting a free ride and needs to pay its true cost.

By Bridget GourlayFat tax


Society

“Around the world, tax shifting is at the cutting edge of macro-economic policy. It discourages harmful industries, pays for the damage they cause and creates markets for better products. In Germany, for example, a switch from taxing income to taxing non-renewable energy created 250,000 new jobs in the renewable-energy sector and reduced CO2 emissions by 20 million tons. It works.”

Mills says that in one study of vending machines, sales of low-fat snacks increased by 80 per cent when the price was halved. In another, sales of carrots doubled in high schools when the price was lowered. In China, increasing the price of fatty pork by 10 percent reduced people’s fat intake by up to 11 percent.

“Right now, we pay the difference between the nominal price of junk food and the rapidly increasing cost to society. That simply isn’t fair.”

Not in NZ But New Zealand won’t be following in Europe’s footsteps anytime soon. Health Minister Tony Ryall told Auckland Today the Government has no plans to introduce fat taxes. “Such a tax would add to the burden of many families in tight economic times.”

The Food and Grocery Council’s Katherine Rich says fat taxes give the impression that all fat is evil, which she says is absolutely not the case.

“The issue is how much any one person consumes and whether this is balanced with physical activity... education about healthy lifestyles which balance food intake with activity is the only key to people understanding how to feed themselves and their families.”

Fight the Obesity Epidemic’s Dr Robyn Toomath says Rich’s comments are outrageous. “Education is the only thing we’re doing, and doing pretty poorly. Obesity is getting higher and higher, there’s no justification in saying that at all.” Toomath says we could start with a simple sugar tax, such as a soft drink tax if we want to start making junk food pay for its true cost and make it more expensive than healthy food.

“Taxes can be more sophisticated. There’s very sophisticated work being done on nutrients – you can grade food with points – minus points for saturated fat and give it plus points for vegetable oils. That way there’s no confusion between an avocado and meat pie. Some things like milk are high in fat but have got good things going for it.”

She says making junk food less available, such as limiting the number of dairies and fast food chains in communities, could also work.

How would a fat tax affect those in hospitality? Bruce Robertson, the industry’s president, says the answer is clear. “It would put the prices up,” he says simply. “The fundamental thing is the tax would put the prices up on items and then that would be reflected on the menu. Lots of products have a component of fat, which customers want and like.

“It is simply another tax, I have had a look at the situation in Denmark, and even in Denmark the jury is out on whether it’s the right decision. It seems to be as much a revenue gathering exercise as it is a health one.”


Society

Cloud computingExcuse me for being a bit backward, but what exactly is the ‘cloud’? It sounds like off-site IT with a fancy name. And what happens if someone, in that magical information land, trips over the cord? The cloud makes an already murky realm even more anomalous.

The occupy movementOK, you made your point; unchecked corporate greed destroyed lives and nearly ruined our rather imperfect world. But dressing like hippies and camping in public spaces for weeks on end isn’t really helping change anything; it’s actually obstructing progress and is now just annoying.

Greek bailoutsWell knock me over with a feather – a nation with a lax attitude to taxation that used the Euro zone’s triple A credit rating to borrow more than it could afford is in financial strife. Fact is, Greece has defaulted on its external sovereign debt obligations at least five previous times in the modern era (1826, 1843, 1860, 1894 and 1932). Whether it’s horrendous fiscal miss-management, or simply cooking the books, we’re sick of hearing about it.

Climate change denialClimate change denial seems to be spreading like an infectious disease. Now there’s nothing wrong with healthy scepticism and reasoned individuals should embrace vigorous debate about the causes, consequences and role human endeavour might, or might not, play in climate change. But simply denying any change is occurring flies in the face of what is being observed.

Reality TVLike anything, reality TV has its good and bad. But because ‘good’ shows are now endangered species, being eaten alive by increasingly common trash fests, the entire genre needs putting out to pasture. Passing off scripted scenarios as being ‘real’ fools only fools and insults everyone else’s intelligence, meaning the loudest laughs are from network executives, whose advertising revenue to production cost ratios are off the chart.

Bad reality TV is the bastard cousin of the low-brow chat show, which basically exploits individuals whose attention desperation disorder means they’ll do anything to get on ‘telly’ because of its association with status and importance. Jerry Springer set the tone these shows still dance to.

By Jonathon Taylor

Ten trends we’re over


Society

Insipid Facebook status updatesAll hail the electronic alter of the self important. If you update your status more than daily you’re attention whoring.

The exodus to Australia It’s estimated that during the past three years, around 100,000 Kiwis have jumped the ditch, unable to resist the appeal of higher wages and a supposedly more prosperous future. And yes, the wage gap between New Zealand and Australia is now said to be around 40 percent, and growing. But buyer beware; the cost of living is higher, property prices in Sydney are obscene and you could be mistaken for thinking the stereotypical Aussie’s attitude to immigrants is ‘naff off – we’re full’. If making more money is the sole criteria by which you value your quality of life – then away you go, waltzing Matilida all the way.

Republican Party lunacyExtending constitutional rights to zygotes, eliminating restrictions on big oil and returning Wall Street to its pre-crash unrestricted ways were some the best and brightest ideas from GOP presidential contenders. Michelle Bachman’s genius plan to reduce federal spending was simple, stunning and beyond scary; closing down the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Even Sarah Palin and the Tea Party look viable by comparison, as politically irrational and nonsensical policies have lurched it from a party to a sect. One that interprets Abraham Lincoln’s famous utterance of a government “… of the people, by the people, for the people…,” as “of the elite, for the elite, by the duped”.

VampiresUnless you were 12 with a crush on a 24 year old passing themselves off as a teenager, vampires were never ‘in’ to begin with. So enough already – the concept isn’t original or scary.

Celebrity commentsI’m sorry, but when I want information about the ongoing financial crisis, or sectarian unrest in any particular global hot spot, I’ll listen to what an economist, historian or political scientist has to offer - not a Hollywood A-lister. Their professional expertise extends to looking good while remembering anywhere up to three scripted sentences at any one time. Yes, even as impressive as this is, perhaps specialist subjects are best left to studied experts. And if I hear billionaire Bono plead for the impoverished one more time, I’m going to kick the next homeless person I see in the head – just because of the hypocrisy and inanity of it all.


Society

You may think working from home is an easier and more flexible option than the hassle of commuting into work each day, power dressing, sharing your workspace with colleagues you don’t particularly like, and having to navigate your way around the minefield of workplace politics. While technology has made it easier than ever to work from home, you can get just as stressed as you can at work. Trying to achieve the perfect work-life balance can also be especially difficult.

Not having a manager or supervisor constantly dictating your working day when you work at home does give you a certain freedom and feeling that you are more in control of how you manage your day, but you have to be disciplined. A lot of your working day can be wasted

By Vivienne Hussey

Working from homeby allowing the slightest distraction around the home to take you away from those boring mundane jobs that need completing. Or you can end up having your work take over your home life, going without breaks, ignoring your family, working weekends, and burning the midnight oil long after you should be in bed.

Not having any working colleagues to interact with during the day can be too isolating for some. Or the frustrations of having to interact with your business associates and working colleagues by phone, email and fax can be too inconvenient and not give instant results. Plus you have no colleagues on hand for help, advice and support, no one to bounce ideas around with, or provide back-up.

Guilt can also creep in when you work at home. A series of trivial, but time consuming tasks, such as the laundry or dishes can eat into your working day. You can also feel guilty that you take time out to have morning tea, or lunch, when there is work waiting to be completed. It is very difficult to separate home time from work time - the boundaries can become blurred.

Dress down days end up being every day, as you don’t have to worry about following a dress code. Some days you can find that you end up being chained to your desk before you have had time to change out of your pyjamas.


Around the Home

You wake up, the phone goes, you get distracted by work and before you know it its midday. Of course that is the time when you get an unexpected visitor, and you know they are looking at you quizzically, thinking that you have spent the morning lazing around in bed.

Also because you are no longer a nine to five employee, with an office, an impressive title and position description, your work can be met with a lack of interest, and not taken seriously by friends and family. They think that you just do a little bit of work when you feel like it, and spend your day having endless tea breaks whist flicking through magazines and catching up on day time television. So they are always surprised when you can’t drop everything at a moment’s notice when you are home all day.

It can be frustrating constantly reminding people that you work from home, and you don’t suffer from agoraphobia, especially when your friends and family look at you with pity and tell you that you need to get out more.

Working at home, maybe in your own business, can bring with it administration headaches and if you are not that way inclined it can be an extra burden to

your working day. Having a good accountant or admin support is a necessity if you don’t want to spend hours on your own business paperwork. Luckily there are lots of web based accounting, payroll and admin support systems that are easy to use, and can be accessed from your home computer - working remotely has never been easier.

One of the plus sides of working at home is you can claim against your taxes for the areas you use in your home, as long as it is used principally for business, such as an office, work or storage area. You can claim a portion of the household expenses, such as the rates, insurance, power, cleaning, mortgage interest and depreciation (if you own the house).

Another advantage of working at home is with no meetings, constantly ringing phones, and other office distractions, your productivity can go up. You are more likely to complete work you are given to do and less likely to miss deadlines, all the while having the advantages of working flexible hours to suit you in your own home. Working from home also cuts down fuel costs, less commuting time means you get to miss out on the road rage that can occur along with the traffic congestion everyday at 5pm.

100% NZ custom made moccasin slippersShoe/boot Insoles and novelty items100% NZ sheepskin or possum furLightweight and warm to wearKozi Toez custom makes all items in Southland, NZWe can accommodate any foot size or issues you may have.

Guaranteed to fit, or we make you another pair !!!Variety of colours available – please just ask.

03 208 4248 [email protected] www.kozitoez.co.nz


Around the Home

Vinturi wine aeratorWine which has been allowed to breathe tastes better. As wine breathes, it opens up, and releases its intended aromas and flavours. Traditionally, decanters were used to aerate wine. However, decanting is time consuming, cumbersome, and inconvenient and Vinturi’s patented design delivers perfect aeration in the time it takes to pour a glass. Simply hold Vinturi over a glass and pour wine through. It draws in and mixes the proper amount of air for the right amount of time, allowing your wine to breathe instantly. You’ll notice a better bouquet, enhanced flavour and smoother finish; red and white wine aerators are available.

Available from: www.newzealandvinturi.co.nz and www.brightidea.co.nz

flavour

RRP: $81

No Qlocktwo Touch The Qlocktwo Touch is a precision table alarm clock - a matrix of characters forms written words and shine in pure white, with a sharp outline using LED technology. Whether on a desk, in the living room or in the bedroom, the extremely funky Qlocktwo Touch is ideal for many locations and is available in different colours and languages.

Available from: http://store.biegertfunk.com

RRP: From

$599.00


Around the Home

NMA0334 Retirement Today FP.indd 1 6/03/12 10:30 AM

http://www.nursemaude.org.nz

Zeus Chill Chaser patio heater This contemporary slimline design stands at about two meters tall and is ideal at chasing the chill away from outdoor spaces such as gardens, patios, balconies, smoking areas and garages. Its robust, all metal design with a built in light makes it suitable for domestic and commercial use, and Zeus’s patented carbon fibre heating tubes significantly reduce running costs and cuts carbon dioxide emissions by 50 percent compared with gas patio heaters.

Available from: www.outdoorfurniture.co.nz and www.bbqs.co.nz

Outside

RRP: from

$995.00

UFO red tub chairCuddle up, stretch out or relax with the whole family on this inviting circular shaped sofa. It’s ideal for a family room, bach or the centre piece to your living room. The UFO is imported by Danske Møbler and will be ideal for the upcoming winter months to snuggle into. Danske Møbler is an award winning furniture store with a wide selection of leading designers and the UFO is just one of a wide range of interesting furniture concepts and designs.

Available from: www.danske.co.nz

yourself

RRP:$1,899


Around the Home

Daily Living Necessities

Incontinence Products

Mobility AidBathroom &Toilet Aid

Order Online or by phone

www.SuperCare.co.nz0800 888 787Or visit our showroom

66 Carbine Road, Mt Wellington, Auckland

Don’t let incontinence get in the way of your active lifestyle...

a wide range of incontinence and healthcare products, incl. Mobility aid, Bathroom aid and a variety of accessories that will help you maintain your independence and confidence.

provides

http://www.supercare.co.nz

Most people have experienced “time regret” – that feeling of frustration over yet another day passing by without having made a significant dent in the ‘to do’ list. Both work and home life is easily derailed by time-eaters such as meetings, ad hoc requests and the distractions enabled by technology – including email and mobile phones.

Having difficulty meeting goals is a common problem both professionally and personally. The situation can be greatly improved however, by making some simple adjustments. The real secret to time management – and accomplishing objectives – is better self-management. Here are six tips that can help you take control of your day.

Keeping time

1. Analyse your scheduleWhere does your time really go? For the next week, make a point to write down what you do and when during either the work day, or when you have a lot of errands to run. Examining how you spend a typical day will help you to identify when you are most productive and in what ways (or by whom) you are most often interrupted or distracted.

2. Create ‘time windows’After you’ve determined what can be changed in your current schedule, develop an action plan. Think about setting aside “time windows” for specific tasks, such as reviewing emails, making and returning phone calls, or doing those daily things that just need to be done. Also, create a regular schedule that takes advantage of your body clock – if you are sharpest before lunchtime, schedule more difficult tasks for completion in the morning hours.

3. Let messages waitKeeping a constant vigil on your email and voicemail can distract you from more demanding tasks and can end up occupying lots of time. Schedule times throughout the day when you focus exclusively on messages. You’ll cut down on ongoing anxiety while making your responses less hasty and more useful.

4. Rediscover single-taskingYou can’t solve a technical challenge while talking on the phone, filing paperwork or planning for an upcoming event. When you’re occupied with something important, give the issue at hand your undivided attention so you do it right the first time. Fight the urge to multitask, which often impedes your ability to get already started tasks finished.


Life & Living

5. Give yourself permission to ‘check out’This is a good one for work, be it at an office or working from home. If unnecessary interruptions tend to prevent you from completing important tasks, don’t be afraid to close the door, or advise your colleagues that you are off limits for the next few hours, so you can focus on your work.

6. Reward yourselfKeeping to a schedule, no matter how personalised or flexible, is challenging because it takes discipline. Give yourself credit for adhering to your agenda and accomplishing all “must-do-today” items. Be realistic too – some days you will be more productive than others, so don’t worry if you get off track temporarily. Ensure you also create a balanced schedule that makes the most effective use of your time while allowing you to do things for yourself.

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Life & Living

In a world where newspaper headlines and scientific research is pointing more and more to the damage chemicals wreck on the environment, the organic movement is becoming mainstream. Once the concern only of hippies, suburban soccer mums and city slickers are searching for organic products and wondering what hormone-pumped chickens and chemical-sodden fruit is doing to our health.

In 1971, London secretary Sue Coppard recognised the need to provide access to the countryside to city people like herself to support and learn more about the organic movement. She organised a trial working weekend, which she arranged for four people at a farm in Sussex. The idea caught on. Today, there are thousands of organic farms all over the world which take on Willing Workers on Organic Farms (usually called WWOOFers) every year. Through official websites, volunteers and hosts decide on how long a WWOOFer will stay and what tasks they will do. In exchange, the WWOOFer is given free accommodation, food and a chance to really experience organic rural life.

In New Zealand, nearly 3000 listings beckon WWOOFers to organic spots across the country.

In 2010, while on a university exchange to Canterbury from America, Lily Alexander spent a week WWOOFing at ‘Gentle World,’ a veganism educational centre just south of Kaitaia and another week on an organic farm near Hastings. Lily particularly loved her stay at Gentle World, where she was made to feel part of the family.

“We had conversations about ethics, environmentalism, self-sufficiency, and the

power of making choices that stay true to one’s values and bring balance to one’s life. It was not only intriguing to talk about these issues, but they became particularly relevant in light of our first-hand experience at Gentle World,” she enthuses.

“They provided us with beautiful vegan meals that came straight from their garden and we were able to drink the pure water from their streams. They also demonstrated how important community was for them as well as living true to their values, from environmental consciousness and self-sufficiency – for example, they used alternative energy to run their refrigerator, dried their laundry outside, used solar panels and were all vegans.”

Overseas options So not only do tourists and city folk in New Zealand enjoy getting their hands dirty, but there are plenty of opportunities overseas too. Kiwis love to travel, so if you want to spend time in Italy – not just on tourist buses in Rome – then WWOOFing offers the opportunity to pitch in on an organic vineyard for a few weeks; or to work at an eco-village in Scandinavia, or on a farm in Ireland.

It’s not a free holiday, but it’s not thankless work. As Lily says, “It is such a wonderful opportunity to be able to meet new people, see new places, and acquire new skills! To be able to do this abroad on a budget is really lucky and allows the traveller to experience the country in a completely new capacity. I recommend it to anyone that’s interested in getting a first-hand experience that goes beyond the tourist guidebooks.”

By Bridget GourlayExperiences with a twist

Call Linda (09) 421-9718 Call Kay (09) 626-8060 Call Kerensa (09) 295-0040

What do you look for in a retirement village?

Experience tells us you’ll be looking for something that’s convenient for you, handy to shops and amenities, and not too far from family and friends. You’ll want a choice of suitable accommodation - perhaps an independent unit or apartment? Or maybe a serviced apartment? You’ll also be looking for a variety of activities, residents’ facilities and essential support services. A good compliment of professional, friendly management, maintenance and care staff are also important. And, you’ll want reassurance that the village is owned and operated by a proven company.

Still, looking for the right retirement village is not that different from looking for a house. It has to feel like ‘home’. It has to be fun. It has to have heart and soul.

Private Life Care operates three such villages in the greater Auckland area. Ever-popular and well established in their respective neighbourhoods, they have long-standing, happy residents who clearly enjoy the relaxed, ‘kiwi as’ approach to retirement. For good reason, they are known as ‘the friendly villages’.

Visit one in your area today. Chances are you’ll find a place to call ‘home’. www.villages.co.nz

+1-PLC

-RT


Life & Living

Call Linda (09) 421-9718 Call Kay (09) 626-8060 Call Kerensa (09) 295-0040

What do you look for in a retirement village?

Experience tells us you’ll be looking for something that’s convenient for you, handy to shops and amenities, and not too far from family and friends. You’ll want a choice of suitable accommodation - perhaps an independent unit or apartment? Or maybe a serviced apartment? You’ll also be looking for a variety of activities, residents’ facilities and essential support services. A good compliment of professional, friendly management, maintenance and care staff are also important. And, you’ll want reassurance that the village is owned and operated by a proven company.

Still, looking for the right retirement village is not that different from looking for a house. It has to feel like ‘home’. It has to be fun. It has to have heart and soul.

Private Life Care operates three such villages in the greater Auckland area. Ever-popular and well established in their respective neighbourhoods, they have long-standing, happy residents who clearly enjoy the relaxed, ‘kiwi as’ approach to retirement. For good reason, they are known as ‘the friendly villages’.

Visit one in your area today. Chances are you’ll find a place to call ‘home’. www.villages.co.nz

+1-PLC

-RT

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The of cognacsBlack Pearl Louis XIII So dark it’s almost black, Black Pearl is a limited edition cognac from Rémy Martin’s stock of 100 year old Louis XIII. Just one type of oak barrel has been used, meaning only 786 bottles were ever available for purchase. Its value is amplified by the Baccarat crystal bottles, each individually numbered and hand-blown from black crystal. Because of its unavailability, this limited-edition bauble sells for wildly varying prices, but a single shot of this deliciously sinful treat runs for about $2,900 at New York’s finest hotels.

Available: Not really – but try www.distinctwhiskeycompany.com

Hardy & Grace® Underwear is attractive, high quality underwear specially designed for absolute comfort, with a wide range of sizes for a perfect fit every time. 95% cotton for a trim light fit.

Buy from the comfort of your own home with convenient overnight delivery throughout NZ.

For full product details and photos or to order visit our website www.hardyandgrace.co.nz or freephone 0800 246 800.

Hardy & Grace® Underwear Styles for Ladies & Men

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5 pairs to be won!See page 3 for more information on how to enter


Life & Living

The country’s leading motoring writers and commentators have chosen Ford’s new generation Focus as New Zealand Car of the Year.

Launched here mid last year, the new model is the third generation of the Focus, and the first to scoop New Zealand’s highest new car automotive honour.

In reaching their decision, members of the New Zealand Motoring Writers’ Guild assessed a number of variants in the range, including 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol variants, as well as the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel version.

In addition to performance and handling, the facets under consideration included suitability for the task for which the Focus is designed, safety features, economy, visual appeal, value for money, ease of operation and its level of home comforts and quality of finish.

Guild president David Linklater says, “Previous iterations of the Focus have also been highly regarded, particularly in the area of driver appeal, but in its latest guise the Focus pushes its segment forward in crucial areas such

as powertrain efficiency, packaging, quality and equipment, all without compromising that fun factor for which it has become known.

“The level of chassis sophistication engineered into the new Focus is remarkable. A particular appeal of the latest Focus is its excellence in a range of motoring environments; whether it is urban or highway motoring, or covering ground over the country’s secondary roads, the latest Focus is always impressive.”

The Focus was one of 12 finalists for this New Zealand Car of the Year award, which is open to new passenger car models launched in New Zealand during the 12 months prior to November 1, 2011.

The others, in alphabetical order, were the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Audi A7, BMW X3, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Optima, Kia Rio, Peugeot 508, Suzuki Swift, Toyota Yaris, Volvo S60 and Volkswagen Passat.

Recent past winners of the title, which is now in its 24th year, have been the BMW 5-series (2010), Ford Fiesta (2009), Ford Falcon (2008), Mazda 2 (2007) and Porsche Cayman (2006).

Ford’s fabulous Focus


Motoring

Jaguar has lifted the lid on the quickest open-topped GT it’s ever built – the XKR-S Convertible. And if what lies under the hood is as muscular as the XKRs dimpled, curved and purposely crumpled haunches, then it shouldn’t disappoint.

Well, first impressions are promising. Powered by a supercharged, five litre V8, the XKR-S hits 100km/h in 4.4 seconds, on its way to an electronically limited top speed of 300km/h, which isn’t too shabby for a convertible.

This open top rocket will sit alongside its sibling, the XKR-S Coupe, at the top of the big cat’s performance sport range.

With the XK model designed as a convertible from the outset, Jaguar’s engineers were able to apply changes that created the XKR-S Coupe into the open-topped GT without compromising performance, agility or refinement.

Lightweight aluminium architecture provides high torsional rigidity, making the XKR-S Convertible the stiffest car in its class. And revised front and rear suspension means increased agility, precision and control without sacrificing comfort.

Styling changes have been made to improve aerodynamic stability. There’s a new front bumper design with wider, lower air intake, a carbon fibre splitter and twin side nacelles. New sills smooth the horizontal airflow and emphasise the 10mm reduction in ride height. And a unique rear wing

with carbon fibre insert and apron ensure balanced aerodynamics front and rear.

The muscle comes via an uprated version of the 5.0-litre supercharged AJ-V8 engine, which produces 405kWs and 680Nm of torque, delivered to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox with active differential.

To put this power on the ground, a comprehensive package of suspension upgrades, such as a redesigned aluminium front steering knuckle and revised rear geometry, stiffer springs and dampers.

Aerodynamic design changes give the front of the car a dramatic and bold appearance. Vertical feature lines run down from the edges of the oval air intake into a new bumper design which incorporates a wider, lower air intake, a carbon fibre splitter and twin side nacelles.

At the edges of the bumper, vertical panels channel air down the side of the car along new sills, which serve to both smooth the horizontal airflow and emphasise the 10mm reduction in ride height.

The convertible roof opens and stows in just 18 seconds and the flagship interior features 16-way adjustable Performance seats trimmed in carbon leather. The XKR-S convertible rides on Pirelli P-Zero tyres (255/35 ZR20 at the front and 295/30 ZR20 at the rear).

The XKR-S Convertible will be arriving in New Zealand showrooms around Easter 2012.

An open top for the open road


Motoring

The Suzuki Alto is has just become even more economical and cleaner with a new heart under the bonnet.

Already one of the least expensive, most environmentally friendly cars in the New Zealand market, the latest front-wheel-drive Alto further reduces the cost of motoring because even with only a 35 litre fuel tank, the 2012 Alto GLX is capable of driving from Auckland to Wellington on a single tank of petrol.

Standard equipment includes eight-spoke alloy wheels, front fog lamps, air conditioning, USB socket for iPod use, electrically operated front windows and centralised door locking. The Alto also has 4-star ANCAP safety rating and is equipped with an Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) and six airbags including side and curtain.

The new double overhead camshaft 996cc all aluminium fuel-injected 3-cylinder engine now has variable intake and exhaust valve timing (VVT), providing better overall performance. Both 5-speed manual gearbox and 4-stage automatic versions of

the Alto VVT use less fuel and have lower CO2 emissions than their predecessors.

The new model is six percent more economical and emissions are five percent lower, making this smallest Suzuki something of a benchmark in the environmental field. The Manual Alto VVT averages 4.5 litres/100 km (62.8 miles per gallon), while the automatic returns 5.2 litres/100 km (54.3 miles per gallon).

CO2 emissions are down to 107 grams/km for the manual and 124 grams/km for the auto.

Recommended retail prices, including all on-road costs, are $17,250 for the Alto 1.0 GLX manual, and $19,550 for the automatic version.

“However, for the limited time we are offering to pay the GST content on new Alto models so the customer only pays $15,000 for the manual model and $17,000 for the automatic,” “This makes Alto one of cleanest running, most economical and most affordable small cars available in NZ” said Tom Peck, General Manager of Marketing for Suzuki New Zealand.

Suzuki’s Alto just got even more economicalCLEAN AND GREEN


Motoring

Learn about the changes to New Zealand’s give way rulesAt 5am on Sunday 25 March, two of the give way rules changed to improve safety on our roads.

Whether you drive, walk, cycle or ride in New Zealand, you need to know about what’s changed to stay safe on the roads.

Change 1: The left-turn versus right-turn rule

This new rule now requires all traffic turning right to give way to all vehicles coming from the opposite direction and turning left.

Facing no signs or signals Facing the same signs or signals

This new rule applies at cross roads, T-intersections and driveways where:

a) both vehicles are facing each other with no signs or signals (as shown above)

b) both vehicles are facing give way signs

c) both vehicles are facing stop signs (as shown above)

d) both vehicles are facing green traffic signals.

Think: If you’re turning right, give way.

Change 2: Uncontrolled T-intersections

The new rule now requires all traffic turning right from a terminating road (bottom of the T) with no signs or signals, to give way to all vehicles on the continuing road (top of the T).

Think: Top of the T goes before me.

This change brings the rules into line with T-intersections where there are Stop or Give Way signs on the terminating road.

This change also applies at driveways including public driveways such as at a supermarket or hospital. Vehicles should continue to give way to pedestrians on a footpath, or cyclists and pedestrians on a cycle path or shared path.

Pedestrians crossing near any type of intersection should always check for traffic from all directions before crossing the road, and watch for turning vehicles.

Four things to remember:

• Only two give way rules have changed

• Change 1: Left turn v right turn. Remember: if you’re turning right, give way

• Change 2: Uncontrolled T-intersections. Remember: Top of the T goes before me

• Driveways are like T-intersections – so ‘Top of the T goes before me’ still applies

Other give way rules remain the same

Not all of the give way rules have changed – only the two outlined above.

Traffic signs and signals are placed at intersections to show road users what they need to do so you should continue to obey these signs and signals.

If you’re turning, you’ll still need to give way to all vehicles not turning. If all the rules (and signs and signals) don’t determine who gives way, give way to vehicles coming from your right.

You should continue to give way to all vehicles that will cross your path from your right as you enter the roundabout.

Why have the rules changed?

Overall, the give way rule changes will make New Zealand’s roads safer. They will reduce the level of judgement needed in complex and dynamic traffic environments, and are expected to promote smoother traffic flow and improve safety.

Public awareness campaign

A dedicated web page is available at www.giveway.govt.nz and includes resources such as leaflets in various languages, a video and interactive quiz about the changes. National advertising started on 15 March and continued after the rule changed.

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/

Considering the price of petrol anything that saves fuel has to be a good idea, right? Well Volvo certainly seems to think so as it forges ahead with its fuel saving stop/start technology.

The system Volvo calls ‘Geartronic’ is now fitted to the D3 turbo diesel in Europe. The 2.0 litre D3 turbo diesel with the Geartronic automatic and stop/start technology

cuts CO2 emission by 10 g/km and 0.4 litres less fuel consumption per 100 km, compared to a standard automatic transmission car with the same engine.

In cars with manual gearboxes the engine restarts when the driver depresses the clutch pedal. In the automatic, the engine restarts when the driver moves his or her right foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator.

The power train with start/stop is now available in the D3 versions of four Volvo models in Europe, the S60, V60, V70 and S80.

Volvo Cars New Zealand general manager Steve Kenchington says the technology is not available to us yet as it has only just been introduced in Europe. “Fuel efficiency is important to us and we will certainly be looking at stop/start with automatic transmissions when we can source it.”

Reducing CO2 emissions from conventional powertrains is an important part of Volvo’s drive towards zero emission strategy. Volvo Car Corporation senior vice president of

Volvo autos get stop/start technology

R&D Peter Mertens says “It is the most effective way to cut CO2 throughout our model range in the short term. This work is running parallel with our innovative focus on electrification technologies’.

“We have focused on achieving the same response as you get with today’s conventional automatic gearbox. The action is so seamless that it feels like the car starts accelerating immediately when the engine restarts,” he says.

The technology uses brake pressure measurement to trigger when to stop and start the engine. The start/stop system is programmed to shut down the engine immediately when the car reaches a standstill.

An electric pump keeps oil pressure up in the automatic gearbox while the engine is stopped. The system also includes an upgraded starter motor to cope with the increased number of starts.

The 2.0 litre D3 turbo diesel produces 120kW and 400Nm of torque. The five-cylinder diesel was introduced in the new S60 at the start of this year and is now available throughout Volvo’s model range.

It is, in principle, the same engine as the 2.4 litre diesel, but its displacement has been reduced with a shorter stroke to optimise fuel consumption.

The piezo-electric fuel injectors minimise consumption with exceptionally rapid and precise injection pulses under high pressure which results in extremely efficient combustion.

The V60 Sports Wagon


Motoring

We do all we can to avoid facing the topic of our own mortality, from Botox to anti-ageing creams, to mid-life crises – these are all denial mechanisms. But deny as much as you like, you still need to plan for the inevitable.

When that day comes, having a will ensures a smoother, if not trouble-free means of organising your estate. Friends and family can grieve in peace without having to worry about complicated legal issues.

By Corazon MillerWhy must we will?

Just split itJayne, a widow in Australia, lived alone in a country town and saw little of her five children. She thought her estate was too small to be worthy of a will. She thought her children got along well, and would have the sense to divide her possessions amongst themselves. But things did not go as Jayne hoped, her children fought over her keepsakes. With nothing in writing, all of Jayne’s possessions were sold at auction and the children had to go through the process of bidding competitively for her possessions.

If she had prepared a will there would have been a way – a better, less stressful, less expensive and less lengthy process.

Case study source: Public Trustee - www.publictrustee.sa.gov.au

to appreciate the gaping hole in your DIY will. Home-made wills can create numerous problems and create grounds for legal challenges.

The cost The included case-studies, though based in Australia, illustrate well the emotional and monetary cost of not having a will. We are often slow to make a will, fearing what we perceive to be hefty lawyer’s bills associated with organising our affairs, but the reality is that it doesn’t cost much at all.

Just DIY itIf you think, making a will is too expensive – think again. According to a Public Trust survey, four percent of people make their own will, which is fine if your assets are modest and your family relationships are strong. But there was a reason why TVNZ released the DIY Rescue show; too much goes wrong with DIY – and you’re just as unlikely

Continued on next page


Wills & Trusts

In fact, in New Zealand both Public Trust and Perpetual Trust offer free will making as long as you make them the executor and trustee of the will. They then get paid the administration fees - from your estate - once you have died.

The reality pitfallsMaking a will is not as simple as 1, 2, 3 so it’s important to do it and do it right.

Without a will, your estate will be divided up by the Administration Act.

• Spouse or partner and children? Personal property and first $155,000 of the estate and one-third of the rest goes to spouse. Remaining two-thirds goes to your children.

• No children? Personal property goes to partner, with first $155,000 of your estate and two-thirds of the rest. Parents get the other third. Partner gets the lot if you have no parents.

• Children but no partner? Entire estate left to children equally.

• No partner or children? Parents inherit. If parents deceased, entire estate left to blood relatives or to the Crown if no relatives exist.

Some of you may think this is fine, but things don’t always go smoothly and if you want your assets divided up a certain way, or given to a certain person – a will can ensure this happens.

Relatives can still pop out of the woodwork to dispute last wishes, but using a professional should help ensure the will is legally valid.

The catchAs much as a will can explain your post-humous wants, it doesn’t enable you to

forget your kids and give it all to your dog – if you overstep your legal rights the will can be challenged.

Cutting someone out of your will is very difficult to do, even if you haven’t spoken for 20 odd years or had a big fight, the court will still override your wishes.

The Family Protection Act, which says you have a moral duty to provide for close family members, gives relatives ground to contest your will if they aren’t recipients.

The Law Reform Promises Act says if you have promised someone a reward in your will and don’t keep that promise, they too may challenge the will.

DIY gone wrongAndre, a skilled tradesman migrated to Australia after World War II, he earned good money, never married and spent small. He died a wealthy man. However, he had never made a formal will. He had written down his wishes so many times it became more of a journal of his life. As he made new friends and drifted apart from others, commitments changed and so did his will. Unfortunately these changes were not made properly and it took a great deal of time and money (taken from his estate) before the Supreme Court decided how his assets would be distributed. If only he had done things professionally and used a public trustee his will would have been administered exactly as he wanted – with a will, free of charge, -provided the public trustee was named as executor.

Case study source: Public Trustee - www.publictrustee.sa.gov.au


Wills & Trusts

10-step guide to making a will

For more information visit www.consumer.org.nz , or www.publictrust.co.nz

1. Approach a law firm, Public Trust or Perpetual Trust to make a will.

2. Spell out your property, things you own; house, jewellery etc.

3. Decide who gets what, loved ones? Friends? Charities? Are there any special conditions you want attached, such as your daughter being 25 before she can access her inheritance.

4. Spell out the details of your family status? Divorced, de-facto, separated, remarried, civil union?

5. Arrange legal guardians for any children under 18.

6. What are your other wishes – your funeral arrangements, will you be an organ donor etc.

7. Executors of your will. Who do you want to administer your will?

8. Sign and witness the will – in order to validate it.

9. Keep the will safe and tell someone where it is. Solicitors or public trustees will often keep a copy, but do keep a copy for yourself.

10. Keep your will up to date – make sure any changes are legally binding.

Spectrum Care is an independent charitable trust that provides services for children, young people and adults with disabilities and their families. At present, we support nearly 400 people in 80 residential houses in the greater Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions. Our emphasis is on inclusion and creating opportunities for people with disabilities to live great, fulfilling lives in their communities. A bequest or endowed gift keeps giving forever and even modest gifts can provide lasting benefits.The generosity of our benefactors increases our ability to make a real difference in the lives of people with disabilities and your bequest will contribute directly to helping achieve our vision of ‘People with disabilities live great lives’.

The gift of a great life

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Email: [email protected]: www.spectrumcare.org.nz


Wills & Trusts

Your will should not be a document which you write once and never look at again. As life changes, so your will may need to reflect this.

Wills should be reviewed every three to four years, so that you ensure you have included, or in some instances excluded, benefactors. For instance, if a spouse dies or more grandchildren have been born, these are times to take another look at your will to make sure it is a true reflection of the legacy you want to leave.

Remember, your last will and testament is the legal document that has your final wishes. It is the instructions that will be left for your executor to carry out and really needs to accurately reflect what you have and who you want to leave it to.

There have been instances where an ex-spouse has forgotten to remove their former husband or wife from the will. This has resulted in shock and anger from children at an already stressful time and lengthy and costly court battles to rectify the situation.

If you have inherited money or assets, gone into or sold a business or your financial situation has drastically changed, these are times when you should review your will.

You may have inherited heirlooms from a family member since writing your original will and you may want to make sure you leave those precious family keepsakes are passed on to a member of your family.

It can also include such things as funeral arrangements including burial wishes, so it is important to get them on the will so there is no confusion.

Keep your will By Karen Pasco

A living willThe Public Trust website also advises that if your medical situation changes then it is a good time to consider a living will.

“A living will, also called an “advance directive”, states what medical care you should be given if you become physically or mentally unable to decide. You might want to make a living will saying you should or shouldn’t be resuscitated or that you want life support turned off in certain circumstances.

“Medical professionals can’t ignore an advance directive unless there are reasonable grounds to doubt its validity.”

It is relatively easy to update your will. Your lawyer or a Public Trust representative can assist you with this process.

Times when you should update your will:• Change of marital status

• When your financial situation changes

• Your partner or spouse dies

• Your health changes

• Already-named benefactors have passed away

• The birth or adoption of a family member

• The acquisition or sale of a significant asset

• Children reach 18 years

• If you have come into an inheritance.


Wills & Trusts

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Why a Will?A Will lets you decide what will happen to what you have spent a lifetime accumulating.

If you have family, it is a kind and responsible act. At a time of great stress for them you have ensured they need not worry, you have planned and provided for what should happen.

If you don’t have family, or they are well catered for, you can provide for an organisation or cause that you would like to support so that your giving can carry on long after you have gone.

Who should prepare a Will for you?Anyone can make a Will, but there are some essential rules to follow to ensure that your wishes stand.

The safest option is to get a solicitor or trustee company to prepare a Will according to your instruction.

When is the best time to prepare a Will? Now, while you are able, for who knows what tomorrow may bring.

YOUR will&you

Te Ope Whakāora

For over 125 years The Salvation Army has

been supporting New Zealanders in need and

helping build better communities for us to live

in. We want to continue doing this for many

years to come … but we can’t do it alone.

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With autumn already well established and winter well on the way, now is a fantastic time to start preparing your garden and allotment for the coming months. So here are a few tips on how to make sure you get the most out of your garden in the coming seasons.

Summer may grab the headlines with all of its lush vegetation and vibrant flowers, but autumn can also offer up its own unique, beautiful colours. With a little clever planting it’s easy to embrace this change of season. Deciduous trees deliver stunning autumn colours, while autumn flowers such as crocus and amaryllis can also add colour to your autumn garden.

Embrace the seasonThe centre piece of any great garden is a lavish lawn. As the temperature cools, mow less frequently and raise the height of the grass, as the growth rate begins to decrease.

Rake out dead grass and moss that has built up during the summer months and ideally, apply a high-potassium, autumn lawn feed which will release the correct balance of essential nutrients to your lawn during the winter months. This will ensure your lawn is looking its very best next spring and through the coming months of the year.

As late autumn and winter set in, ease up on watering container-grown plants and relocate vulnerable plants or houseplants into a more protected, sheltered environment.

*Services may differ between individual facilities

Make our home your home.When making the decision to move to a retirement village or rest home, Oceania offers a reassuring solution for seniors at a stage in their lives where comfort, security and a sense of place and belonging are paramount, but also rest home and hospital care is on hand to meet changing needs.

To find out more or to arrange an obligation free visit to a facility near you, call us today on 0800 623 264 or visit www.oceanialiving.co.nz

Oceania has 59 retirement villages and senior care facilities across New Zealand. Covering the country from Auckland to Invercargill.


Garden

If you have been putting extra hours into the garden over summer, you may be feeling it in your back. Awapuni gardening guru Tod Palenski says there are lots of ways to make gardening easier on the joints and less time consuming.

“If you find you can no longer spend hours in the garden, try planting low-maintenance plants,” Tod says.

He recommends lobelia and impatiens for quick and easy summer blooms. “By filling in gaps you will suppress the weeds, which means less time in the garden for you. As lobelia and impatiens only require basic care, your garden will be a breeze to look after.”

Lobelia, with its small but numerous flowers, provides a colourful coverage and its bushy shape suits most garden types. Impatiens have thick, dark foliage and traditional looking flowers. “They’re perfect for cheering up a tired looking garden and will bloom for the rest of summer, with very little effort.”

For a green, leafy alternative Tod says you can’t go past lettuce. “While it may seem a bit strange to put vegetables in a flower garden, lettuce leaves look great and, of course, you can eat them.

“For variety, plant several different types of lettuce. The different textures make for an interesting addition to your garden.”

If your vegetable garden is looking a little bare Tod says now’s the time to plant leeks. “By planting them now they will be ready in time for winter stews and soups. The best way to grow leeks is to plant them at the bottom of a ditch and as they grow mound soil around the stems. By doing this the white parts will grow longer, giving you more vegetable to eat.”

If you are struggling with back and joint aches from gardening, Tod has some easy tips to reduce the pain.

“Think of gardening like you would most forms of exercise and don’t over do it. Make sure you have plenty of rest breaks to stretch out and keep yourself hydrated, especially if it’s hot.”

The New Zealand Chiropractors’ Association recommends adjusting your gardening technique. By making a few changes you can reduce the pressure on your body significantly. “When lifting heavy objects make sure you bend at the knees and not at your hips,” says NZCA spokesperson, Dr Simon Kelly. “By bending at the knees you’ll be using bigger muscles and will reduce the pressure on your spine.”

He says bending or sitting in one place for too long can cause damage and create pressure on your joints.

“Split up repetitive tasks so you are not stuck in the same position. If you spend a great deal of time crouching forward weeding for example, do regular lunging stretches of your hip flexors through the day or at the end of your gardening to ease the pressure created on your lower spine.”

One way to eliminate bending all together is to build a raised bed garden. They are easy to make yourself or can be bought from most garden stores. “When choosing timber for your raised bed garden, make sure you use ground treated timber, line with plastic and add soil,” Tod Palenski says.

“Raised beds are great for planting flowers, herbs and vegetables. They can be as small or large as you like and because you don’t have to bend over all the time, you can say goodbye to back pain.”

Take the ouch out of gardening


Garden

Winter is arguably the toughest time to pay attention to your garden. Although this is not a busy planting season, there are some vegetables that will still produce for you – depending of course on the climate: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflowers, leeks, lettuce, spring onions, silver beet, and spinach. Rhubarb is also worth keeping in mind for those steaming winter pies – yum!

Once the soil warms up, towards the end of winter, try broad beans, cabbages, carrots, lettuce, onions, peas, peppers, potatoes, and silver beet.

To protect plants that are susceptible to the cold, you can make mini greenhouses by cutting off the bottoms of 1.5 and 2 litre drink bottles. Place them over young plants and push them firmly into the ground. They not only protect young and tender plants

against cold air but also against garden pests like slugs and snails and rabbits.

Winter is also a good time to start making your own compost. One simple method to make rich compost, is simply place lawn clippings, weeds and other garden waste into a big black plastic bag (such as a big garbage bag). Seal the bag and leave. Turn it once a week and after three months you will have good garden compost.

If you want something slightly more involved, use four black plastic compost bins and fill them with household scraps and clean garden weeds. When bin one is full, start filling bin two, so, by the time bin four is full, bin one is ready to use. If there is any un-composted material, transfer it to one at the far end of the line and put it through another “cycle” until it eventually breaks down.

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Garden

They say travel changes you. That’s certainly true for Sustainable Business Network (SBN) founder and CEO, Rachel Brown. As a New Zealand-raised child, her schoolteacher parents encouraged her do sediment sampling in local mangrove swamps. The family went sailing around the top of the North Island, admiring its pristine environments. And she was hugely inspired by her lecturer Jeannette Fitzsimons at university. But on her OE, she saw real poverty and rivers black with pollution. When she returned to New Zealand, she was determined not to let us go down the same path.

What was SBN like in its origins in 2002 compared to today? “We began in a small office above Ecostore in Auckland. We had only two staff members and we focused on why sustainability was important to business. We had to explain the connection between environmental and social issues and demonstrate the business case for sustainability. “

What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing New Zealand right now? “Right now I think it is probably rebuilding Christchurch. Hopefully this rebuild can be used as a model for addressing New Zealand’s urban design, energy and water problems.

Our homes and commercial buildings are very inefficient and our car-focused urban planning means inefficient transport systems burning up more oil and releasing more carbon into the atmosphere. The rebuild is an opportunity to make Christchurch the most sustainable ‘green’ city in the country and potentially the world.

We could even go as far as having new buildings which generate power, be located in the right places to encourage active modes of travel, the streets could be designed for people – not for cars. This is a great opportunity to realise urban planning for a future beyond oil.”

And the greatest environmental challenge facing the world? “Definitely climate change. It is the result of how we live, work and commute and it affects everything. Climate change hits us – socially and economically - it also impacts biodiversity and ecological systems.

Whether humans can adapt to the changes coming our way and recreate how we live, work and play to have a positive impact on natural systems is the greatest test of our time.”

For more information visit: www.sustainable.org.nz

By Bridget GourlayThe sustainable way


Garden

Moving into a residential care or nursing home is a major decision and not one to be taken lightly. There are financial, welfare and psychological aspects to be considered and very often it is a last resort.

The difference between care/nursing homes and residential retirement villages is the type of care you receive. If you need help in doing things because your mobility is restricted - then a care home is required. If, on the other hand you have a condition that requires medical supervision, then you will need a nursing home.

What’s the difference between a nursing home and a retirement villageMany people consider that a nursing home and retirement home is the same thing. Although many people believe they’re just different names for the same thing, there are fundamental differences. Its easy to think they are the same, as both provide accommodation, meals, care and support from staff 24 hours a day. Also you can see a doctor in both types of home and both have to be registered.

Residential care homes and retirement villagesResidential care homes provide help and support to those unable to remain in their own home, even with the aid of

a comprehensive support package. Care homes provide service from trained care staff and give access to visiting nurses.

Nursing homesNursing homes have qualified nursing staff on duty 24 hours a day to support needs that are too complex to be met within normal residential homes.

The importance of making the right choiceSome people may assume that going to a nursing home must be better but choosing a nursing home for someone who doesn’t need it can have a massively detrimental effect. Retirement homes are, for the most part, all about the empowerment of the individual. For example, if a resident can dress themselves then they should be able to choose to do so. They will be allowed as much independence as they can achieve, with the added benefit of a watchful eye. Help is on hand as and when they need it.

Many care homes specialise in a specific type of care, for example, alzheimers or dementia. Sufferers of these conditions can often be reasonably independent for periods of time, so a care home that specialises in the condition and staff specifically trained for their needs can provide more favourable conditions for them than a nursing home.

The big decisiona nursing home or retirement village?


Living Options

mailto:[email protected]

Ocean Shores “ Resort Living” by the Beach

Ocean Shores Village at Mount Maunganui has independent villas - living in your own home without the stress of home maintenance. It has apartment living where you can live independently or become fully serviced. Residents are free of many of the chores, preserving their health and energy to enjoy life.

The beauty of village living is you are still very independent. You can join in village activities, go to Probus or golf, meet family or friends for lunch or simply put your feet up and relax. Prospective residents are looking for “peace of mind”, around the “what if.....”. None of us want to think about having a fall, being unwell or in poor health but the reality is our needs change as we age. Ocean Shores has a 24 hour emergency response system.

One of Ocean Shores greatest benefits is the sense of community and the companionship. Many older folk become isolated and lonely, particularly

after losing a loved one. In the village there’s always someone to talk to and have a coffee with. There simply is no need to be alone unless you want to be. There’s always lots of activities to join in and even a shopping bus.

As your needs change, after you move into the village, you have the ability to transfer from a villa to an apartment where you can remain fully independent or stop cooking and enjoy the luxury of being fully serviced.

Ocean Shores is a little special – it was built at a time when people valued having land and space around them, its not crammed in. It’s like living in your own home but with resort-like facilities and an easy walk to the beach. Shopping and medical facilities are all close by and it is all flat walking. Add to that a team of committed staff providing a range of services – from gardening to simply changing a light bulb – what more could you want?


Living Options

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I recently read an amazing book, the type where you become so engrossed in the world the author has painted that when you are pulled out of it you look around, blinking, momentarily startled at your surroundings. With a friend’s birthday coming up, I knew it would be the perfect gift. So I hopped online and checked out what Amazon was selling ‘The Tiger’s Wife’ for. It’s a popular book that recently won the Orange prize so I wasn’t surprised to find I could get it delivered to my door for $10. To buy it in hardcover, it was $21.

Being Gen Y I’m surgically attached to my keyboard, so online shopping is just a natural extension of myself. But there is another option and that’s [brace yourself] buying it at an actual, real live shop! But there lies the rub – it’s often much more expensive.

At the shopping mall closest to me, a large nationwide bookseller was selling ‘The Tiger’s Wife’ for $27.99. Even a New Zealand book, ‘Mister Pip’ by Lloyd Jones was $29.99 at the bookseller, and $15 from Amazon.

Shopping has been part and parcel of economies since human history began. Thriving markets existed in Ancient Egypt and Greece thousands of years ago, and in the world’s biggest cities, street names became synonymous with retail – the Champs Elysee, Fifth Avenue, Oxford Street.

But with the advent of the internet, it’s possible to buy things online with just the click of a button. No longer do we have to physically go to the shops for a bottle of perfume or a tennis racket.

It’s easy to hop on the internet, choose what you want and have it delivered to your door. Even with postage fees, eliminating middlemen, shop rents and staff salaries make many items cheaper than they would be in store.

Price Waterhouse Coopers and Frost & Sullivan released a report earlier this year which showed online shopping increasing to NZ$2.68 billion in 2011 – an increase of 12 percent from 2010.

Almost half of the New Zealand population will shop online in 2011 with each customer spending an average of almost NZ$1,400. These figures are set to increase again, with the total online spend reaching $4.22 billion by 2015.

So, has the internet killed shopping, the way it so mercilessly dealt to CDs and is now savaging TV and DVDs?

James Gilbert, director of Australasian ecommerce provider Solutionists, doesn’t think so. Firstly, he says there are some products that just don’t work online such as the $2 Shop. Secondly, retailers have a unique insight into what their local customers really want and can use this knowledge to create products and services under their own brand that uniquely satisfy the requirements of their customer group. “For retailers who take this own brand approach, suddenly the world of internet shopping becomes an opportunity instead of a threat,” Gilbert says.

Wellington entrepreneur Goisha Piatek agrees. Her company Kowtow sells boutique fair trade and organic clothing. “We got our online store revamped… and the month we did that our sales doubled. How easy a site is to navigate is so important. We get sales everyday from online.”

While Kowtow has stockists around the country and in Australia and Japan, Piatek says online retail sales are “huge”. “We sell causal garments so once people know their size they can re-order off our online store.”

By Bridget Gourlay

Online shopping


Living Options

Social media is an integral part of online shopping with 34 percent of shoppers following an online shopping site on Facebook. This is something Kowtow has noticed. “I think one of the most potent ways of advertising is through Facebook and Twitter – it’s just huge,” Piatek says.

“You really do notice the power of it. If we have a sale, or new stock has arrived, and we put that on the website then you can really see the number of online sales increasing that day.”

However, because Kowtow sells loose fitting garments, Piatek doesn’t think everyone in the fashion industry has as much online success as her. Part of the thrill of shopping is trying numerous things on, and making sure they fit properly.

“A company with dresses and tailored clothing, well you do need to try it on. And it’s just that much harder to click the pay button on the internet when it’s $500 dollars. A baggy t-shirt for $100 is different.”

Newmarket Business Association head Ashley Church agrees that there are some things about the physical shopping experience that still appeal to Kiwis and we shouldn’t be moving out of shops just yet.

“Kiwis are innately pragmatic people who see the internet as simply another part of

the overall shopping experience. We like the convenience of the internet for ‘simple’ purchases - but we also recognise that it has its limitations.”

He cites immediacy, safety, personal service and ‘the experience’ of in-store shopping as reasons why people will be in no hurry to replace it completely with the internet anytime soon.

Fact File• Almost half of the New Zealand

population shopped online in 2011.

• Each shopper spent an average of almost NZ$1,400.

• Total country online shopping expenditure for the year is expected to reach $2.68 billion

• Of the 2.68 million, an estimated $910 million or 34 per cent will be spent with offshore online retailers

• Online shopping increased 12 per cent since 2010

• Online retail expenditure now accounts for 5.1 per cent of all retail sales. This puts New Zealand on a par with Australia, but still well behind markets such as the USA and UK.

We offer a variety of living options, including villas, serviced apartment/studios, and rest home rooms. We also provide varying levels of care, from supported community living to 24-hour nursing care. If you or your family are considering retirement options, please call us anytime to arrange a visit.

73 Bryndwr Road, Christchurch 8052. P: 03 351 5979. E: [email protected] W: www.fendaltonretirement.co.nz

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Living Options

Fujifilm FinePix F550 EXRPacked with features and loaded with some very smart innovations, Fujifilm’s FinePix F550 EXR is the amateur photographer’s best friend. It is ideal for point-and-shoot photographers or SLR users who want to take easy snap shots, without compromising picture-taking versatility. It has 15x optical zoom, anti-blur, HD movie capture and 360° panorama mode, but the masterstroke is its GPS capability. Regardless of where you are in the world, the FinePix F550 will recognise your location and display it either as longitude and latitude, or by place name.

A tag is also placed on the image so you can easily find shots of a specific

location or point of interest. Say you took a shot at a restaurant you want to return, simply find the picture and the F550 will provide the distance and direction you need to travel from your existing location to get back there. Now that’s a pretty cool camera!

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Ultimate Kikki.K leather shoulder bag Arrive in style with a shoulder bag that combines the function of a laptop bag with the form and quality of Swedish design. Handmade from premium Italian leather, woven cotton lining and leather trimming on all internal pockets, it’s the perfect accessory. This spacious little number can hold a 17 inch laptop, has a padded sleeve perfect for your phone, pen loops and internal pockets, plus generous external zip pockets for everyday bits and pieces. Available in any colour you like, so long as its black or brown.

Available from: Kikki.K stores and www.kikki-k.com


Living Options

1. Err on the side of formality. For example, begin an email with ‘Good morning’ instead of ‘Hi’ and titles and last names instead of first names unless you know the person fairly well. Better to be known as polite than forward.

2. If you don’t know the recipient personally, put an introductory sentence at the start of an email, reminding the recipient of who you are and why you are emailing. Even if you just spoke with them a few hours ago, they may receive a hundred emails a day and will appreciate the quick reminder. Or they might need clarification when re-reading it a week or so later.

3. If you want to be taken seriously, ensure the email has no grammatical and spelling errors. This simply means you run the spell check and read over it before it is sent. It’s really easy to accidently forget a punctuation mark or for the autocorrect to change an error into a different word.

4. Your email must make sense. Write clearly, to the point, and re-read it before you send it. This saves a lot of guesswork

at the recipient’s end and nips any miscommunications in the bud.

5. Make sure there is nothing that could be read inappropriately, like a comment that could be seen as sexist or racist. Save the jokes for your friends and keep it polite.

6. Make sure your full contact numbers are beneath your email address so you can be reached.

7. Use paragraphs for a longer email. A massive single block of text can be overwhelming and vital information or key points can get lost in the crowd.

8. Always check the recipient. Sending the wrong email to the wrong person has sunk plenty of reputations. Always check who’s receiving it - be it one person or many.

9. Make sure you have attached the document. It’s easy to forget, but for the person urgently waiting for it at the other end it can be very frustrating if you forget to send it.

10. Don’t send enormous files that clog up an inbox unless the recipient really needs it.

Ten tips about email etiquette

Making the decision to move can be hard. So before you make that decision, let’s talk about how you like to live life.

Elmswood Retirement Village is a close-knit community offering a

variety of living options, including villas, rest homes and serviced

studios and apartments. We welcome your visit for an initial chat

about what you need and life here at Elmswood.

Phone us anytime on 03 351 0974

Elmswood Retirement Village, 131 Wairakei Road, Christchurch 8053. www.elmswoodretirementvillage.co.nz • Email [email protected]

Let’s talk aboutyou.


Living Options

http://www.terranovahomes.co.nz

30 Rest Home beds • 13 Studios • Set in a large, peaceful garden.Providing excellent quality of care from a dedicated team, with owner/operators as the management team.

For more information please contact Helen or Tony. Phone: 03 544 409949 Wensley Road, Richmond, Nelsonemail: [email protected]

http://www.caughey-preston.org.nz

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After the recall scare, I decided to switch dog food for then 11 year old terrier mix dog, Chynna. The food she was on was not one of the recall but she has been having bladder infections her entire life, and was overweight despite giving her a food for overweight dogs. After reading about all the stuff that was in other dog foods and all the great reviews for Canidae, I decided to let her try it.

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energy and no bladder infections. I adopted another dog six months ago and immediately threw away the food the pound gave and started her on the Canidae All Life Stages dry food formula. Canidae is more expensive than other food, but the money that I saved in medicine for bladder infections and vet visits more than make up for it.

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retirement today issue 7

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