Kia ora koutou,
With the arrival of autumn, the six-monthly unit inspections have started which run from March to May. Do use the inspection time to connect with your Community Manager and have any of your questions answered. Being at home on your allocated inspection day is greatly appreciated and helps makes the process more efficient.
I’ve been looking at the minivan bookings and how many people take this opportunity to get out and about. Although the trips are free to tenants, we do seem to have quite a few empty spaces which is a shame and we’re looking at different ways to ensure you know about these opportunities. To book a place, just call the Helpdesk as you normally do. A new activity option on offer is the Connect the Dots Art Class, and feedback has been that it’s very relaxing – I encourage you to give it a go.
We’re aware that those tenants who don’t have access to emails have been missing getting their newsletters. This month, we’ve printed the newsletters for everyone. However, moving forward, if you do have email, we’ll continue to send these to you by email as part of our focus on becoming paper-free.
I’d like to welcome our new Chief Operating Officer Paul Amaral, who joined us at the end of February. On a sadder note, I wish to acknowledge the recent passing of the Selwyn Community minivan driver, Walt Rotherham, after a short illness. Walt had been taking tenants on minivan trips several times a week since early 2019 and I know that he'll be missed by many of our tenants who had got to know him over the years.
The Easter break is coming up and I hope you celebrate the holiday in a way that’s meaningful for you. Remember – when disposing of all those Easter egg and chocolate wrappers – each village now has its own soft plastics bin for your recycling convenience!
Ngā mihi,
Gillian Schweizer,
Chief Executive Officer
Welcome to our new Chief Operating Officer, Paul Amaral, who’s joined us recently from Auckland Council’s Emergency Management team. Paul tells us a little about himself here.
“Family has been the cornerstone of my life: I’ve been married to Fay for over 20 years and we've had the joy of raising three incredible children – two lovely daughters and a son who brings endless laughter to our home. My roots trace back to a Portuguese heritage, and my upbringing in South Africa instilled in me a deep appreciation for diversity and community spirit. Eight years ago, my family and I moved to New Zealand, and this breathtaking country has captured our hearts in ways we never imagined.
“When not at work, I find great joy in staying active and connected with nature and can usually be found on the golf course, enjoying some quality father-son time with my boy.
“I’m deeply committed to the purpose behind the work we do here at Haumaru Housing. The opportunity to serve our village communities and make a meaningful difference is something I hold close to my heart. As I embark on this new chapter with all of you, I’m filled with excitement and optimism for the journey ahead.”
Inverell Court villagers always look forward to the fully-catered morning tea on the last Friday of every month, put on in Wiri Hall by Liz and her team from Rawiri Trust. Tenants also enjoy showcasing their cooking skills with some very yummy home-baking. Together with community and village updates provided by Rawiri Trust and Community Manager Nicky, this event is a great opportunity for everyone to catch up with neighbours and to welcome new tenants to the Inverell family.
Our annual tenant satisfaction survey is getting underway and you should soon receive a questionnaire from the independent research company, Gravitas, which conducts this survey for Haumaru every year. Gathering all your valuable feedback and comments about our range of services will help us improve our existing service delivery and enhance our planning for the future. Please be assured that your feedback will be anonymous, so please do fill out the forms and have your say. Pop the sealed envelopes in your village letter box before 10 May, if possible, or post them back to Gravitas. If you would like to complete the survey with Gravitas by phone, they can be contacted on Freephone 0508 RESEARCH (0508 7373 2724) or at viennah@gravitasopg.co.nz. Thank you for helping us improve our service to you.
Glen Eden’s Wilson Court tenants are now fully ‘in the know’, following a recent presentation about the financial entitlements available to superannuants from the Ministry of Social Development. Community Manager Lisa McKinnon provided a wealth of information on the various grants and allowances. Did you know that:
- emergency dental grants of $1,000 pa are non-recoverable, as are food grants
- payments for medical alarms and visits to the GP are included in the disability allowance
- recoverable grants include those for dentures, reading glasses, car repairs, whiteware, beds and unexpected utility bills
- you may be able to get a subsidy if you need long-term residential care in a hospital or rest home
- grants are available to help with some funeral costs.
For more information on the entitlements for older people, visit www.msd.govt.nz or contact Senior Services on 0800 552 002.
Lancaster Court tenants organised a wonderful St Patrick’s Day celebration in the village community house, with lots of lively Irish music and sing-alongs. Special guest was Reverend Robyn Allen Goudge of nearby Birkenhead Methodist Parish - Zion Hill, who added a special touch with her beautiful harp playing and singing (pictured third left).