Author: MIL OSI Publisher

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NZ’s largest full capital gain share retirement village operator supports industry review

Source: Karaka Pines Villages (Group) Ltd

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has just released its discussion paper on retirement village living.
Adam Yates, CEO of Karaka Pines Villages supports the review of the retirement villages industry.
Karaka Pines operates 7 retirement villages throughout NZ which all offer full capital gain to its residents.
The current regulations in the industry are punitive for full capital gain villages like Karaka Pines and a review is needed to ensure that operators which are being fair to residents are not punished for it.
“The current regulations assume that all operators are being unfair and need to be controlled” says Yates, “the current rules put costs onto residents whenever a situation arises which is not the normal model.” 
 The proposals set out in the discussion paper have the potential to continue and worsen this situation. An example is where a unit takes more than 6 months to sell and the weekly fees stop, the rest of the residents in the village have to bear the costs of the departing resident.
“There are lots of statements in the discussion paper which show that HUD assume that all villages are of the standard model. This is wrong as there are dozens of villages which operate differently from the norm.” says Yates.
Karaka Pines will be supporting many of the proposals in the discussion paper so that a fair deal is made available for retired people in NZ. At the same time, it will be proposing that any new regulations provide an encouragement for a move to fairer financial models, and that regulations which seek to control presumed excesses do not work against operators like Karaka Pines.
BACKGROUND – DIFFERENTIATING FACTORS
Karaka Pines is developing and operates 7 retirement villages throughout the country, with a total of 778 units planned and 344 units complete.
We have applied for resource consent for another in Tauranga and anticipate one being announced in New Plymouth.
Our retirement villages are different from nearly all the other villages in the country in that we allow the residents to have 100% of the capital gain that might accrue on their unit.
Our fees are also generally lower than other villages with our Deferred Maintenance Fee (DMF) starting at 12.5% but with outgoings fixed for life this increases to 25%. Our motivation for creating this village model is fairness. We have always considered that once a resident has paid for their unit they have the greatest investment in it. Therefore, they ought to get the greatest share of the capital gain – and in our case we think it should be all of it. In return they should pay to us a fair fee for the service we provide in managing the village for them. We’ve concluded that 12.5% of the sale price is a fair exchange of value. We also give them the option of having a fixed outgoings fee for life and a higher DMF of 25%.
Comment on the Industry review:
Karaka Pines welcomes the review of the industry as it sees that there is need to have fairness included in the industry regulation. However, we don’t agree that there needs to be wholesale changes as consumers have considerable choice available to them. A key concern for us that that the regulations need to recognise the range of differing village styles emerging as consumer pressure begins to be felt.
A very important aspect of the review has to include the provisions of the Retirement Villages Act which work against residents under models such as ours (which are based on full capital gain share). In regard to the 10 practices that the Retirement Villages Residents Association are asking to be reviewed we support the need for fairness to be included in the industry standards and agree that residents should not be charged for services that they do not use. We also consider it unfair that a resident which gains no real value from the resale of a unit should bear any of the costs of the sale where they are not the ones making decisions.
Under the Karaka Pines model, residents have all the say in the sale of the unit – they determine the asking price and even who will do the selling.
Scale of Karaka Pines Villages:
The success of this model is not insignificant as we have 2 completed villages under management, 5 villages under development and are applying for the resource consent to develop an eighth.
So far we have 344 completed units and a total of 892 planned.
The following are the villages:
Karaka Lifestyle Estate Karaka, South Auckland. 281
Karaka Pines Rototuna Rototuna, Hamilton 128
Karaka Pines Waihi Beach Wahi Beach 96
Regency Park Estate Rotorua 87
Roseland Park Hillcrest, Hamilton 54
Kempton Park Bethlehem, Tauranga 54
Woodcroft Estate Rolleston, Canterbury 78
The application for resource consent for a new village in Papamoa East, Tauranga has been lodged and will be 114 units.
Adam Yates, the Chief Executive Officer has 25 years of experience in the Aged Care and Retirement Village sector and has led the development of 11 villages in this time.
Karaka Pines Villages is based in Tauranga.
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Maritime NZ reply to TAIC preliminary report into i-Catcher capsize

Source: Maritime New Zealand

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) today released its preliminary report into the capsize of charter fishing vessel, i-Catcher, off Kaikōura on 10 September 2022. Five of the 11 people on board lost their lives.
Maritime NZ Deputy Chief Executive Regulatory Operations, Deb Despard, says this was a tragic incident.
“I want to offer my sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this incident, as well as to everyone else who has been affected,” she says.
In its recommendations TAIC raised issues about how vessels’ fuel systems are inspected by maritime surveyors, particularly the parts of the system that cannot be seen and easily accessed because they are under decks or behind bulkheads.
Maritime NZ is acting on TAIC’s recommendation and is engaging with surveyors who inspect vessels, owners and operators who run them and maritime industry organisations so they are all aware of this important issue when conducting surveys and carrying out maintenance.
“We are working on guidance for the industry to remind them about some of the considerations raised.
“We are treating this as a priority and will communicate it to the industry as quickly as possible,” Ms Despard says.
Maritime NZ’s investigation into the incident is continuing. Any enforcement action must be taken no more than a year after the incident. In fairness to everyone involved, and to protect the integrity of the investigation, Maritime NZ cannot make any further comment about the incident until the investigation is concluded.
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Weather News – A Reprieve from Rain, but Cold Continues

Source: MetService

Covering period of Thursday 3rd – Monday 7th August – Following the coldest night of 2023 for Auckland which hit a mere 2.5°C, MetService is forecasting more cold temperatures over Te Ika-a-Māui /the North Island this weekend. However, there will be brighter skies over much of the country as we leave the wild weather of the last week behind.

The last remnants of the wild weather hold out in the Chatham Islands, with a Strong Wind Watch in place until 10am Friday morning.

It was not only the atmosphere that was wild either: a heavy southwesterly swell combined with king tides led to waves of almost thirteen metres battering Baring Head in Wellington Harbour in the early hours of Thursday morning. With large waves continuing Thursday and Friday for the eastern North Island, caution is advised for anyone in and around the water until the end of the working week.

Otherwise, southwesterly winds settle and clouds clear as Thursday ends, revealing a healthy coating of snow.

MetService meteorologist Clare O’Connor details, “The term ‘bluebird day’ comes to mind when considering conditions at ski fields on Friday, and likely Saturday also, with a developing ridge of high pressure bringing sunshine and light winds.”

With the clear skies come the cold nights; expect a frosty Friday morning over the central North Island, and the north and east of Te Waipounamu/the South Island. These chilly temperatures persist for the North Island throughout the weekend, but a weak cold front will disrupt the South Island late in the day on Friday – with light snow flurries possible to 600 metres.

Moving into Saturday, the east of the North Island collects the dregs of the dying front early in the day and showery northwesterlies develop in the west of the South Island. Expect a dry day elsewhere in Aotearoa for not only the first round of knockouts in the football World Cup in Auckland and Wellington, but rugby fans in Dunedin also.

O’Connor notes, “Saturday looks to be the best opportunity this weekend to address any outdoor tasks that the wild weather kept you from earlier in the week.”

“Sunday again sees an area of low pressure skimming the bottom of the South Island and a set of cold fronts moving up the country – a wet end to the weekend, and a wet beginning to the second week of August.”

For media enquiries or to arrange an interview with one of our meteorologists please call 04 4700 848 or email metcomms@metservice.com

Understanding MetService Severe Weather Warning System

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings (Localised Red Warning) – take cover now:

This warning is a red warning for a localised area.
When extremely severe weather is occurring or will do within the hour.
Severe thunderstorms have the ability to have significant impacts for an area indicated in the warning.
In the event of a Severe Thunderstorm Red Warning: Act now!

Red Warnings are about taking immediate action:

When extremely severe weather is imminent or is occurring
Issued when an event is expected to be among the worst that we get – it will have significant impact and it is possible that a lot of people will be affected
In the event of a Red Warning: Act now!

Orange Warnings are about taking action:

When severe weather is imminent or is occurring
Typically issued 1 – 3 days in advance of potential severe weather
In the event of an Orange Warning: Take action.

Thunderstorm Watch means thunderstorms are possible, be alert and consider action

Show the area that thunderstorms are most likely to occur during the validity period.
Although thunderstorms are often localised, the whole area is on watch as it is difficult to know exactly where the severe thunderstorm will occur within the mapped area.
During a thunderstorm Watch: Stay alert and take action if necessary.

Watches are about being alert:

When severe weather is possible, but not sufficiently imminent or certain for a warning to be issued
Typically issued 1 – 3 days in advance of potential severe weather.
During a Watch: Stay alert

Outlooks are about looking ahead:

To provide advanced information on possible future Watches and/or Warnings
Issued routinely once or twice a day
Recommendation: Plan

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Recreation News – Elusive birthplace of Lake Wānaka salmon revealed

Source: Fish and Game NZ

A long search for the birthplace of Lake Wānaka salmon has raised hopes to help protect their struggling population.
Otago Fish & Game has been surveying Southern Lakes tributaries for spawning land-locked Chinook salmon for the past five years.
Surveys had found salmon spawning sites in the Hāwea and Wakatipu catchments, but the location of Wānaka sites remained a mystery until now.
“We’re relieved to finally locate one of the spawning locations for Lake Wānaka salmon,” Cromwell-based Otago Fish & Game officer Mason Court said.
“While lake Hāwea and Wakatipu have productive salmon fisheries, the Wānaka salmon population has been struggling.”
The spawning salmon were spotted this winter in an unnamed tributary of the Makarora River during an on-foot survey of possible historic spawning locations.
“We can now work with landowners and other agencies to assess how we can improve this stream’s conditions to support salmon spawning in the Wānaka catchment.”
Fish & Game officers would continue the search for other Wānaka salmon spawning streams, Mr Court said.
Previously, Fish & Game had taken eDNA water samples from Makarora River to work out the upper limit of the salmon population. Although the samples had tested positive for the past two years, spawning salmon had not been visually sighted.
“Land-locked salmon are smaller than sea-run salmon, and therefore are harder to spot using a helicopter,” Mr Court said.
“So, we’ve relied on old-fashioned foot surveys combined with high-tech eDNA testing to find them”.
“Another challenge is that, like all Pacific salmon, Chinook salmon die after spawning, and their remains are quickly consumed by birds, mammals, trout and eels”.
“They vanish from sight with barely a trace.”
Chinook salmon were introduced to some South Island rivers from California in 1901 and began spawning, creating a valued sports fishery.
The salmon in the Southern Lakes have been landlocked since Roxburgh Dam was built in 1953 and are among of the purest strains of the species in the world.
The bright-silver fish range in size from only 500 grams to 1kg and are highly regarded for their eating qualities.
“The Wānaka salmon population declined in the early 2010s due to unknown reasons,” Mr Court said.
Under a 10-year management sportsfish plan, Otago Fish & Game committed significant resources to the Upper Clutha salmon fishery.
In the 2020-21 season, Fish & Game surveys recorded only 17 salmon caught by anglers in Lake Wānaka, Mr Court said.
“The numbers are still low.
“The decline in the Wānaka population is suspected to have affected sea-run populations of the lower Clutha River/Mata-au.”
A previous study found more than 60 per cent of sea-run salmon caught by anglers in the lower Clutha River/Mata-au were the progeny of land-locked lake-rearing populations above the Clyde and Roxburgh dams.
Anyone who sights salmon in the Wānaka catchment river system is asked to contact Otago Fish & Game.
WHAT IS FISH & GAME?
Fish & Game manage trout, salmon and game birds to provide healthy recreation for Kiwis.
We work to protect the environment that anglers and hunters have enjoyed as a tradition for over 150 years.
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Art News – Award-winning Bay of Plenty artist Alex Miln announces his latest exhibitions

Source: rochesterprgroup.com

Award-winning Papamoa-based artist Alex Miln is pleased to announce two upcoming exhibitions in New Zealand, which will showcase his unique 3D sculptural art pieces, which combine a clever play on form, function and medium with a dash of satire.

From 12 August – 14 September, Alex will be showcasing his ‘Signs Fiction’ exhibition at the Soul Gallery in Hamilton.  The works within the exhibition question how Americana popular culture has seeped into New Zealand and helped to shape Kiwiana pop culture.  

Alex says, “Kiwiana didn’t develop in isolation, it was inspired by American popular culture, which has slowly infiltrated our society. While we have our own perceptions about our own iconic imagery, the works that I’ve created ask us to put aside our own perceptions and look under the rug to uncover the full story, even if it reveals an inconvenient truth. With my works, my aim is to shine a light at the issues and topics that people often wish to ignore, helping to encourage a debate regarding the origins and myths that exist behind our popular culture in New Zealand.’

Alex’s complex and provocative pieces, which are constructed with plywood and aluminium, are painted with up to 13 layers of paint to create the illusion of an aged patina. Topics that feature heavily in his retro-inspired works include politics, religion, and his take on Americana. Common subjects depicted within his works include American diners and motels, automobile references, and churches.

The Signs Fiction exhibition contains 13 striking works created by Alex, all of which have been cleverly created within a tight budget.  

Alex said, “Given that funds were limited, it restricted our ability to use neons, so instead we used paint to create our own iconic imagery.” Pieces within the exhibition include: Siesta Motel, Masonic Hotel, Milburn’s Meat, Paramount, Comet, Mr. Whippy, Urban Valhalla, 4 Square, Watt Up, Tip-Top, Gaytime, Bushells, and Marmite.

Alex’s second upcoming exhibition, which follows hot on the heels of Signs Fiction, is ‘Full Circle 12 Years of The Miles’, which will be held at Tauranga Art Gallery from 19 August – mid October. For this exhibition, Alex was only able to submit once piece, so he chose to submit ‘Left Right Out’, which questions persistent conceptions around what Democracy is and isn’t, largely due to perceptions gained from social media.

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This little piggy finally found its way – not home – but into the trap!

Source: Auckland Council

The “roaming pig of SH16”, who had avoided capture for the last couple of weeks, has finally succumbed to the lure of food and walked into a specially laid trap. It is now being looked after at the Henderson Animal Shelter. 

“We’re delighted to have caught this animal. It’s eluded everyone for some time but it’s satisfying to know it is safely contained and no longer a danger to motorists on the busy State Highway 16,” says Auckland Council Animal Management Officer Clarke Trethowen.

This afternoon at 3.15pm the council’s Animal Management team received a priority call from police to say the pig had been caught. The camera set up by Waka Kotahi to monitor the area the pig had been seen frequenting, alerted officers it was trapped.

Two officers were immediately dispatched, with one officer heading directly to scene and the other to collect the stock trailer.

On arrival the AMO confirmed the pig was safely contained in the trap, and with help of Waka Kotahi and Police, was able to load it onto trailer without incident and it was safely transported to the Henderson Animal Shelter.

The pig will remain a guest at the shelter until it is claimed; if the owners does not claim it, Auckland Council will begin the rehoming/adoption process.

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Name release – fatal train incident, Mount Maunganui

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Police are now in a position to release the name of the young person who died following an incident involving a train and a cyclist in Mount Maunganui on Monday 31 July.

She was Jorga-Ray Smith, 11, of Mount Maunganui.

Police extend our sympathies to her loved ones.

Her death has been referred to the Coroner.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre 

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Computing systems student set to become first in his family to graduate | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

35 seconds ago

Izaya (Izzy) Jahnke will graduate with a Bachelor of Computing Systems from the Tairāwhiti Campus of EIT | Te Pūkenga tomorrow (Friday 4 August).

Izaya (Izzy) Jahnke is looking forward to graduating with a Bachelor of Computing Systems from the Tairāwhiti Campus of EIT | Te Pūkenga tomorrow (Friday 4 August) as he will become the first in his family to do so.

It has been a long journey for Izzy, who went to school at Gisborne Boys’ High. Upon leaving school he received numerous scholarships to study engineering in Auckland. He spent a year and a half there, but returned to Gisborne after finding the going too tough.

Izzy says looking back the leap from school to university in Auckland had been too big.

“I guess I just had no experience at all. I felt like we jumped straight into the deep end at uni and I knew nothing at all, which was very high level coding and software development. So I kind of needed to come to EIT where they could have more one-on-ones and teach the fundamentals, the basics. I decided to pick up where I left at from uni and finished at EIT.”

Enrolling in EIT | Te Pūkenga in 2019 is a move he does not regret as he now prepares to graduate, which he describes as “quite an honour”.

“It feels like a dream has come true.”

Izzy’s father is German-Samoan and his mother is Māori (Ngati Porou), which makes his achievement more special for him.

“I guess I just wanted to show that as a Māori/Islander, you can get a high qualification such as degree, even if you are living in tough situations with financial issues. There’s always ways to increase and improve your growth.”

He says that what he enjoyed about the EIT | Te Pūkenga degree was the friends and colleagues he made.

“It helped me seeing everyone going through the same struggles and seeing them overcome them as well.”

Izzy says he found the three years fun and the lecturers and tutors supportive.

He finished his degree early last year, but has had to wait to graduate because COVID-19 delayed the ceremony.

While he was studying he had worked part-time in an orchard and has moved to fulltime while he waits to graduate.

The plan is to now begin looking for an IT job.

“I really love cybersecurity, however, at this time I’ve been doing my own hobby, which is fixing things and laptops, replacing screens and all. So I guess I will look at something along those lines, repairing hardware.”

As for studying further, it is something he is keen to do.

“It’s in my mind to either further the degree and do a Masters or return to engineering eventually. And then to specialise in either computing engineering or software engineering.”

EIT | Te Pūkenga Senior IT Lecturer Tina Blumenthal says: “It was our pleasure to have Izzy in the BCS programme. Not only did he achieve well throughout his study journey, but he also brought a positive, enquiring energy into our learning spaces, engaging others, and often coming up with innovative solutions to problems.”

“Izzy’s positive attitude, coupled with his professional smarts were evident at the outset.  He received the Spirit of GovHack Award, when a group of Tairāwhiti BCS students travelled to Hawke’s Bay to participate in the annual event. We wish Izzy all the best for the future.”

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Plan ahead – detours for State Highway 30/Te Ngae Road – Eastern Corridor, Rotorua

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency advises motorists that two detours will be in place from next week for SH30 Te Ngae Road between Vaughan Road and Ōwhata roundabout.

A full closure of the Basley Road/Te Ngae Road intersection will be in place from Monday 7 August to Friday 11 August 2023 between the hours of 8pm to 5am while contractors work on the new traffic signals for the Basley Road intersection.

Access for local traffic will be maintained via detours.

Residents in this area can enter and exit however they will not be able to cross the Basley Road Intersection.

The works have been deliberately timed to be carried out at night when there is less traffic on the highway and to minimise disruption for drivers.

Full closures also allow the work to be completed quicker.

A second detour will be in place for all eastbound traffic from Sunday 6 August 8pm, 24/7 for up to five weeks.

All traffic, including heavy vehicles, will be required to turn left at Vaughan Road and follow detours to Ōwhata roundabout.

Any local traffic at the Iles Road intersection will need to take the right turn at Iles Road and follow detours. The westbound lane on SH30/Te Ngae Road will remain open.

Access for all local residents and businesses will be maintained via detours.

Waka Kotahi thanks road users for their understanding and patience during this work on SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two – to improve safety and connectivity, while accommodating for future growth and providing better travel choices.

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EIT | Te Pūkenga Trades Academy Services Preparation programme leads to army career for two students | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

3 days ago

Josh Stephens from Karamu High School and Matthew Hatherell of Hastings Boys High School, who completed the Hawkes Bay School’s Trades Academy Services Preparation programme at EIT | Te Pūkenga last year, are now following their dreams in the New Zealand Army.

Two former Hastings schoolboys who completed the Hawkes Bay School’s Trades Academy Services Preparation programme at EIT | Te Pūkenga last year are now following their dreams in the New Zealand Army.

Josh Stephens from Karamu High School and Matthew Hatherell of Hastings Boys High School took advantage of the programme to prepare for a career in the NZ Army.  The Trades Academy works with secondary schools and EIT | Te Pūkenga to provide year-long trades programmes to help students prepare for a career.

The pair graduated from their Army Basic Training in Waiouru on 9 June and have now commenced their careers. Josh is working as a Maintenance Fitter and Matthew as an Intelligence Operator.

Josh will undergo further training at Woodbourne Air Force base as he commences his apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering with NMIT | Te Pukenga.

“ I liked the idea of completing a trade as well as participating in soldiering activities, hopefully I will deploy overseas upon completion of my apprenticeship,” says Josh.

Matthew is posted to Linton Military Camp where he will spend the next six months training in his role as an Intelligence Operator.

“My favourite part of Basic Training was living out in the field for seven days, it was challenging but awesome, I loved it.”

“The Services Preparation course helped us identify the path we wanted to take in the NZ Army, the tutors were really supportive and provided an awesome introduction to what army life would be like, without their help we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

Todd Rogers, the Head of The School of Trades and Technology at EIT | Te Pūkenga, says he is pleased to see Josh and Matthew transition from Trades Academy to a career in the New Zealand Army.

“Our services pathway programmes in the Trades Academy and in Trades and Technology are designed to prepare students for life in the army or the police. We have tutors who are ex-army soldiers themselves who know what is required to be accepted into the military.”

“We wish both Josh and Matthew the best in their careers,” said Todd.