Upcoming Tea and Tech and safer driving courses... |
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It almost feels like we have only just survived Christmas and the holiday weekends, and now the Easter bunnies are showing up in the supermarket. Time flies!
For some instant diversion there's plenty of interesting information and events in this week's newsletter. Thank you for sharing a few moments of your day with us. Please give us a call on 04 499 6646 or email info@acwellington.org.nz if you would like to get in touch with us.
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STAYING SAFE FREE CLASS FOR OLDER DRIVERS |
Staying Safe is a FREE classroom-based refresher workshop for senior road users. Age Concern runs these workshops in partnership with NZTA/Waka Kotahi. They run from 10am till 2pm with refreshments provided! Registration is required. To register for a class now, click on the link below, phone us on 04 499 6646 or email events@acwellington.org.nz
Next classes: -
Wednesday 19 March, Upper Hutt Cossie Club
- Wednesday 26 March, Karori Community Centre
- Tusday 22 April, Kilbirnie & Lyall Bay Community Centre
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UPPER HUTT HUB – WITH CHRIS BUDGE AS SPECIAL SPEAKER |
The monthly Upper Hutt Social Connection Hub is a free social gathering for seniors where you can enjoy a light lunch and make new friends. When: Wednesday 12 March 2025, noon Where: Heretaunga Community Church, Upper Hutt Guest Speaker: Chris Budge from St. John's speaking on the 3 Steps to Life
Drop in or call 04 499 6646 for more information. |
TE POKAPŪ HAPORI COFFEE GROUP |
Join Age Concern for our free monthly coffee group for seniors: come by for some tea and coffee, and snacks, and a great speaker!
When: Thursday 27 March 2025, 10.30am Where: Te Pokapū Hapori - Y Central, 107 Manners Street, Te Aro Wellington Call 04 499 6646 or email events@acwellington.org.nz for details. |
Join Age Concern for our free monthly coffee group for seniors: come by for some tea and coffee, and snacks, and a great speaker!
Seatoun: Wednesday 2 April, 2025, Seatoun Village Hall at 10.30 am Linden: Tuesday 8 April, Linden Community Centre, 1.00 pm
Call 04 499 6646 or email events@acwellington.org.nz for details. |
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STEADY AS YOU GO FALLS PREVENTION CLASSES |
Many of the Steady As You Go classes will take a break over the holidays. Please call your Peer Leader or Age Concern for details.
Check out some of our available classes... all welcome!
*NEW* Strathmore, Wednesdays 12.30pm *NEW* - Seatoun Village Hall, Mondays 10am
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Wainuiomata (Wainuiomata Library), Tuesdays 11am
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Newtown (Newtown Community Centre), Tuesdays noon
Upper Hutt, Te Kupenga o Rongomai/Maidstone Sports Hub, Maidstone Park, Tuesdays 11am -
Walter Nash Centre, Taitā, Tuesday 1:30pm
Thorndon (at Loaves and Fishes in the Anglican Cathedral), Fridays 1pm - Johnsonville Uniting Church, Tuesdays 1pm
Hataitai, All Saints Church, Wednesdays 12pm -
Island Bay Community Centre, Wednesdays 1.30pm
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Tawa Community Centre, Thursday 1pm
Walter Nash Centre, Taitā, Thursday 1.30pm - Whitby, St Mary's Church Hall, Fridays 11am St Mary's Church Hall
To find out more about Steady As You Go and for a full list of Steady As You Go and Aligned To Go classes around the Region, click here or call 04 499 6646.
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STEADY AS YOU GO ONLINE EXERCISE CLASSES – ALL WELCOME |
Wednesdays at 9:30am there is a livestream Steady As You Go class on Zoom. It's open to anyone - you don't need any prior experience. It is a gentle entry-level exercise class, and all you need to do is register by filling in the form online (click the blue button below). The link will be sent to you. Come and join the 20+ other seniors online for some gentle exercise fun together! |
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CAN YOU JOIN OUR REGULAR DONOR TEAM? |
Did you know that Age Concern Wellington Region is a charity? Only about a quarter of our funding comes from the Government and another quarter from local Councils. We need to raise the rest of the funding we need to keep the programmes you've just read about in this newsletter going.
We have a team of donors who contribute to our work on a regular basis. Regular donations help us budget and plan for the future. Are you able to join our regular donor team? Even $10 per month makes a real difference!
To make a regular donation using our secure website, click the button below. Select your donation frequency using the drop down menu on the form. Or you can call us if you want to make a regular payment using internet banking directly. |
Useful Tips
From phone calls and text messages saying you owe money, need to claim a parcel, or must renew an important document, to emails and letters claiming to want to give you money or urgently needing you to renew a registration of some kind, there are countless approaches out there. Sadly, it's important to be on your guard.
Some useful tips include considering requests and asking yourself how the request makes you feel. It's also important never to enter passwords on unknown sites. Even clicking on a link in a text message can be dangerous. Scammers are good at making things seem urgent, so perhaps the most useful advice we've come across is to 'pause, reflect, protect." See our latest scam prevention presentation (click here) |
GREAT GAMERS IS ON AGAIN FOR THIS YEAR |
Great Gamers is an intergenerational afternoon where kids, parents, grandparents and everyone in between can come together for friendly non-tech gaming. There is a wide range of card and board games, the favourites so far proving to be Chess, Checkers, Mancala, Rummikub and Backgammon. Dates: every Thursday during term time. Venue: Salvation Army Corps, 177 Main Road, Tawa - Opposite the Borough Restaurant. Time: 3.15 - 4.45pm
Afternoon tea is provided in a safe and calm social environment for all ages to enjoy each other’s company, and engage in some friendly competition between kids and adults.
Contact 04 232 8023 or 021 289 3226 or via email vanessa.evetts@salvationarmy.org.nz for more information. |
SOOTHING SONGS COMFORTING PEOPLE NEAR THE END OF LIFE |
Whakaahuru means to warm, to cherish or to comfort and that is the aim of the Whakaahuru Gentle Singers. The group will sing at the bedside (or chair side) of anyone who is nearing the end of life and would enjoy hearing some gentle songs. They aim to create a soothing, warm bath of sound that helps people relax - patients, their family and carers. They offer a free service throughout the Wellington Region. If you would like to request them to sing for someone you know, email whakaahuru@gmail.com, or call or text 022 355 6954. Visit their website for more information here https://whakaahuru.nz/
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DEMENTIA FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER |
The New Zealand Dementia Foundation issues a regular newsletter, aimed at connecting Aotearoa New Zealand's dementia mate wareware community. Whether you're working in clinical practice, providing assistance in a community, care or academic environment, caring for a loved one, or living with dementia yourself, they hope their newsletter helps keep you connected with others who share a commitment to supporting the dementia journey.
See the latest newsletter HERE |
THE END OF THE 3G MOBILE NETWORK |
Please be aware that the 3G network will be switched off soon. This could affect you if you still use an older mobile phone. It could also affect other devices like medical alarms and burglar alarms.
One NZ has a scheduled switch-off date of 31 December 2025. Spark says its 3G network will be turned off "towards the end of 2025", same as 2Degrees.
read more |
There is something special about music; it brings people together from all walks of life, ages, and ethnicities. This was the view expressed by one of our staff after they attended a session with the Hutt Ukulele Orchestra recently.
The couple who are behind the orchestra are Murray and Margaret who, with their son Justin, have a family business: The Music Warehouse in Petone. They have been in the business of supplying and servicing musical instruments since 1993. The couple are obviously passionate about music and great customer service.
Margaret and Murray say the orchestra has been going for over 10 years and they now have around 80 members that meet each Thursday night at the Petone working men's club. It is a great range of people of all ages. They are keen to expand the number of musicians by teaching them to play the ukulele and will visit other organisations if they are interested.
See more about them on Facebook (click here)... |
SUPERGOLD INFORMATION HUB |
The SuperGold team has established the SuperGold Information Hub, a new digital platform that makes it easier for SuperGold Cardholders to access information on key support and services for seniors.
By offering a wider range of information as well as the savings on everyday essentials, the Hub aims to transform SuperGold into a more comprehensive and valuable resource.
To help improve the Hub over time, the SuperGold team welcomes feedback. Your input will help tailor the platform to better serve your needs, with future updates bringing more features and improvements.
Click here to access the hub: SuperGold Information Hub |
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IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS AND CONTACTS
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For emergencies dial 111
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For non-emergency police matters dial 105
- If you are feeling anxious or just
need someone to talk to call or text 1737
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Age Concern Wellington Region 04 499 6646 info@acwellington.org.nz
Alcohol Drug Helpline (open 24/7) - 0800 787 797. You can also text 8691 for free
ASB Bank Senior Priority Direct Line 0800 272 119 Continence NZ Helpline 0800 650 659 -
Dementia Resources https://www.harrislist.co.nz/
Dementia Wellington 04 972 2595 - Depression Helpline (open 24/7) - 0800 111 757
Elder Abuse Wellington Helpline 04 805 0880
Entitlements: MSD Senior Services line 0800 552 002 Financial dispute resolution services: Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman: info@ifso.nz Financial Services Complaints 0800 347 257 complaints Financial Dispute Resolution Service 0508 337 337 enquiries@fdrs.org.nz
Banking Ombudsman Scheme 0800 805 950 help@bankomb.org.nz Greater Wellington Regional Council http://www.gw.govt.nz/ -
Healthline (open 24/7) - 0800 611 116
Hutt City Council: huttcity.govt.nz/ or 04 570 6666
Kapiti Coast District Council: https://www.kapiticoast.govt.nz
Lifeline: qualified counsellors and trained volunteers: 0800 543 354 or free text 4357
Mental Health Foundation's free Resource and Information Service: 09 623 4812
Porirua City Council: poriruacity.govt.nz/ or 04 237 5089
Samaritans: confidential support, empathetic listeners: 0800 726 666 -
Suicide Crisis Helpline (open 24/7) - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
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Upper Hutt City Council: upperhuttcity.com/ or 04 527 2169
- WellElder: a counselling service for older people, or those supporting an older person. Wellington Region: 04 380 2440 (Tuesday - Thursday)
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Wellington City Council: wellington.govt.nz or 04 499 4444
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THANK YOU AIR RESCUE FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT |
We really appreciate the support of Air Rescue who have provided us with funding for our mahi with seniors. Thank you! |
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Age Concern Wellington Region is a registered charity. We are part of a wider network of more than 30 Age Concerns located across the country.
Visit our website to find out more about our work around the Wellington Region and how you can be involved
www.acwellington.org.nz
© Age Concern Wellington Region Trust
Charities # CC61759 |
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