Come to one of our helpful refresher driving courses, fun social groups or join an exercise class

STAYING SAFE REFRESHER COURSE FOR OLDER DRIVERS

Staying Safe is a classroom-based refresher workshop for senior road users. Age Concern runs these workshops in partnership with Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

Next workshops:

Wednesday 26 August, 10am. Wellington Central

Tuesday 13 October, 10am. Wellington Central

The workshop aims to maintain and improve safe driving practices and increase the knowledge of other transport options available to help senior road users remain safely mobile.

The free interactive workshop runs for around 4 hours, with light refreshments provided. Spaces at each workshop are limited so please register by clicking on the purple button below.

UPCOMING EVENTS TO POP IN YOUR CALENDAR...

We have lots of social connection events available in the coming months. Here are some you can come to in August and beyond:

• Wellington Central Coffee Group - Willis St, Wellington CBD: Thursday 27 August & 24 September 10:30am. Y Youth Hub Willis Street (203 Willis Street)

• Omai Fa'atasi (Come Together): Porirua - Tuesday 1 September & 6 October, 10am. Salvation Army, Porirua. Pasifika-themed event for seniors. All welcome.

• Social Connection coffee group - Linden: Tuesday 8 September & 13 October, 1pm. Linden Community Centre, 10 Linden Avenue.
• Social Connection coffee group - Upper Hutt: Wednesday 9 September & 14 October, 12pm. Heretaunga Community Church, Upper Hutt.

• Omai Fa'atasi (Come Together): Lower Hutt - Thursday 10 September & 8 October, 10am. Walter Nash Centre. Pasifika-themed event for seniors. All welcome.

STEP BY STEP

Step By Step is a new Age Concern walking group for seniors.

Join us at North City Shopping Centre in Porirua on Mondays at 8am for a light 30 minute walk around the mall, followed by a cuppa (with a special discount offered by one of the mall cafés).

Meet at the Customer Service Desk on Level 1. Free underground parking, use the entrance opposite the BP Station.

We're running this new group in collaboration with North City Shopping Centre, and we hope to start other groups in the Wellington Region in the future.

Drop-ins welcome, please arrive at 7.45am to register on the day.

Designed for all walking abilities, BYO walking stick, rollator frame or walking buddy if needed. You will be able to walk at your own pace, covering as much distance and with as many breaks as you choose, the main aim is to come along and join in!

Join us on Monday mornings, or call 04 499 6646 for more information.

STEADY AS YOU GO FALLS PREVENTION CLASSES

Our Steady As You Go exercise classes are available around the Wellington region. These classes are designed to improve strength and balance and help prevent a fall. Steady as You Go classes improve:

• Balance and leg strength
• Flexibility
• General fitness and wellbeing

And they are a great way to meet new people! Check out some of our available classes... all welcome!

• Mt Victoria (Quaker Meeting Rooms), Mondays 11 am
• Whitby (St Mary's Church Hall), Tuesdays 11 am
• Newtown (Newtown Community Centre), Tuesdays noon
• Karori, (Karori Community Centre), Tuesdays 12.45pm
• Upper Hutt, Te Kupenga o Rongomai/Maidstone Sports Hub, Tuesdays 11am
• Kilbirnie-Lyall Bay Community Centre, Tuesdays 1pm
• Hataitai, All Saints Church, Wednesdays noon
• Strathmore, Wednesdays 12.30pm
• Island Bay Community Centre, Wednesdays 1.30pm
• Tawa Community Centre, Thursdays 1pm
• Seatoun (Seatoun Village Hall), Fridays 11.00am

To find out more about Steady As You Go and for a full list of classes visit our website or call 04 499 6646 (option 7) for more information.

REMEMBERING EVE MCMAHON

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Eve McMahon, who joined the Board of Age Concern Wellington Region earlier this year.

Although Eve was only able to contribute for a short time before her illness, she was passionate about our mission of helping seniors thrive and was looking forward to working with us to make a difference in the lives of older people in our community.

We are grateful for the contribution Eve made to our organisation and for the opportunity to have known and worked with her. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Eve’s family and loved ones at this very sad time.

ASK HEALTHPOINT

Ask Healthpoint is New Zealand’s health system navigation tool - a simple way to find health services, now powered by AI. Instead of knowing the right clinical term or where to start, you describe what you need in your own words, in the language you’re most comfortable with, and Ask Healthpoint guides you to trusted, local options near you.

It draws only on Healthpoint’s verified directory of 12,000 health services across New Zealand, so the options you see are real, current, and local, complete with practical details like opening hours, whether you need an appointment, and how to get in touch.

Whether you’re after a pharmacy that’s open now, an urgent care clinic, an online GP, or a mental health service you didn’t know existed, Ask Healthpoint brings the options together in one place.

Ask Healthpoint is a navigator. It doesn’t diagnose, triage, or assess your condition. Its job is to help you find the right service so you can contact them directly. It complements your GP, nurse, and helplines; it doesn’t replace them. In an emergency, call 111. For health advice, contact your GP or Healthline on 0800 611 116.

Click here to learn more about Ask Healthpoint

OVER 65 ENTITLEMENTS

Over 65 Entitlements - The Definitive List for New Zealanders

The Money Hub has developed a definitive list of every entitlement, discount and support available to New Zealanders 65 and over - NZ Super extras, health, rates relief, SuperGold and more, in one list.

Turning 65 unlocks far more than NZ Super - but what you're entitled to isn't consolidated into one place. The information is scattered across Work and Income, Health New Zealand, your local council, NZTA and dozens of company policies, and almost none of it arrives automatically.

Money Hub believes that most New Zealanders claim only a fraction of what they could.

The guide, the first of its kind in New Zealand, fixes that. They've pulled together every entitlement, payment, subsidy and discount available for New Zealanders aged 65 and over - 40+ of them at last count, and growing - organised by theme so you can work through the lot in one sitting.

The 60-second shortcut: Work and Income's free eligibility checker asks a few questions and lists what you may qualify for. It might be worth checking this before you read on - then use the guide to catch everything the checker doesn't cover. Check it at check.msd.govt.nz.

For the full guide to your entitlements go to www.moneyhub.co.nz/over-65-entitlements

LIFE AFTER STROKE – LOWER HUTT

Stroke Aotearoa NZ has arranged a number of stroke education sessions for Hutt Valley residents.    

The topics still to be covered:

• Wellbeing after Stroke for Stroke Survivors and Whanau/Carers on Friday 28 August
• Returning to Pre-Stroke Activities, Language and Communication on Friday 25 September
• Managing Changing Relationships and some legal basics on Friday 23 October

Venue: Pukatea Room, Te Mako Naenae Community Centre, 27 Hillary Court, Lower Hutt

Time: 10.30 am to 12 noon.

To register email Bec Gardiner | Community Stroke Navigator | Stroke Aotearoa New Zealand  bec.gardiner@stroke.org.nz|  M 027 344 8878

www.stroke.org.nz

ARE YOU READY FOR ELECTION 2026?

Election Day is Saturday 7 November, and while it may seem some time away, changes to the voting process mean it’s important to be prepared if you want to vote. Unlike previous elections you cannot enrol or update your address when you go to vote.

To vote in a general election you need to be enrolled by midnight, 13 days before Election Day. This means you can't enrol or update your details (if you have moved), after midnight, 25 October 2026. Voting opens the following day, on Monday 26 October.
  

Check your details now 

Take a few minutes to check that your enrolment details are correct, including your postal address, email address and mobile number. You can enrol, check your details, or update your information at www.vote.nz  
 

If you prefer, call 0800 36 76 56 to request an enrolment form, or text your name and address to 3676 and a form will be posted to you. 
 

Look out for your EasyVote card 

This year, (assuming you are enrolled) the Electoral Commission will send election information (including your EasyVote card and information about electorate candidates) to you by email or post. If the Commission only has your postal address, or you are on the unpublished roll, you will receive your EasyVote card by post. 
 

Information on voting locations and party lists will be available from www.vote.nz 
 

You can still vote without an EasyVote card 

An EasyVote card helps electoral staff find your details quickly, but you do not need the card to vote. If you enrolled by the deadline, you can still vote without it. 
 

Need help? Visit www.vote.nz  or call 0800 36 76 56.

NETSAFETY WEEK 2026

Netsafety Week 2026 is coming up from 17 - 23 August.

Every day, New Zealanders from young kids to kaumātua are navigating a digital world that's moving faster than most of us can keep up with. AI, scams, online abuse, concerns for our rangatahi and the pressures of social media are affecting real people in our communities. 

This year's theme, Online safety is a team sport - play your part, is a reminder that keeping each other safe online takes all of us, working together. 

Netsafety Week will have a presence in libraries across the country, along with a myriad of free resources and activity ideas available for your organisation and community to access, so there are plenty of ways to get involved.

The full programme and resources are available on the Netsafety Week web hub: https://netsafe.org.nz/netsafety-week-2026 

MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT  INFORMATION NOW AVAILABLE IN EASY READ, NZSL AND BRAILLE

Important Work and Income information is now being provided in a number of alternate formats: Audio, Easy Read, New Zealand Sign Language (video), Braille and Large Print. 

This alternatively formatted information is available for topics including: 

        Accommodation Supplement 

        Disability Allowance 

        Power, gas, water bills or heating 

        Supported Living Payment

Accessible formats help people get important information in a way that works for them. For example, Easy Read uses simple words, short sentences and images to make information easier to understand, while large print, Braille, audio and New Zealand Sign Language video support people with different access needs. 

Read the full list here

DEALING WITH YOUR TIAKI WAI ACCOUNT

The Tiaki Wai team has shared some useful information to assist customers in dealing with their initial Tiaki Wai invoices:

• Customers having difficulty paying should contact Tiaki Wai early on 0800 TIAKI WAI (842 549).
• Payment arrangements, such as weekly and fortnightly payment arrangements, and hardship support are available.
• Water will not be turned off if a customer is struggling to pay their bill.

Rates rebates still matter

Tiaki Wai charges are included when councils calculate rates rebate eligibility and rebate amounts. Water charges may help a household qualify for a rebate or receive a larger rebate.

Rebates are applied to the council rates account, not directly to the Tiaki Wai bill.

For detailed information regarding bills, charges, payment options or hardship support:

Website: www.tiakiwai.co.nz
Billing Information: www.tiakiwai.co.nz/billing
Phone: 0800 TIAKI WAI (842 549)

RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PRACTIONERS (HIPS)

Health Improvement Practitioners provide free, brief wellbeing support through many general practices. They can help with stress, low mood, anxiety, grief, poor sleep, addiction, loneliness, caring pressure and the emotional effects of living with a long-term health condition.  However, many people do not know the service exists.
 
HIPs come from a background in nursing, psychology, social work, or occupational therapy. Their work is not traditional counselling. Appointments are usually brief and practical. They generally work alongside GPs and nurses at a medical practice.

Ask your GP, practice nurse or reception team whether your practice has a Health Improvement Practitioner and how to book. 
 
What happens at an appointment? 
An appointment often lasts no more than 30 minutes with the aim of identifying one issue to focus on and agree on a realistic next step. 

That might mean finding a way to manage stress, improve sleep or rebuild a routine. It could involve adjusting to a new diagnosis, reconnecting with other people, or coping with the pressure of caring for someone. 

The aim is not to solve everything in one appointment. It is to help people leave with something useful they feel able to try. 

PORIRUA PUBLIC LIBRARIES - HOUSEBOUND SERVICE

If you are unable to visit the library because of a permanent or temporary disability condition, you can use the Housebound Library Service free, within the Porirua area.

Housebound assistants will select material for you based on your preferences (some restrictions apply). They will deliver and collect your items approximately every six weeks.

Call or email them when you are ready, or if you have any questions.

Contact: Porirua Library 04 237 1533, or email housebound@poriruacity.govt.nz

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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