Free Courses for Older Drivers, Technology Support event & News... |
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We’re delighted to bring you another edition of our newsletter, filled with exciting opportunities, upcoming events, and useful information just for you.
Win Free Concert Tickets! – We're hosting a special competition where you could win free tickets to an unforgettable performance. See details on how to enter below.
We also have some free spaces at our two upcoming Staying Safe refresher driving courses. If you haven't done this course yet, then this is your opportunity! It's free and well worthwhile.
Thank you for being a part of our wonderful community. You are valued!
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. Please join us, even if you've already taken the course in the past.
Registration is required. To register for a class now, click on the link below, phone us on 027 248 0335 or email events@acwellington.org.nz Next classes: -
Thursday 15 May, Petone, Lower Hutt - next week, register now!
- Wednesday 21 May, Walter Nash Centre, Lower Hutt
- Tuesday 3 June, Porirua
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Are you baffled by computers and the internet, want to learn about internet banking, or connect with family via What's App or Facebook? Want to feel safe online?
Come to our free Tea & Tech workshop! Bring your digital device and get help from friendly and understanding people. There will also be a scam prevention presentation.
When: Wednesday 14 May 2025, 9.30AM - 12PM Where: Upper Hutt Cossie Club, 11 Logan Street, Upper Hutt
Please register by filling in the form online (click the blue button below) or call 027 248 0335. |
GUIDED TOUR OF PUKEAHU PARK |
Join us for a free one-hour guided tour of Pukeahu National War Memorial Park!
Pukeahu National War Memorial Park is the central place for New Zealanders to remember and reflect on this country's experience of war, military conflict, and peacekeeping, and how that experience shapes our ideals and sense of national identity.
We are working with Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture & Heritage to bring you free guided tours of this amazing park. When: Tuesday 27 May, 1pm Where: Meet at the Pukeahu Education Centre, 191 Tory street. Parking available by the Education Centre. Turn into 191 Education Centre's driveway, there is parking on the side there.
Bookings are essential so please call Vanessa on 027 248 0335 or email events@acwellington.org.nz to reserve your space. This programme is accessible for different mobility needs.
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UPPER HUTT HUB – WITH MURRAY REED SPEAKING ON CRUISING THE HIGH SEAS |
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 14 May 2025, noon Where: Heretaunga Community Church, Upper Hutt 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 29 May 2025, 10.30am
Where: Te Pokapū Hapori - Y Central, 107 Manners Street, Te Aro Wellington
Drop-in or call 027 248 0335 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! Linden: Tuesday 13 May, Linden Community Centre, 1.00 pm Seatoun: Wednesday 4 June, 2025, Seatoun Village Hall at 10.30 am
Call 027 248 0335 or email events@acwellington.org.nz for details. |
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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! -
Wainuiomata (Wainuiomata Library), Tuesdays 11am
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Newtown (Newtown Community Centre), Tuesdays noon
Upper Hutt, Te Kupenga o Rongomai/Maidstone Sports Hub, Tuesdays 11am -
Kilbirnie-Lyall Bay Community Centre, Tuesdays 1pm
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Walter Nash Centre, Taitā, Tuesday 1:30pm
- Johnsonville Uniting Church, Tuesdays 1pm
Hataitai, All Saints Church, Wednesdays 12pm
*NEW* Strathmore, Wednesdays 12.30pm *NEW* -
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
Thorndon, Loaves and Fishes in the Anglican Cathedral, Fridays 1pm
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. |
The NZ Highwaymen, are embarking on their Tour 25. After two sold out tours in 2023 and 2024, these legendary musicians are ready to once again captivate audiences with their timeless music. Brendan Dugan, Gray Bartlett, Dennis Marsh, and Frankie Stevens, collectively known as the "New Zealand Highwaymen" are coming to Upper Hutt Cossie Club with a special 'Monday Matinee'. You can go to lunch and then enjoy the show at 2:30pm on Monday 26th of May. Price $85 per person – including lunch.
Book here (click here), or at the Upper Hutt Cossie Club. SPECIAL OFFER: Age Concern Seniority Club Members: call Aly on 027 556 6113 to reserve your tickets, say you are from Age Concern and she will reserve seats in the front rows for you. |
NZ HIGHWAYMEN – DRAW FOR COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS |
You and a friend could be in to win two complimentary tickets and VIP access to the Highwaymen Concert at the Upper Hutt Cosmopolitan Club on Monday 26 May (Doors open 2.00 pm and event starts at 2.30 pm).
To be in the draw to win please fill in the General Enquiry form on our website by clicking the blue button below (or click here:https://www.acwellington.org.nz/contact-us/)
with NZ Highwaymen Concert in the first line, before Thursday 15 May. The winner will be drawn and contacted on Friday 16 May. |
For those with a disability or unable to attend the concert, you could win a NZ Highwaymen DVD of their concert at the James Hay Theatre in Christchurch.
To be in the draw to win please fill in the General Enquiry form on our website by clicking the blue button below (or click here:https://www.acwellington.org.nz/contact-us/)
with NZ Highwaymen DVD in the first line, before Thursday 15 May. The winner will be drawn and contacted on Friday 16 May. |
WELLNESS DAY 2025 – UPPER HUTT, 24 MAY |
Enjoy a day celebrating HEALTH AND WELLBEING When: 24 May, 10am Where: Orongomai Marae, 1 Railway Avenue, Upper Hutt
Free Health and Wellbeing Services available during the day. - Doctor available
- Free flu vaccines for all age groups
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All NZ scheduled Vaccines
- Blood pressure checks
- Point of care testing
- Mirimiri
- Health Coach
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Ear checks
- Diabetes, Heart and Gout education
- Cervical screening
Plus other Health and Wellbeing professionals AND free sausage sizzle and face painter. |
**ALERT**
UNSAFE "SERENE" BATHROOM HEATERS RECALLED |
Consumer Protection New Zealand has determined that there are potential fire risks with some models of Serene Bathroom heaters. Model S2068 has been found to be unsafe and models S207T and S2069 are non-compliant with safety standards. MBIE and suppliers have been working together to recall the products from the NZ market. This applies to all units imported, sold, or installed since June 2018. The model number is on the label on the top of the heater.
More information about this recall and the retailers who are working with MBIE:
If you have a Serene Wall mounted bathroom heater you are advised to check the model number and then go to https://www.consumerprotection.govt.nz/help-product-service/electronics-and-appliances/serene-bathroom-heaters-recall for guidance.
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FREE DIGITAL LITERARY CLASSES AT PORIRUA LIBRARY |
Porirua Library is conducting another programme of free basic digital literacy courses during Term 2. The courses cover various subjects such as online shopping, online banking, going on to government websites, how to use apps on your smartphone, how to setup an email account or browse the internet, buy/sell on TradeMe, use library apps such as Libby, and much more. The courses are slow paced, suitable for seniors, and can be tailored to their level of experience. We also organize Coding Clubs for children and teens. Registration is required to attend these sessions.
They also provide One-on-one technical support. If you have a particular issue / question related to using your device, or the Internet, or anything digital, call them 021 764 096.
All the information, including Term 2 list of sessions and courses, is available on their website (porirualibrary.org.nz/digital), plus a link to register (https://diaa.arlo.co/w/upcoming/location-porirua-city-library/).
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THE 2025 EMERGENCY MOBILE ALERT TEST |
The nationwide test of the Emergency Mobile Alert system is taking place in the evening of Sunday 25 May between 6-7pm. This is a routine test to make sure the system is working well. We anticipate that over 5.5 million phones will receive this message, which will emit a loud alert tone when it’s delivered. - Emergency Mobile Alerts are messages about emergencies sent by authorised emergency agencies to capable mobile phones. - The Emergency Mobile Alert is a way of receiving information about emergencies in your area. - We need to routinely test to make sure the system is working well.
- The Emergency Mobile Alert message you receive on Sunday 25 May between 6pm-7pm is a test of the system. - Find out more about the Emergency Mobile Alert at getready.govt.nz/ema |
ANNUAL INCREASE TO NZ SUPER |
SMART NEWTOWN & SKINNY JUMP |
Smart Newtown is a community initiative in Newtown, Wellington, offering free access to computers and the internet, along with various digital literacy programs. The services include basic computing courses, one on one support with your internet and computer issues, guidance on using applications like the Google suite and various online tools such as online banking, MY MSD & Real Me. They also provide affordable printing services and free scanning.
Operating as a project of the Newtown Community Centre on the corner of Rintoul and Colombo Streets.
Smart Newtown is funded by the Wellington City Council. www.smartnewtown.org.nz They also offer Skinny Jump
Skinny Jump is a not-for-profit initiative in New Zealand designed to provide affordable broadband access to households facing digital exclusion. For $5, users receive 35GB of data on a prepaid basis, with no contracts or credit checks, and a free modem. The plan can be renewed up to six times monthly, allowing for a maximum of 210GB for $30. Eligible groups include families with children, job seekers, seniors, people with disabilities, refugees, migrants, and those in social housing. To sign up, individuals can contact local Skinny Jump partners – such as Smart Newtown at the Community Centre!
For a complete schedule of events at the Community Centre go to https://www.newtowncommunity.org.nz/news-events |
GET HELP FROM A DIGI-COACH IN LOWER HUTT |
One-on-one support for digital questions is available at the War Memorial Library, Naenae Neighbourhood Hub and Wainuiomata Neighbourhood Hub Monday - Friday, 10am - 2pm. Drop-in or call 0800 488 824 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 |
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Massey University is conducting a project that aims to understand and better represent experiences of sleep with ageing. People aged 75 years plus are invited to participate in one of three FREE workshops.
The workshops will involve Group Discussions about sleep with ageing, particularly in response to Media messaging. Each will be followed by a Catered Lunch then a Poetry Workshop. The three event are:
19 May: Brooklyn Community Centre, 11.00 am to 2.00 pm 21 May: Island Bay Community Centre, 11.00 am to 2.00 pm
26 May: North Porirua Baptist Church, 11.00 am to 2.00 pm SPACES ARE FREE, BUT LIMITED, SO REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. For more information and registration please contact Dr Rosie Gibson; 04 9793258, or r.gibson@massey.ac.nz |
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." |
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 TRUST HOUSE FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT |
We really appreciate the recent support of Trust House for our work in Upper Hutt! |
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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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