Autumn’s here! Are you aware.....
It’s definitely AUTUMN with snow on the mountain tops, grey rainy days and/or brilliant sun!
The evenings get dark sooner. It’s crispy outside and you need to bundle up to keep warm!
Start each day with – a hot breakfast, a warming soup for lunch, a hearty meal for dinner and connect with friends and family.
Are you wanting to make connections? This one-stop-shop website Next Steps has a wealth of local knowledge related to the Waimakariri and the Hurunui.
www.nextsteps.org.nz...
Are you on the correct power/electricity plan?
www.powerswitch.org.nz...
In 2025, the Winter Energy Payment in New Zealand, a payment to help with heating costs, will be paid automatically to eligible recipients from May 1 to October 1, with rates of $20.46 per week for single people and $31.82 for couples or those with dependent children.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Who is eligible?
•You must be receiving a main benefit, pension, or Jobseeker Support Student Hardship.
•Specifically, this includes Jobseeker Support Student Hardship, Sole Parent Support, Supported Living Payment, Youth Payment, Young Parent Payment, and Emergency Benefit.
How it works:
•The payment is paid automatically, so you don't need to apply.
•It's paid weekly/fortnightly, on the same day that you receive your benefit or pension.
•The payment is tax-free and doesn't affect any other benefits or entitlements.
Payment Dates and Amounts:
•Start Date: May 1, 2025
•End Date: October 1, 2025
•Single people with no dependent children: $20.46 per week
•Couples, and people with dependent children: $31.82 per week
Important Notes:
•The payment may be stopped if you travel overseas for more than a month, or if you don't inform Work and Income of any changes in your circumstances.
•If you don't want the Winter Energy Payment, you can choose not to receive it.
A mindful suggestion – you could always redirect this payment to a worthy cause e.g. The Salvation Army Foodbank, or similar. It would be gratefully received.
•For more information, you can visit the Work and Income website.
In case you've missed it, 1st April saw an increase in benefits and pensions as well as changes in income and asset cut out points - find out more. Minimum wages for adults and training have also increased - find out more. Our ABC:
Advocacy, Budgeting, Credit checks, Debts, E-banking, Financial mentoring, Good choices, Hardship applications, Insolvency, Journey (at your pace), KiwiSaver, Listening, Mortgage, No Asset Procedures,
Options, Power providers, Queries, Rates, Savings, Transactions, Unsecured loans, Volatility, Work & Income, Xcellent options, You come first, Zero-based budgeting.
If you would like more information or wish to engage with a Financial Mentor, please contact us to talk about your situation.
Phone 03 315 3505 or email: servicemanager@bsnc.org.nz
We’re on Facebook and www.bsnc.org.nz...
Our office is in the War Memorial Hall, 1 Albert Street, Rangiora.
Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.
Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔
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73.2% We work hard, we deserve a break!
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16% Hmm, maybe?
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10.8% Yes!
Secure your homes over summer
Police are reminding people to keep their homes secure during the summer months.
Inspector Glenda Barnaby, Christchurch Area Prevention manager, says daytime burglaries are just as common as nightime burglaries.
“Burglaries can be committed at any time of the day, and coming into warmer months there is more opportunity for thieves."
"Although a majority of burglaries involve forced entry through windows and doors, we are starting to see more incidents at insecure premises. Police deal with cases where burglaries are committed in broad daylight, sometimes even while the victim is at home. Good weather means open doors and windows, which makes homes more vulnerable to burglars.”
Inspector Barnaby says there’s a few things people can do to reduce their changes of a burglary being committed.
⚠️ If you’re going outside for gardening, relaxing in the sun, or working in the garage, take a moment to lock your doors and secure your windows first.
⚠️ Do the same at night when you go to bed - keep your doors and windows secure and close your curtains. Fitting window stays means you can get a breeze coming through, while keeping your windows secure.
⚠️ Get to know your neighbours - let them know if you’re going away and look out for one another.”
If you see any suspicious activity, people or vehicles in your neighbourhood, don't hesitate to contact Police.
If you witness or suspect any illegal activity, please call 111 if it is happening now, or make a report through 105 either online or over the phone, if it is after the fact.
Poll: Pedestrian access is being extended to the Ōtakaro Avon River - good idea?
Pedestrian access from one of Christchurch’s favourite streets is being extended all the way to the Ōtakaro Avon River. This new 12m-wide pathway will give you a direct, easy route from the street to the river promenade ... perfect for a stroll, a coffee run, or just soaking up the riverside vibes.
We want to know: In your view, what makes a city people-friendly?
What else should our urban areas be doing to support better community connections?
Curious about the full plans? You can check them out here.
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90.9% Yes
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9.1% No
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