NZ CharitiesNew Zealand Charities Community House

People, policy, partnership

Attendance is a must for anyone involved with dementia, professionally or personally.andnbsp; An impressive line-up of international and local speakers will discuss the latest research, policies and care initiatives, while concurrent sessions will provide practical solutions to issues for people with dementia, their carers, families, health and social workers.

The event is being held at the

Wellington Convention Centre from 6-8 May 2010. Register early to take advantage of the early bird registration deadline which is 8 March 2010.

For more information visit www.confer.co.nz/alzheimers2010.

$27 million extra for disability equipment and modifications

The Government will inject an extra $7 million immediately and another $20 million over the next two years to reduce waiting times and meet spiralling costs for equipment and modification services for disabled people.This is on top of the $63 million budgeted for equipment and modification services this financial year.Health Minister Tony Ryall says, “Rising costs are unsustainable, even with the extra cash, so the Government is also making eligibility criteria fairer and more targeted. We are also introducing more competitive, Pharmac-type processes for buying disability equipment including hearing aids.”"The number of people applying has increased by 2.5 per cent in 12 months but the value of those applications has risen by 25 per cent - and this is faster than funding can keep up with,” says Mr Ryall.”For example, disabled people often use a $2,000 stand-alone hoist to help them into bed or into a shower.  Now many people are asking for the newer version that runs along tracks attached to the ceiling - but that has a price tag of $15,000.”"Ballooning demand means some people are having to wait up to 12 months for some services and that is unacceptable.”Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia says the Government is introducing  fairer and more targeted eligibility criteria for funding hearing aids from Wednesday 3 March.Mrs Turia says, “For years, the taxpayer has been fully funding top of the line hearing aids, often at a cost of over $2,500 for each aid, for highly paid people like judges, doctors and senior public servants while many beneficiaries got only a $198 subsidy.”"That is unfair and we are increasing access to hearing aids for severely deaf people and low income people. At the same time we are asking working people to contribute more towards their hearing aids while maintaining the same eligibility for children, students and the elderly.”Hearing Aid Eligibility Changes:

• An estimated 2,700 working people without a community services card will be eligible for a $500 subsidy every six years instead of a fully funded hearing aid.  However working people with community services cards will still be eligible for a fully funded hearing aid.
• An estimated 1500 adults (mostly beneficiaries) severely deaf from birth can now get fully funded hearing aids for the first time. Previously they were eligible for a $198 subsidy.
• People with a sudden and severe hearing loss such as from a severe viral infection will now qualify for a fully funded hearing aid whether they work or not.
• An estimated 1300 people (mostly beneficiaries) with mild or moderate hearing loss will now qualify for a $500 subsidy rather than a $198 subsidy.

• Children and students under 21, and people with dual disabilities will continue to get fully funded hearing aids.
• People 65 years and over with a Super Gold Card will get their existing $500 subsidy per hearing aid every six years if they need it.

Other Changes:

• Ministry of Health to put more equipment out for competitive tender in line with the Pharmac-type purchasing model.
• New threshold for other Ministry of Health funded equipment from $37 to $50 (from 3 March 2010).
• New maximum Ministry contribution of $15,000 for housing modifications like installing ramps and lifts (from 3 March 2010).

The changes will save up to $9 million a year once bedded in.Both Ministers say it is also critical the Ministry now develops new prioritisation tools, options around further use of co-payments and different purchase arrangements to ensure disabled people can continue to get the services they need when they need them.

Newtown’s fourteenth annual street fair takes place this Sunday (7 March) when Riddiford and its side streets will transform into a barrage of colour, food, craft and song.

Crowds and stalls in NewtownThe festival, which starts at 9.30am, will feature five main stages, 300 stalls, a place for buskers to showcase their talents and a huge variety of international food.Stages will be filled with music and cultural performance with entertainment from the likes of Good Laika, Cuban trio Los Villanos and local Wellington legends, Newtown Rock Steady.The fair is the highlight of the annual 10-day Newtown Festival, which features a variety of activities, such as the Carrara Park jazz picnic, a Newtown art trail, an exhibition of work by local artists and a series of artist-run workshops at the Newtown Community Centre.There will be road closures on the day so take a bus if you can. See the road closure information below for more details.For more information, check out the Newtown Festival website.Road Closure InformationRoads will be closed to traffic between 6.00am and 8.00pm in Newtown this Sunday 7 March for the annual street fair:

• Riddiford Street - Mein Street to a point between Donald McLean Street and Gordon Street

• Rintoul Street - Riddiford Street to Colombo Street

• Constable Street - Riddiford Street to Daniell Street

• All of Emmett Street and Green Street

• Wilson Street - about 80 metres east of Riddiford Street

• Newtown Avenue - about 80 metres east of Riddiford Street

• Normanby Street - about 80 metres east of Riddiford Street

• Donald McLean Street - about three metres east of Riddiford Street.

No parking on the above and some surrounding streets from 6.00am to 8.00pm. A one-way system for bus services and vehicles will operate on Mein, Daniell and Owen streets.

Related Links

• Events Calendar
• Newtown Festival website

Taupo District Council would like to congratulate the 21 winners of the Spot the Cyclist campaign which ran for the month of February as part of the National Bike Wise Month.Each week 5 lucky cyclists were spotted & rewarded for riding their bikes.  All they had to do was get on their bikes and ride to work or school or just ride for fun during the month of February and be spotted by one of the dedicated cycle spotters.  The Spot the Cyclist competition was run in partnership with Bike Taupo, Sport Waikato and the local cycle shops.A huge thanks to the support of More FM, Taupo Times, Life Cycles, Top Gear Cycles, Pack & Pedal, Huka Honda/Huka Cycles Taupo, and Avanti Plus Corner Shop.For further information contact:Christine HutchisonRoad Safety CoordinatorTaupo District CouncilPh 07 376 072021 Lucky Cyclists: The winners of the 2010 Bike Wise Month ‘Spot the Cyclist’ competition.

The theme for Race Relations Day 2010 is ‘It’s About Us – Whānau’.In the days around Race Relations Day community groups, councils, schools, workplaces, marae and places of worship are encouraged to host events and celebrations to acknowledge the value of cultural diversity and the need to support harmonious race relations.Many of the multiethnic festivals organised by the Federation of Ethnic Councils around New Zealand take place on the preceding weekend. Race Relations Day is a time when you or your organisation or community can do something to celebrate, to learn, to discuss, to plan or to promote diversity in your own context and to achieve diversity goals.It’s an opportunity to launch new initiatives, motivate your staff, or promote existing programmes and projects.Check out the festivals and events happening close to you. If you or your organisation is planning an event to celebrate email: nzdiversity@hrc.co.nz