Grey Power North Shore

09/04/2026

Cyclone Vaianu is heading our way this weekend and there are early warnings in place. Although the situation could change, it's still a good opportunity to check to see how ready we each are to cope with an emergency.

Emergency readiness basics include having a household emergency kit, and essentials ready to go if you need to evacuate ... and knowing who you can call to help you if you need it.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18T5oHmjJh/

𝗖𝗬𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗩𝗔𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗨 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚
The MetService and NEMA (National Emergency Management Agency) have issued early warnings about Cyclone Vaianu, which is heading in New Zealand’s direction, and is expected to arrive this weekend, around midnight Saturday/1am Sunday.

As with all weather events, the situation may change. There’s no need for panic (a number of past cyclones have changed direction and missed us altogether), but it’s a good time to get prepared (because others have famously wreaked havoc – such as 2023’s Cyclone Gabrielle).

𝗧𝗢𝗣 𝗧𝗜𝗣𝗦:
✅ 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗸𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 – so you’ve got what you need to hunker down at home if needed (remember to charge all your devices)
✅ 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 – including what’s in your ‘go bag’ and where you would go if you needed to evacuate (and top up the fuel in your car or charge your EV)
✅ keep your pets safe – bring them inside before the storm is due, and include them in your emergency plans
✅ 𝗱𝗼 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – such as putting away or tying down outdoor furniture that could blow around, making sure your drains and gutters aren’t clogged (or even checking stormwater grates in the street aren’t clogged with leaves, if you can)
✅ 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 – you may be able to help each other (plus it’s nice to know your neighbours!). Keep a special eye out on neighbours who are older or have mobility difficulties.

𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡:
In the event of a severe emergency, local volunteer civil defence/emergency readiness groups might open local emergency hubs, where locals could get initial shelter and safety (prior to or alongside full AEM emergency centres). Follow these pages for updates and info.

🌐 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗻𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝗮 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556850430437
🌐 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗽𝘂𝗻𝗮 𝗛𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗸𝗶 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
https://www.facebook.com/takapunahaurakicommunitycivildefence

𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦
⚠️ 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 – www.metservice.com
⚠️ 𝗔𝗘𝗠 – 𝗔𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aklcdem/
Website - https://www.aucklandemergencymanagement.govt.nz (also has great info on being prepared for emergencies)
⚠️ 𝗡𝗘𝗠𝗔 – 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 – https://www.civildefence.govt.nz/

23/03/2026

Congratulations to Dr Alan Kerr and Hazel Kerr on being named as Senior New Zealander of the Year in the 2026 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards.

Dr Alan and Hazel Kerr have turned what could have been a quiet retirement into two decades of extraordinary service. During forty volunteer missions to Gaza and the West Bank between 2001 and 2019, often accompanied by a team from Auckland’s Starship Hospital, they have saved the lives of nearly ...

22/03/2026

We had a great afternoon at our North Shore meeting on Friday. We were especially grateful for the sunny weather – as a big renovation project at Netball North Harbour (our regular North Shore venue) meant the front door was inaccessible and members had to do something of a cross country trek to get past the construction fencing and through a door at the back!

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀: 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗱𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗱!
We kicked things off with a Special General Meeting where our new constitution was adopted unopposed. This update ensures we are fully compliant with the Incorporated Societies Act 2022. A huge thank you to everyone for their support in getting this vital bit of "housekeeping" across the line!

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿, 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝘀𝗼𝗻
Once the formal business was done, we were treated to a captivating session with Emeritus Professor Janet Wilson. Janet took us on a journey through her stellar career, sharing stories of her life split between the shores of Devonport and the halls of Oxford.
We loved hearing about her deep-rooted passion for New Zealand writing, her long-standing involvement with the Frank Sargeson Trust, and her sponsorship of the Ireland, Wilson, and Sargeson Fellowships – supporting our next generation of writers.

𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧 𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦:
Friday 29 May, 1.30pm – Orewa, St Johns Catholic Church Hall, 180 Centreway Rd
Friday 19 June, 1pm – North Shore, Netball North Harbour, 44 Northcote Rd, Northcote

08/03/2026

Are you an NZ Superannuitant with a partner who doesn't get NZ Super? MSD is making a change to ensure that people are getting the right type of support. Check the post below to find out if you're affected, and what to do.

Kia ora 👋 We’re making a change to ensure that people are getting the right type of support from us.

From 2 March 2026, some people getting payments from us will need to confirm their circumstances at least once a year.

This change will mean we have more up-to-date information and will know earlier when people are eligible for more support from us. It will also help people avoid debt if they are not getting the right amount for their situation.

You will need to confirm your circumstances at least once a year if you receive any of the payments below:
🔹Supported Living Payment
🔹Emergency Benefit, including Emergency Maintenance Allowance when it’s granted for longer than 52 weeks, or has no expiry
🔹Accommodation Supplement, excluding those also receiving the Youth Payment and Young Parent Payment
🔹Disability Allowance
🔹NZ Super, for those with a partner included who doesn’t qualify to get NZ Super.

You won’t need to do anything until you get a letter and a ‘Confirming your Circumstances’ form from us. We may not need to send you a form if you have confirmed your circumstances and costs with us recently.

If you get the letter and form from us, please respond before the due date on your letter, otherwise your payments will stop.

The easiest and fastest way to do this is online via MyMSD.

If you get paper letters from us, you can still do it in MyMSD, or fill out and return the Confirming your Circumstances form by post or drop it off at your nearest service centre.

Check out the Work and Income website for more info below 👇
https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/on-a-benefit/re-apply/review-of-circumstances.html

03/03/2026

NEXT MEETING - FRIDAY 20 MARCH, 1PM
At Netball North Harbour, 44 Northcote Rd, Northcote

* Guest speaker Janet Wilson: Tales of a literary life
* Latest news and updates on our advocacies
* Special General Meeting to adopt new constitution
* Enjoy a chat over a cuppa

FREE - ALL WELCOME
AGED 55+? JOIN NOW: https://membership.greypower.co.nz/

27/02/2026

NEW MAGAZINE OUT NOW!
Our GreyPower North Shore & Hibiscus Coast March magazine is out now - and we've emailed it to all members that we have an email address for.

Postal copies (for those who have specifically requested one) are in progress, but they take an extra couple of weeks for printing and posting.

If you haven't received a magazine by email - we either don't have your email address or the one we've got is incorrect. You can email [email protected] to let us know your email address.

27/02/2026

Well - we had a cracking meeting at Orewa yesterday!

President Trish Deans talked about the merger of the North Shore & Hibiscus Coast associations and our plans to ensure we continue to be a powerful advocate for seniors across our newly-expanded area.

We also had a lively session talking about the 'hot button topics' in the Hibiscus Coast area that members - including bank and post office closures in the area, changes in local bus routes, driving licence testing, and much more.

Our next meeting is Friday 20 March, 1pm, at Netball North Harbour, 44 Northcote Rd, Northcote. This will also include a Special General Meeting to adopt our new constitution.

18/02/2026

MEMBERS MEETING - OREWA - FRIDAY 27 FEBRUARY, 1.30PM
We're looking forward to seeing you at our next GreyPower North Shore & Hibiscus Coast meeting. It's at St John's Catholic Church Hall in Centreway Rd, Orewa.

Next North Shore meeting: Friday 20 March, 1pm
Netball North Harbour, 44 Northcote Rd

Everyone is welcome at every meeting of our newly-merged association, whether they were previously members of North Shore or Hibiscus Coast.

19/11/2025

We’re delighted to invite all former GreyPower Hibiscus Coast members to our first combined meeting of GreyPower North Shore & Hibiscus Coast.

𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟭 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, 𝗮𝘁 𝟭𝗽𝗺
𝗦𝘁 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻’𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝟭𝟴𝟬 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱, 𝗢𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮

Our guest speaker will be Trish Deans, President of GreyPower North Shore & Hibiscus Coast. Trish, along with other members from the committee, will be joining us to share updates and plans for the year ahead.

This will be a relatively informal meeting – where the focus will be on a two-way conversation about the future direction and needs of Hibiscus Coast members. We’re looking forward to meeting you in person, and building a relationship with you.

We’ll enjoy a friendly afternoon tea together, which will also be a great chance to catch up with familiar faces and welcome new ones.

We look forward to seeing you there!

11/10/2025

Congratulations to GreyPower North Shore president Trish Deans, who has been elected to the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board. We know Trish will work tirelessly for the community as a board member, and will continue to serve our senior community in her GreyPower role.

26/09/2025

Had a fall - or worried about falling? ACC has teamed up with Nymbl - a smartphone app that has simple daily exercises you can do at home (or anywhere) that helps with strength and balance, reducing your risk of falling.

If you've got a smartphone, give it a go!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19GR2E6zcF/