For a quick moment, this is sounding like Bolehland. Mana Party? Where is the Party?
It is Elections year in Kiwiland and new parties are emerging...This is an interim party name to be set up by Hone Harawira, the ex Maori party MP from Te Tai Tokerau (most northern electrorate in the North Island).
Hone Harawira broke rank with his Maori Party over the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011 which replaces the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004.He was left with no choice but to resign from the Maori party.
Hone Harawira is now famous for this email exposure as recorded in the Wikipedia: "Following his return from Europe, in November 2009, Hawawira was asked to repay some travel costs after skipping a taxpayer-funded conference in Brussels to go sightseeing in Paris.
"How many times in my lifetime am I going to get to Europe? So I thought, 'F*** it, I'm off. I'm off to Paris'," he said.
In a subsequent email exchange with a member of the New Zealand public who had criticised Mr Harawira's actions Mr Harawira lashed out at white people, stating "White motherf***ers have been raping our lands and ripping us off for centuries and all of a sudden you want me to play along with their puritanical bullshit....And, quite frankly, I don't give a shit what you or anyone else thinks about it. OK?".
Mana Party may eventually adopt a new name: Honi Party?
Showing posts with label Kiwiland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kiwiland. Show all posts
Monday, April 25, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
How The END Begins
This book by Ron Rosebaum (2011) is intriguing ... sharing with you some of my takeaways and my own input on this subject of the "road to a nuclear World War III". You must read this book if you want to know how much is the author's and how much is mine (talking like a military strategist now).
I think the Bible's book on Revelation and Armageddon is quite likely to happen during my lifetime...
There are over 25,000 nuclear warheads, missiles and bombs in the world stockpile and a dozen countries keeping them either in the silos; or in the mobile submarines or flying around on a regular basis to avoid being hit on the runway by a surprise attack... accidents can also happen!
A nuclear war in the 21st Century, most probably from a regional conflict, accelerated rapidly into a global involvement as there are many "kepohs" and "big brothers" around..
The potential flashpoints:
1. Pakistan's "Islamic Bomb" strike on Israel - a failed government in Pakistan, probably infiltrated by the terrorist groups of Taliban and Al Qaeda.
2. Iran's strike on Israel - either long distance launch in 5-10 years or just lobbed from either Syria, Lebonon or Gaza/West Bank. This would be considered the "Second Holocaust" on the 6-7 million Jews.
3. Israel preemptive strike against Iran, Pakistan, Syria, Lebonon and Gaza - these Islamic fundamentals of Ayatollahs, Hezbollah, Fatah and Hamas have sworn to annihilate Israel from the map. And Israel with such a narrow strip of land, has been described as a "One Bomb State" .... probably one or two mega-size nuclear bombs will be enough to render it into an uninhibitable land of dead and dying. And that is why Israel has to make the preemptive strike if it were to survive.
4. Pakistan and India quarrel over Kashmir - or fundamental Muslims against Hindus... 1 billion people dead followed by another 1 billion due to world wide crop failure, as the ash and particulates from the explosions would dim the sunlight for photosynthesis.
5. North Korea attacks South Korea - famine and hungry people in the North can become desperate for attention and assistance by making a strike on their own brothers and sisters.
6. Taiwan declares independence - Chinese Communist Party in saving face and to ensure they are in power, will cane the naive Democratic Progressive Party members... then the Yankee Big brother will come in as they must also save face by doing what they had promised to uphold their principles.
7. Al Qaeda and Taliban launch attack on the West or Israel - revenge and suicidal martydom will get them virgins in heaven.
8. USA Commander in Chief (the ultimate authority) may make an insane authorisation to launch attack on anyone he fancies - this is not unlikely as in the case of Nixon during the height of the Watergate crisis, did mention that "I could leave this room and in 25 minutes, 70 million people would be dead." The US "fail-safe" system of authorisation of a nuclear attack may be inadequate or full-proof and with the trigger-happy Americans (like the 2011 shooting in Tuscon Arizona and 2009 mass shooting in the Ford Hood Army camp), the sub commanders in the various nuclear submarines or aircraft carriers may just take things into their own hands, in trying to make their own foreign policy known?
Once the nuclear genie is unleased, there may be no part of the globe that remains immune.... probably with the exception of New Zealand, being at the end of the earth? But then life would be less meaningful if this is the only country in the world with 33 million sheeps; 10 million cattles and probably 4.3 million people (10% of which still on social welfare benefits)?
Something to chew over this Easter weekend??
I think the Bible's book on Revelation and Armageddon is quite likely to happen during my lifetime...
There are over 25,000 nuclear warheads, missiles and bombs in the world stockpile and a dozen countries keeping them either in the silos; or in the mobile submarines or flying around on a regular basis to avoid being hit on the runway by a surprise attack... accidents can also happen!
A nuclear war in the 21st Century, most probably from a regional conflict, accelerated rapidly into a global involvement as there are many "kepohs" and "big brothers" around..
The potential flashpoints:
1. Pakistan's "Islamic Bomb" strike on Israel - a failed government in Pakistan, probably infiltrated by the terrorist groups of Taliban and Al Qaeda.
2. Iran's strike on Israel - either long distance launch in 5-10 years or just lobbed from either Syria, Lebonon or Gaza/West Bank. This would be considered the "Second Holocaust" on the 6-7 million Jews.
3. Israel preemptive strike against Iran, Pakistan, Syria, Lebonon and Gaza - these Islamic fundamentals of Ayatollahs, Hezbollah, Fatah and Hamas have sworn to annihilate Israel from the map. And Israel with such a narrow strip of land, has been described as a "One Bomb State" .... probably one or two mega-size nuclear bombs will be enough to render it into an uninhibitable land of dead and dying. And that is why Israel has to make the preemptive strike if it were to survive.
4. Pakistan and India quarrel over Kashmir - or fundamental Muslims against Hindus... 1 billion people dead followed by another 1 billion due to world wide crop failure, as the ash and particulates from the explosions would dim the sunlight for photosynthesis.
5. North Korea attacks South Korea - famine and hungry people in the North can become desperate for attention and assistance by making a strike on their own brothers and sisters.
6. Taiwan declares independence - Chinese Communist Party in saving face and to ensure they are in power, will cane the naive Democratic Progressive Party members... then the Yankee Big brother will come in as they must also save face by doing what they had promised to uphold their principles.
7. Al Qaeda and Taliban launch attack on the West or Israel - revenge and suicidal martydom will get them virgins in heaven.
8. USA Commander in Chief (the ultimate authority) may make an insane authorisation to launch attack on anyone he fancies - this is not unlikely as in the case of Nixon during the height of the Watergate crisis, did mention that "I could leave this room and in 25 minutes, 70 million people would be dead." The US "fail-safe" system of authorisation of a nuclear attack may be inadequate or full-proof and with the trigger-happy Americans (like the 2011 shooting in Tuscon Arizona and 2009 mass shooting in the Ford Hood Army camp), the sub commanders in the various nuclear submarines or aircraft carriers may just take things into their own hands, in trying to make their own foreign policy known?
Once the nuclear genie is unleased, there may be no part of the globe that remains immune.... probably with the exception of New Zealand, being at the end of the earth? But then life would be less meaningful if this is the only country in the world with 33 million sheeps; 10 million cattles and probably 4.3 million people (10% of which still on social welfare benefits)?
Something to chew over this Easter weekend??
Sunday, April 3, 2011
The (almost) Unfinished Dinner
It was so close, so close ..
My son would have felt so bad, so bad ….
As he nearly watched (live) his dad being smashed into pieces
Time: About 7.25pm , just after sunset
Date : 1 April 2011
Place : Summerland Drive (just in front of house no 74)
Prior to that, just started dinner in 2 Somerton Rise
Home cooked stewed beef in carrot and “oil vegetable”
Son and granddaughter dropped by asking for a lift home… icecream for grandson melting in the car
Granddaughter’s “bye Y Kung” could have been the last parting words
Grandson did not have the chance to say goodbye
Wife should have finished her dinner, watching her Chinese drama on TV when news broke
Waited for a good one minute for traffic to clear
Switched on the back screen wiper .. a slight drizzle
Readying to make a U turn at Summerland Drive
All seemed clear
No more headlights from the rear mirror
Split second one last look .. there was a 4WD pickup speeding down without headlight
That split second last glance at the rear mirror
Has averted the loud bang, directly at the driver’s side
At more than 55 km/hr, life would have ended instantly..
What have I left unfinished
Would be the book “Have a little Faith” – a true story by Mitch Albom
And my wife’s home cooked dinner..
My son would have felt so bad, so bad ….
As he nearly watched (live) his dad being smashed into pieces
Time: About 7.25pm , just after sunset
Date : 1 April 2011
Place : Summerland Drive (just in front of house no 74)
Prior to that, just started dinner in 2 Somerton Rise
Home cooked stewed beef in carrot and “oil vegetable”
Son and granddaughter dropped by asking for a lift home… icecream for grandson melting in the car
Granddaughter’s “bye Y Kung” could have been the last parting words
Grandson did not have the chance to say goodbye
Wife should have finished her dinner, watching her Chinese drama on TV when news broke
Waited for a good one minute for traffic to clear
Switched on the back screen wiper .. a slight drizzle
Readying to make a U turn at Summerland Drive
All seemed clear
No more headlights from the rear mirror
Split second one last look .. there was a 4WD pickup speeding down without headlight
That split second last glance at the rear mirror
Has averted the loud bang, directly at the driver’s side
At more than 55 km/hr, life would have ended instantly..
What have I left unfinished
Would be the book “Have a little Faith” – a true story by Mitch Albom
And my wife’s home cooked dinner..
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Duckland?
A recent front cover of The Economist features this attached Map of the Poor State of Union of USA... changing all the names of the States to reflect on their current debt status.
In New Zealand the Government is borrowing $14b in 2011 in order to keep the economy going... which works out to be about $300m a week!
Here in Auckland SuperCity, the debt is in the region of $4 billion and growing.. The current credit rating is probably still "A" and so Auckland is still called Auckland. If the credit rating goes down to "D" it will probably be renamed Duckland? I don't want to imagine when the credit rating goes down to "F"......
We will then be called Fucklanders!!!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Coffee News
It is simply a one-sheet A3 newsletter. It is free. It is weekly. It is easy reading yet informative. It is a joy and something to look forward to by many.
As a distributor of Coffee News since March 2010, the weekly routines have brought back some work satisfaction in terms of planning, execution and monitoring. It comes with some pocket money and it is sometimes hard work, particularly when the weather is challenging. However, the rewards are worth it, in seeing happy faces of those who receive it directly from me (in the so-called Business run delivery to all business outlets). The genuine "thank you"s from many recipients (Asians are typically not appreciative verbally though) would often make my day.
Display outlets are mainly confined to cafes, restaurants, retirement homes and sport complexes etc. The runs have taken me to many places I would normally would not have explored. The customer profiles in the various outlets are variable too and so are the receptiveness of such a light-reading newsletter. Weekly runs also give a sense of economic activities in and around the suburbs.... some outlets are thriving while some struggling and with some turnover of ownership along the way. Cafe business is very much weather-determined.... dry and sunny days, the coffee machines would be busy brewing away...
A cheerful deliverer often is rewarded with non-monetary appreciative gestures... that, would be sufficient motivation in themselves. It is also a chance to meet people without being intimidated and it is at my own choice and will. Wearing out my shoes faster than usual but that means the body has got some desirable exercises every week.
Run while I still can.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Land of Milk and Honey
The term "Land flowing with milk and honey" was first promised by God and mentioned by Moses in the Bible (Exodus 3:8). This land refers to Israel.
Today there are many lands with plenty of milk and honey... one of them is NZ.. however their milk and honey are expensive comparably. Milk at $4.59/2L is more expensive than in the US at $2.84/2L as the Weekend Herald survey shows. It is also more expensive than Australia and Britain. And NZ is reputed to be the biggest dairy products exporter in the world and Fonterra of NZ is the 5th largest dairy company in the world.
In terms of milk and dairy production, NZ annual production is around 17 m tonnes, compared to India (world largest producer) with 114 m tonnes but the Western World would specifically mention that the European Union as a unit is the world biggest producer with a combined 143m tonnes.
China's annual dairy production is currently in the region of 33m tonnes but it is the largest honey producer in the world with an annual tonnage of 298,000 or 21.5% of the gobal honey. New Zealand, known for its expensive manuka honey, manages an annual production figure of about 10,000 tes.
The emerging new Land of Milk and Honey is going to be China. No wonder when the Chinese seek to buy up 16 Crafar dairy farms (totalling about 8000 ha), which are under receivership, there has been a nation-wide protest from the Kiwis against such foreign ownership of their dairy land, saying New Zealanders would not like to be tenants in their own land. This 8000 ha represents about 0.5% of the total 1.52m ha of dairy farmland in the country. The NZ Minister of Land Information Mr Maurice Williamson recently highlighted this fact that if the potential buyers for Crafar farms are from Scotland, then there are not "foreigners" as "they do not look different from us", He was accused of being a racist!
Also, the total area of Crafar farmland is but a fraction of the 24,700 ha of farmland in Wanaka (South Island) bought up by Ms Shania Twain, the pop star from Canada in 2004. Canadians were not considered as "foreigners"?
An extract from the leading newspaper in New Zealand, NZ Herald, in an editorial of 7th September, 2010:
"The issue has stirred up a wave of xenophobic scaremongering over China's intentions for the dairying industry. Among other things, a group called Save the Farms has sprung into being. It wants the Government to stop any sales until the country has had a robust public debate.
The group says it is "not a xenophobic organisation". If so, why was it silent last week when an American billionaire, William P. Foley II, was cleared by the Overseas Investment Office to buy Wharekauhau, an exclusive 2023ha Wairarapa country estate and farming business?
And why did its organisers say nothing as Britons, Italians, Americans, Israelis and Australians bought the bulk of more than 150,000 hectares of New Zealand farm land - almost the size of Stewart Island - over the past five years? During that period, China hardly registered as a source of foreign investment.
Now, however, its first major foray has hit a wave of resistance.
Those who have been buying the vast majority of New Zealand's farm land are distinguished by two characteristics. They are English-speaking and they are non-Asian. As Mr Williamson noted, "if you look different, you're a foreigner but if you come from the other side of the world, from Scotland, then you're not".
The sale of the Crafar farms to the Chinese investors is still pending official approval by the Overseas Investment Office. Local corporations have tried to outbid the Chinese but lack the financial ability to do so.
The Crafar dairy farms sale, if it materialises, is not going to turn China into the biggest land of Milk and Honey, overnight, but it certainly is a start.
Today there are many lands with plenty of milk and honey... one of them is NZ.. however their milk and honey are expensive comparably. Milk at $4.59/2L is more expensive than in the US at $2.84/2L as the Weekend Herald survey shows. It is also more expensive than Australia and Britain. And NZ is reputed to be the biggest dairy products exporter in the world and Fonterra of NZ is the 5th largest dairy company in the world.
In terms of milk and dairy production, NZ annual production is around 17 m tonnes, compared to India (world largest producer) with 114 m tonnes but the Western World would specifically mention that the European Union as a unit is the world biggest producer with a combined 143m tonnes.
China's annual dairy production is currently in the region of 33m tonnes but it is the largest honey producer in the world with an annual tonnage of 298,000 or 21.5% of the gobal honey. New Zealand, known for its expensive manuka honey, manages an annual production figure of about 10,000 tes.
The emerging new Land of Milk and Honey is going to be China. No wonder when the Chinese seek to buy up 16 Crafar dairy farms (totalling about 8000 ha), which are under receivership, there has been a nation-wide protest from the Kiwis against such foreign ownership of their dairy land, saying New Zealanders would not like to be tenants in their own land. This 8000 ha represents about 0.5% of the total 1.52m ha of dairy farmland in the country. The NZ Minister of Land Information Mr Maurice Williamson recently highlighted this fact that if the potential buyers for Crafar farms are from Scotland, then there are not "foreigners" as "they do not look different from us", He was accused of being a racist!
Also, the total area of Crafar farmland is but a fraction of the 24,700 ha of farmland in Wanaka (South Island) bought up by Ms Shania Twain, the pop star from Canada in 2004. Canadians were not considered as "foreigners"?
An extract from the leading newspaper in New Zealand, NZ Herald, in an editorial of 7th September, 2010:
"The issue has stirred up a wave of xenophobic scaremongering over China's intentions for the dairying industry. Among other things, a group called Save the Farms has sprung into being. It wants the Government to stop any sales until the country has had a robust public debate.
The group says it is "not a xenophobic organisation". If so, why was it silent last week when an American billionaire, William P. Foley II, was cleared by the Overseas Investment Office to buy Wharekauhau, an exclusive 2023ha Wairarapa country estate and farming business?
And why did its organisers say nothing as Britons, Italians, Americans, Israelis and Australians bought the bulk of more than 150,000 hectares of New Zealand farm land - almost the size of Stewart Island - over the past five years? During that period, China hardly registered as a source of foreign investment.
Now, however, its first major foray has hit a wave of resistance.
Those who have been buying the vast majority of New Zealand's farm land are distinguished by two characteristics. They are English-speaking and they are non-Asian. As Mr Williamson noted, "if you look different, you're a foreigner but if you come from the other side of the world, from Scotland, then you're not".
The sale of the Crafar farms to the Chinese investors is still pending official approval by the Overseas Investment Office. Local corporations have tried to outbid the Chinese but lack the financial ability to do so.
The Crafar dairy farms sale, if it materialises, is not going to turn China into the biggest land of Milk and Honey, overnight, but it certainly is a start.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Naming Kittens
The pregnant mother cat named Nabe, belonging to the neighbour, chose to be residing at Josh and Abby's house some time in January 2010. She was warmly welcomed and was renamed Keba who later gave birth to 7 kittens on the 5th February.Abigail named all of them, based on their faces and fur colours:
Brown Sugar; Ginger; Bear Face; Zebra; Snow Leopard; Tinsel and Midnight.
Only Ginger the male kitten and Brown Sugar the female kitten were retained whilst the rest were given away to friends. Kiba has since moved on to other neighbourhood to start her life anew.
Josh gave the following reasons for having cats instead of dogs as pet:
Cats don't bark at you and lick you all over
Cats do their poo and bury it themselves
Cats do not need to you to bathe them, they groom themselves clean
Cats do not over-eat
Cats can fit into any car
Y Poh would not feel easy with these furry animals in the house.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Revelation 1: 13-16 基督的荣耀
A succint summary of the Glory of Christianity based on Chapter 1 of this last book in the Bible, as presented by this pastor from Singapore, who is in his 80s and partially blind:
基督的荣耀
麦希真 牧师 @ 27/5/10 Auckland Baptist Tabernacle Church
启示录 1：13-16
好像人子 (Like a son of man) = 神子
身穿长衣 (dressed in a robe) = 真贵
胸束全带 (a golden sash round his waist) = 荣耀
头发雪白 (head and hair were white as wool, as white as snow) = 圣洁
眼目如火 (eyes were like blazing fire) = 智慧
双脚如铜 (feet were like bronze) = 审判有公正
声音如水 (voice was like sound of rushing waters) = 命令能力
手拿七星 (in his right hand he held seven stars) = 管理教会
口出利剑 (out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword) = 最高判断
面如烈日 (his face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance) = 公义永恒
基督的荣耀
麦希真 牧师 @ 27/5/10 Auckland Baptist Tabernacle Church
启示录 1：13-16
好像人子 (Like a son of man) = 神子
身穿长衣 (dressed in a robe) = 真贵
胸束全带 (a golden sash round his waist) = 荣耀
头发雪白 (head and hair were white as wool, as white as snow) = 圣洁
眼目如火 (eyes were like blazing fire) = 智慧
双脚如铜 (feet were like bronze) = 审判有公正
声音如水 (voice was like sound of rushing waters) = 命令能力
手拿七星 (in his right hand he held seven stars) = 管理教会
口出利剑 (out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword) = 最高判断
面如烈日 (his face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance) = 公义永恒
Thursday, July 15, 2010
New Zealand - the LAND to live and die
NZ Herald (15 July 2010) added another 'Selling point' to live and die in NZ, in addition to the two earlier accolades:
1. NZ ranked the 3rd BEST country to die (after UK and Australia) - reference: Lien Foundation Singapore
2. NZ ranked the No 1 PEACEFUL country in the world - reference: Institue for Peace and Economics UK
3. NZ ranked 8th HAPPIEST country in the world (after Denmark, Finland, Norway, Netherland, Costa Rica, Canada and Switzerland) - reference: OECD Paris
What else more can one be asking for???? Live and let die!!
Meanwhile, the petrol price is going up; ETS means energy prices going up and comes October 2010, GST going up to 15% ....
1. NZ ranked the 3rd BEST country to die (after UK and Australia) - reference: Lien Foundation Singapore
2. NZ ranked the No 1 PEACEFUL country in the world - reference: Institue for Peace and Economics UK
3. NZ ranked 8th HAPPIEST country in the world (after Denmark, Finland, Norway, Netherland, Costa Rica, Canada and Switzerland) - reference: OECD Paris
What else more can one be asking for???? Live and let die!!
Meanwhile, the petrol price is going up; ETS means energy prices going up and comes October 2010, GST going up to 15% ....
Waha Waha Soccer World Cup 2010
My summary of highlights of this year's World Cup soccer in South Africa:
1. Vuvuzela - the South African blow job.
2. Spain the worthy winner with excellent ball possession skills.
3. Paul, the damn right octopus.
4. Shakira's Waka Waka dance.
5. Auckland 2 am Winter live matches.
6. All Whites - the only team without a loss (or a win!) - from a very peaceful country.
7. FIFA - the recession-proof money making machine.
Do you know why each competiting team has 12 reserve players to the first-choice 11 ????
This is FIFA's insurance policy that the show must go on in case at any one time if a team were to receive 11 yellow cards or up to 11 red cards!!!
Netherlands in the Finals, went all out trying to prove that this insurance policy works!
1. Vuvuzela - the South African blow job.
2. Spain the worthy winner with excellent ball possession skills.
3. Paul, the damn right octopus.
4. Shakira's Waka Waka dance.
5. Auckland 2 am Winter live matches.
6. All Whites - the only team without a loss (or a win!) - from a very peaceful country.
7. FIFA - the recession-proof money making machine.
Do you know why each competiting team has 12 reserve players to the first-choice 11 ????
This is FIFA's insurance policy that the show must go on in case at any one time if a team were to receive 11 yellow cards or up to 11 red cards!!!
Netherlands in the Finals, went all out trying to prove that this insurance policy works!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Growing old in Kiwiland
If you are retired and healthy, and living in Kiwiland, you would have several options to plan your ageing living lifestyle... Your Own Home, Retirement Village, Retirement Home, Council Housing/Pensioner Unit or Rest Home (if you are elderly and needing long-term care).
Should you get sick and disable, you could then apply for Residential (General) Care or Home Support Services and even Palliative Care. The Government will subsidise the costs, fully or partially dependent on assessment of your Asset Threshold (currently 2010, it stands at $200,000 and if you are above 65 years old).
In addition to the above, there are other specialised care services like Respite Care, Convalescence Care, Dementia Care, Psychogeriatic Care, Specialised High Dependency Care and Home Support Services.
Financial support would be subject to referral by the District Health Board services.
In addition, the NZ Government provides a series of financial assistance to the senior population, depending on eligibility and needs. These include:
Accomodation supplement (variable dependent on individual situation)
Community services card (for reduced medication)
Disability allowance (up to $55.88 a week)
Funeral grant (currently up to $1800)
Living alone payment
NZ Super card (free public transport)
Specialised needs grant (eg hearing aids, dentures etc)
Councial rate rebates (up to $550 for annual income less than $21910)
National travel assistance scheme
Those who qualify for full subsidy to stay in a Rest Home would additionally receive a weekly sundries allowance of $35 and an annual clothing allowance of $246.00.
Abbey Heights Rest Home at Waitakere for example has acccomodation for 24 senior citizens, currently mainly of Asian ethnicities.
For those who can afford a retirement home lifestyle, there are many choices of leasing or owning a home in the Retirement Village, mainly run by profit-making private enterprises. In the Greater Auckland region (with the current population of about 1.4 million), there are at least 50 such villages with size ranges from a dozen units to over 350 units.
Vision Waitakere Gardens Retirement Village is one example where currently a 3-bedroom unit would cost $450,000 (car park additional $18,000 one off). You enter an Occupational Right Agreement with the Management which essentially allows you to live there as long as you are able or willing. You can decide to sell back the unit anytime but the outstanding amount the Management will pay back to you would be as follow:
Year 1 less 7.5% of entry fee (of $450,000) or $333,000
Year 2 less 15% or $306,000
Year 3 less 22.5% or 279,000
Year 4 less 30% or $252,000
Year 5 and beyond $252,000
The unit is not transferrable to any 3rd pary but if one of the occupants dies before the other, then the one remaining can opt to stay on...
There is a monthly service charge of $97.80 for 1 person or $127.40 for 2 persons (current rate subject to change, in consultation with the residents). This service charge covers rates, external building maintenance, building insurance, landscaping and amenities, rubbish disposal, common areas lighting, emergency call systems, staffing and admin & management fees.
You are allowed to have visitors staying with you, normally not more than 30 days at any one time, extension will be subject to Management's approval.
The elderly in NZ are also taken care by the Government under a scheme called NZ Super, which is an entitlement to all NZ residents from age 65 (and having lived in NZ for 3650 days, half of those days since age 50) until death. The current weekly payment (since 1 April 2010) are as follow (maximum after-tax):
Single (living alone) $318.12
Single (sharing) $293.65
Married (both qualify) $489.42
Married (only one qualifies) $244.77
NZ , with a $10.1b defecit, is currently borrowing about $240 million a week for the next 4 years, to support the Social Welfare Benefits Scheme. The Government is now looking at checking any loophole and abuses of the Scheme.
Some statistics of expenditure for the 2008/2009 period (totalled $3.989m) :
Domestic Purpose (97000 recipients) $1.53m
Unemployment (64,000 recipients) $0.586m
Sickness (58,000 recipients) $0.613m
Invalids (85,000 recipients) $1.26m
In order to sustain this scheme, the country must continue to prosper and to attract more young people to contribute to the economic development. Currently, the emigration of young skilled workers to Australia is at its height of 3000 long-term departures in 12 months. Before the global recession in 2008 the average monthly long-term departures was 4200, and it was down to about 2100 in 2009.
Should you get sick and disable, you could then apply for Residential (General) Care or Home Support Services and even Palliative Care. The Government will subsidise the costs, fully or partially dependent on assessment of your Asset Threshold (currently 2010, it stands at $200,000 and if you are above 65 years old).
In addition to the above, there are other specialised care services like Respite Care, Convalescence Care, Dementia Care, Psychogeriatic Care, Specialised High Dependency Care and Home Support Services.
Financial support would be subject to referral by the District Health Board services.
In addition, the NZ Government provides a series of financial assistance to the senior population, depending on eligibility and needs. These include:
Accomodation supplement (variable dependent on individual situation)
Community services card (for reduced medication)
Disability allowance (up to $55.88 a week)
Funeral grant (currently up to $1800)
Living alone payment
NZ Super card (free public transport)
Specialised needs grant (eg hearing aids, dentures etc)
Councial rate rebates (up to $550 for annual income less than $21910)
National travel assistance scheme
Those who qualify for full subsidy to stay in a Rest Home would additionally receive a weekly sundries allowance of $35 and an annual clothing allowance of $246.00.
Abbey Heights Rest Home at Waitakere for example has acccomodation for 24 senior citizens, currently mainly of Asian ethnicities.
For those who can afford a retirement home lifestyle, there are many choices of leasing or owning a home in the Retirement Village, mainly run by profit-making private enterprises. In the Greater Auckland region (with the current population of about 1.4 million), there are at least 50 such villages with size ranges from a dozen units to over 350 units.
Vision Waitakere Gardens Retirement Village is one example where currently a 3-bedroom unit would cost $450,000 (car park additional $18,000 one off). You enter an Occupational Right Agreement with the Management which essentially allows you to live there as long as you are able or willing. You can decide to sell back the unit anytime but the outstanding amount the Management will pay back to you would be as follow:
Year 1 less 7.5% of entry fee (of $450,000) or $333,000
Year 2 less 15% or $306,000
Year 3 less 22.5% or 279,000
Year 4 less 30% or $252,000
Year 5 and beyond $252,000
The unit is not transferrable to any 3rd pary but if one of the occupants dies before the other, then the one remaining can opt to stay on...
There is a monthly service charge of $97.80 for 1 person or $127.40 for 2 persons (current rate subject to change, in consultation with the residents). This service charge covers rates, external building maintenance, building insurance, landscaping and amenities, rubbish disposal, common areas lighting, emergency call systems, staffing and admin & management fees.
You are allowed to have visitors staying with you, normally not more than 30 days at any one time, extension will be subject to Management's approval.
The elderly in NZ are also taken care by the Government under a scheme called NZ Super, which is an entitlement to all NZ residents from age 65 (and having lived in NZ for 3650 days, half of those days since age 50) until death. The current weekly payment (since 1 April 2010) are as follow (maximum after-tax):
Single (living alone) $318.12
Single (sharing) $293.65
Married (both qualify) $489.42
Married (only one qualifies) $244.77
NZ , with a $10.1b defecit, is currently borrowing about $240 million a week for the next 4 years, to support the Social Welfare Benefits Scheme. The Government is now looking at checking any loophole and abuses of the Scheme.
Some statistics of expenditure for the 2008/2009 period (totalled $3.989m) :
Domestic Purpose (97000 recipients) $1.53m
Unemployment (64,000 recipients) $0.586m
Sickness (58,000 recipients) $0.613m
Invalids (85,000 recipients) $1.26m
In order to sustain this scheme, the country must continue to prosper and to attract more young people to contribute to the economic development. Currently, the emigration of young skilled workers to Australia is at its height of 3000 long-term departures in 12 months. Before the global recession in 2008 the average monthly long-term departures was 4200, and it was down to about 2100 in 2009.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Hair Cut 2010 Auckland
A normal no-frill hair cut for men would cost between $12 to $35 in Auckland in the Year of the Tiger (2010), much depending on the location of the barber shop.
A friend introduced his best kept secret recently...
A Shanghainess barber...
Clean, articulate and professional, Experienced and friendly. Speaks Mandarin mainly. It is called Tian Tian (Everyday) and service is available in a home environment. And it is value for money - only $5 per hair cut.
Address: 42 Sanft Avenue, Mt Roskill, Telephone: 6209826
Lest some of my friends may think that this is a ChinaDoll like those roaming in Bolehland, let me kill their imagination right now.
Call up to make an appointment -
he is Mr Foong, 76 years old.
After sharing this piece of information..... one of my friends mentioned that not too long ago, he had also got a $5 hair cut and in addition, was asked by the barber to pick vegetables for free from his garden. Obviously when words went round the town, the garden was quickly reduced to empty vegetable plots!!
A friend introduced his best kept secret recently...
A Shanghainess barber...
Clean, articulate and professional, Experienced and friendly. Speaks Mandarin mainly. It is called Tian Tian (Everyday) and service is available in a home environment. And it is value for money - only $5 per hair cut.
Address: 42 Sanft Avenue, Mt Roskill, Telephone: 6209826
Lest some of my friends may think that this is a ChinaDoll like those roaming in Bolehland, let me kill their imagination right now.
Call up to make an appointment -
he is Mr Foong, 76 years old.
After sharing this piece of information..... one of my friends mentioned that not too long ago, he had also got a $5 hair cut and in addition, was asked by the barber to pick vegetables for free from his garden. Obviously when words went round the town, the garden was quickly reduced to empty vegetable plots!!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Friendship - fitting last words
If when you give, you expect the same (in equal quantum or more) in return, then you will probably be disappointed most of the time .... particularly in a human relationship called friendship. You can never get the equivalent reciprocity... as you would have hoped to expect in a business relationship - you scratch my back, I scratch yours... with ulterior motives and hidden favours.... Such foundation of any friendship will not last.
One recent example:
maybe you should think back how i treated you & how i tried ?
whatever you proposed & organised - i supported whenever i can..
so what's your " special " offer now !?
My response:
Sorry, no special offer. Can't be what I am not. Just as I am.
We have to learn to accept and be accepted in a diversed group of people... meaning to be congenial (without compromising on your basic principles), be patient and be understanding..
You just don't always walk away from anything or anywhere whenever you cannot have it your way.... Learn to focus less and less on yourself and you will see more and more good of others and life will be less stressful.
Of course we have the freewill choice to walk away from something so intolerable sometimes.
You are observing and evaluating others and similarly at the same time, others are doing just that too. It works both ways. "Take a good look at yourself and then you can look at others differently.."
One recent example:
maybe you should think back how i treated you & how i tried ?
whatever you proposed & organised - i supported whenever i can..
so what's your " special " offer now !?
My response:
Sorry, no special offer. Can't be what I am not. Just as I am.
We have to learn to accept and be accepted in a diversed group of people... meaning to be congenial (without compromising on your basic principles), be patient and be understanding..
You just don't always walk away from anything or anywhere whenever you cannot have it your way.... Learn to focus less and less on yourself and you will see more and more good of others and life will be less stressful.
Of course we have the freewill choice to walk away from something so intolerable sometimes.
You are observing and evaluating others and similarly at the same time, others are doing just that too. It works both ways. "Take a good look at yourself and then you can look at others differently.."
Friday, April 9, 2010
The JM Collection - a preview
Josh and his sister, Abby came over to sleepover at Somerton Rise...
Can't help but capture this series of books being penned by this 8 year old writer.... they will one day be published. This is a sampling preview:
Savers 3 - The Birth of Versa - Will Droy Finally Have An Army?
Recently... Zegbar has managed to steal Droy's plory card, which has his plans. His Master, Greva has been killed, and so it is 3 against 1, until now..
Chapter 1 - Cops and Robbers
"Draket, stay here. I need to get Zegbar," Droy told Draket. He started walking to the transport baty.Droy climbed into a small delivery jet. He decided that even if the Savers 3 could detect him, they won't care about a small delivery jet. Zegbar had stolen Droy's plory card, which had his future plans. "If he finds out about Versa, I am going down, "Droy thought to himself. He opened the transport bay doors, and flew out . Droy flew to the Savers 3's HQ, where he had locked up Vezer and Jaeper, in his invisible mobile prison cell.
Beep! Beep!Beep! Zegbar stopped what he was doing and looked through the camera, "A little delivery jet? Has master Dranger given us another toy?" Zegbar said to himself. He walked closer to a control panel. There was a bright red button labelled, "Transport bay - Open/Close." Zegbar pressed it. Instantly, the doors opened and the jet flew in and landed on the landing pad. Suddenly, Droy forward flipped out of his jet and kicked Zegbar in the face. He fell down unconscious. When his body hit the ground, Zegbar lost grip of the plory card and it was sent flying up into the air. Droy jumped up and caught it .
Suddenly, Vezer and Jaeper came out of nowhere, and instantly attacked Droy. But Droy was ready for them. Just as Jaeper fired a high powered laser at him, Droy jumped out of the way. The laser hit the jet's window which reflected of it, and came back at Jaeper. "AAAGGGHHH!" he shouted. He fell down unconscious.
Droy turned and jumped into his jet's cockpit, "Oh no, you don't," Vezer shouted. But it was too late, Droy flew the jet back to his HQ...
Other titles in the JM Collection on Savers 3 series:
1. The Power Force Battle
2. Droy's Revenge
3. Zegbar's Success
4. The Birth of Versa
5. Dranger's Death
6. Peace At Last
Can't help but capture this series of books being penned by this 8 year old writer.... they will one day be published. This is a sampling preview:
Savers 3 - The Birth of Versa - Will Droy Finally Have An Army?
Recently... Zegbar has managed to steal Droy's plory card, which has his plans. His Master, Greva has been killed, and so it is 3 against 1, until now..
Chapter 1 - Cops and Robbers
"Draket, stay here. I need to get Zegbar," Droy told Draket. He started walking to the transport baty.Droy climbed into a small delivery jet. He decided that even if the Savers 3 could detect him, they won't care about a small delivery jet. Zegbar had stolen Droy's plory card, which had his future plans. "If he finds out about Versa, I am going down, "Droy thought to himself. He opened the transport bay doors, and flew out . Droy flew to the Savers 3's HQ, where he had locked up Vezer and Jaeper, in his invisible mobile prison cell.
Beep! Beep!Beep! Zegbar stopped what he was doing and looked through the camera, "A little delivery jet? Has master Dranger given us another toy?" Zegbar said to himself. He walked closer to a control panel. There was a bright red button labelled, "Transport bay - Open/Close." Zegbar pressed it. Instantly, the doors opened and the jet flew in and landed on the landing pad. Suddenly, Droy forward flipped out of his jet and kicked Zegbar in the face. He fell down unconscious. When his body hit the ground, Zegbar lost grip of the plory card and it was sent flying up into the air. Droy jumped up and caught it .
Suddenly, Vezer and Jaeper came out of nowhere, and instantly attacked Droy. But Droy was ready for them. Just as Jaeper fired a high powered laser at him, Droy jumped out of the way. The laser hit the jet's window which reflected of it, and came back at Jaeper. "AAAGGGHHH!" he shouted. He fell down unconscious.
Droy turned and jumped into his jet's cockpit, "Oh no, you don't," Vezer shouted. But it was too late, Droy flew the jet back to his HQ...
Other titles in the JM Collection on Savers 3 series:
1. The Power Force Battle
2. Droy's Revenge
3. Zegbar's Success
4. The Birth of Versa
5. Dranger's Death
6. Peace At Last
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Money and Christians
This is to verbalise my thoughts after a week of being exposed to the sermons and messages conveyed by the FGBMF (Full Gospel BusinessMen Fellowship) ... so-called Ministry of Giving, by some multi-millionaires or Financial Kings from Malaysia.
The Bible is full of guidance against the love of money ... but on the converse, there are many verses on the need to work hard in order to serve God and for the furtherance of His Kingdom. The Bussinessmen are in business to make a profit and if that profit is being shovelled towards the expansion of God's kingdom, that is acceptable and noble. It is also mentioned that God wants to enrich his people and bless them with wealth and abundance of life.
There are some statements which are factual and realistically acceptable by all Christians walking this Worldly sojourn...
1. Money is neutral; possess it but don't let it possess you.
2. Rich or Poor, we are all slaves to money, as money is important to sustain daily living
3. Preaching on wealth creation is the obligation of all churches to motivate and encourage their followers to give affirmative testimonies of God's richness and blessings.
4. Blessed churches would attract more followers and believers.
5. Piousness does not necessarily mean poverty.
6. God owns the whole earth and universe and we ought to be His responsible stewards of his wealth.
7. In the Biblical era, there were many multi-millionaires too, like King Solomons, Kind David, Joseph, Isaac, Abraham etc. Why not now?
8. Some have the gifts of managing wealth on behalf of God, some have other giftings. So not everyone can be Financial King.
In all decison making, including money, first seek God's guidance by prayers; by internalising his Word (read the Bible, listen to sermons) and then listen accurately to God's promptings and signs. If you are totally faithful in your prayers, and if there is peace of mind in making the decision, that must be God's will?
The Bible is full of guidance against the love of money ... but on the converse, there are many verses on the need to work hard in order to serve God and for the furtherance of His Kingdom. The Bussinessmen are in business to make a profit and if that profit is being shovelled towards the expansion of God's kingdom, that is acceptable and noble. It is also mentioned that God wants to enrich his people and bless them with wealth and abundance of life.
There are some statements which are factual and realistically acceptable by all Christians walking this Worldly sojourn...
1. Money is neutral; possess it but don't let it possess you.
2. Rich or Poor, we are all slaves to money, as money is important to sustain daily living
3. Preaching on wealth creation is the obligation of all churches to motivate and encourage their followers to give affirmative testimonies of God's richness and blessings.
4. Blessed churches would attract more followers and believers.
5. Piousness does not necessarily mean poverty.
6. God owns the whole earth and universe and we ought to be His responsible stewards of his wealth.
7. In the Biblical era, there were many multi-millionaires too, like King Solomons, Kind David, Joseph, Isaac, Abraham etc. Why not now?
8. Some have the gifts of managing wealth on behalf of God, some have other giftings. So not everyone can be Financial King.
In all decison making, including money, first seek God's guidance by prayers; by internalising his Word (read the Bible, listen to sermons) and then listen accurately to God's promptings and signs. If you are totally faithful in your prayers, and if there is peace of mind in making the decision, that must be God's will?
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Be Nice, my friends
We meet difficult, unhappy, grumpy, unfriendly and disagreeable people everyday... because often we are one of them!!
But we know deep down inside, we are not nasty people... just that sometimes because of some hurts inside us, we tend to express them outwardly.Very often being nice to the other person can be a relationship risk too. People may think that we have some ulterior motives....
Our initiative to be nice and overtures may get a snub or negative response from the other party. So what do we do? Men are social animals... we just cannot self-isolate ourselves...
To me, if I am genuine and sincere of being nice, I will not worry about what others may think or do or don't do.. that would impact on me.... life will move on happily or leisurely if only we all can let go our own ego..
Proverbs (from the Bible) 18:1 says " An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends; he defies all sound judgement."
But we know deep down inside, we are not nasty people... just that sometimes because of some hurts inside us, we tend to express them outwardly.Very often being nice to the other person can be a relationship risk too. People may think that we have some ulterior motives....
Our initiative to be nice and overtures may get a snub or negative response from the other party. So what do we do? Men are social animals... we just cannot self-isolate ourselves...
To me, if I am genuine and sincere of being nice, I will not worry about what others may think or do or don't do.. that would impact on me.... life will move on happily or leisurely if only we all can let go our own ego..
Proverbs (from the Bible) 18:1 says " An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends; he defies all sound judgement."
Mauao, Bay of Plenty NZ
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Mauao, this Mount at the edge of the Mt Maunganui promontory, is only 232 m in altitude, with a base circumference of 3.4km.
I made it the summit on the 5th March 2010 on my first attempt and I found this small mountain an interesting tracking ground as there are many permutations of tracking routes you can take up and down... some easy; some require moderate to excellent fitness.... there was never a dull moment up and down, if you open your eyes and ears....
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Hot Water Beach New Zealand
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Normal people would go visit the Hot Water Beach and create their own spa pools in the afternoon low tide. I joined them on 4th March 2010 at about 6pm (low tide 5pm - and the best time to get the hot spring is 2 hours either side of the low-tide) - see photos.
The next day, totally unplanned, I woke up early and dared to be different (or you may say crazy) to catch the dawn low tide at 5am! I had the Hot Water Beach to myself from 4am to 5.30am on 5th March, under the bright moonlit and starry sky... it was a bit scarry when the moon was hidden by the clouds once a while - the song "bad moon rising" rang in my ears...I was prepared for any intruder by arming myself with a shovel (from the motel I was staying) and simply naked waist up (with nothing valuable to attract any robber). When I was in the private spa beach..... only the moon could see my entire nakedness....and later it was thrilled to have a shower at the open public shower station at the Hahei car park at 5.45am - carefree, everything hanging loose, cool and refreshing.....
For those who have not been to the Hot Water Beach... there are 2 hot springs about 10 metres apart at the beach which come up from a hot water reservoir some 2 km down in the earth surface, resultant of some volcanic activities some 5-8 million years ago. The spring water temperature can be high as 65 degree C (it actually burns the skin)... a combination of hot spring and cold sea water was a good spa mixture. This is unique to NZ.
Hot Water Beach is situated on the east coast of The Coromandel Peninsula, near a town called Whitianga, about 2 hours drive from Auckland. You can drive all the way to Hahei Beach or you can take a ferry from Whitinga ($4 return for a 20 mins journey) to Ferry Landing, from which you can catch a taxi for another 15 km to the Hot Water Beach.
Go try it. Try it my way?
Monday, February 15, 2010
Million Dollar View Sunrise
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Howick Golf Glub, one with the Million Dollar View....at dawn, 0631hrs 12 Feb 2010
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