Exercise your NO muscle today!

Read some appalling statistics today - in Northland, our region, police attend an average of 17 domestic calls a day.  That is 17 too many!  Especially when you consider over 75% of domestic violence incidents are not reported to police.  So the actual numbers are far far worse.


Each year an average of 27 men, women and children are killed due to family violence.  That is 27 too many.

One of the common myths about domestic violence is ‘Why doesn’t she just leave?’.  The important thing to remember is that no-one asks to be abused .  The responsibility lies firmly with the abuser to stop their behaviour.  

Family violence is a pattern of physical, sexual, emotional or financial violence that leaves the victim intimidated, hurt and fearful for their life, and the lives of their family. Learn more about this pattern of power and control, and the types of abuse.


Domestic violence is not limited to any demographic. It happens in rural and urban areas, within all age, religious and ethnic groups, and across all socio-economic groups. It can happen between people who are married, in de facto relationships or just dating. Domestic violence happens in same sex relationships, too.
 
The Domestic Violence Act 1995 legally protects anyone in a domestic relationship from violence: married couples; unmarried couples; gay and lesbian couples; children; family; anyone in a close relationship; and flatmates and

others who may share accommodation from violence. 


If the victim cannot stand up for themselves it is those in the community around them to open our eyes and not stand by and allow it to happen.  We need to say it's not okay.  

So exercise your NO muscle when you see violence in our society, as the change starts with all of us saying it's not okay!



Read more at Northern Advocate article.
For statistics look at Family Violence statistics
For support or advice see http://areyouok.org.nz/
Other links:  MASSIVE, Womens Refuge NZ, Justice Dept, Legislation

Be a Hero!

I know it has been said before ... ST JOHN need more volunteers for the ambulances.

The team we have in Kaiwaka and Maungaturoto are amazing.  They give up so much of their time already, like alot of rural volunteers.  Yesterday a loved one needed in ambulance in Waipu, and as there was no-one available nearby the ambulance had to come up from Maungaturoto which from the original call was 1 hour!!!

Not the ambos fault, just a symptom of the fact there are not enough people giving their time to be available to help others.  So even if you can do only a shift a week it would be better than making someone who couldn't wait have to miss out on treatment.  The more volunteers the more lives that can literally be saved.

So if you have been thinking about it don't think any more.

Just do it - volunteer for St John and be a hero in your community.

Step Forward - Show You Care

At Kaiwaka Cares we believe our community is a safe, friendly and discrimination free for everyone who chooses to live here. 

In the 2014 Quality of Life Survey people were asked about their feelings about where they live and how they feel.  Almost half of respondents felt a sense of community where they live.  They felt that in their community people cared and supported each other.   40% of these people felt that people might not feel a sense of community because members of their community did not regularly talk to each other.

Whilst it may be nice to think that Kaiwaka is an exception, there are still members of our community who are alone. One of the other statistics that came out of the survey is that 32% of people had experienced loneliness in the past year.

This is part of the reason for the drop-in centre coming into being.  it provides a space for members of our community to get to know each other and improve the sense of community for those who might not be feeling it.

A reason that people might feel not part of the community is if they are challenged by mental illness.  it is a sad fact that one in five people in New Zealand will experience some form of mental illness in 2015.  This includes anxiety, depression as well as bipolar and other disorders.

One of the biggest challenges for someone challenged by mental illness is discrimination.  The Step Forward campaign over the next month is aiming to bring awareness to mental illness and to try and end some of the discrimination surrounding it.  Lets break down the barriers and Step Forward as a community to socially include those who may be struggling.

For more information visit Step Forward or Like Minds.

We are Open!

Yes the community drop-in centre had a wonderful opening on Monday.  It was a great first day with many members of the community and supporting services attending.

A special thanks to Rau for attending to bless our space to make it ready to care for the community.

Huge thanks to the Kaiwaka Cares committee who have worked tirelessly to get this up and running.  In case you are not aware they are:  Rhona Vickoce, Helen Marsh, Scott Dalziell, Iris Kelly, Sarah Cristini, Glo Treadway and Janine Boult.  Also many thanks to the many members of the community who have contributed items to make the drop-in centre more homely so that the people of Kaiwaka have somewhere to come together and enjoy each other's company.

Of course none of this would have been able to happen without the tremendous support and encouragement from Yvonne Brown.  Yvonne is the amazing woman that runs Kate's Place and we are so happy to be working alongside her and all that she does for the community of Kaiwaka.

The drop-in centre will be open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 2pm.  Feel free to pop into our cosy space, have a cuppa, read a book or help out with the puzzle.

Next week we will be adding a computer to the room.  This will be available for the community to use to access the internet.  We do ask for a small koha for using this to enable us to provide this for the people of Kaiwaka.

If you wish to book the space to use for your group outside of our opening times please contact us at caring4kaiwaka@gmail.com.

Community Social Space - Drop-In Centre Opening!

The elves have been busy getting the drop-in centre ready to open.  It has been wonderful the support from the community that we have been able to get things ready for opening.

We can't wait to show you the space. Below is a sneak preview of the room.  It's scrubbed up really well and I'm looking forward to it being put to good use!

The grand opening is on Monday 20 July 2015 at 10am.  If you can't make it down to see us on Monday don't worry you won't miss out.  The centre will be open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 2pm.

Look forward to seeing you soon!

     

Support us so we can support you!

 

Kaiwaka Cares is establishing a community space and drop-in centre in the front room of Kate’s Place. We have been generously given some gloves by Mitre10 to help us fundraise for the community space and other community projects.

These fabulous small gardening gloves normally retail for $14.95, all we are asking you to pay is $5!
Made by Digz, this garden glove with either adjustable wrist strap or elastic band makes it perfect for outdoor tasks. The 4-way spandex provides comfort while palm and knuckle padding provides protection. This decorative glove is made to fit a small women's or child’s hand for better fit and functionality.  There are three different colours to choose from. Brown, Spots or Mint.

To buy either email caring4kaiwaka@gmail.com or phone/text #0276636802. Payment is cash or by internet banking into the Kaiwaka Cares account.

    

Slow down you move too fast!

Trying to walk across State Highway 1 in the Kaiwaka town zone is like dancing with the devil.  You can your life in your hands trying to navigate across the road without a car or truck exceeding the speed limit bearing down on you.

My daughter (Miss 3) often asks if we could walk to the post office, however as it would require us to cross the road I am just too frightened to risk it.  Particularly as our post office is situated just after the speed reduces to 50.  I truly worry about the children that need to cross that road each and every day.

Although lets be honest here, how many people actually reduce their speed going through Kaiwaka!

On more than one occasion I have been tailgated by a truck either coming down the hill or going up.

I know it has been tried before, there has to be something said though for perseverance.  A petition is currently circulating about this very topic.  If you haven't read about it more information is available in the 23 June 2015 version of the Kaiwaka Bugle.

The petition is available to view, and sign, at Kaiwaka Foodmart/Post Office, Coffee Pot Cafe, and Caltex Station.  If you would like a copy of the petition for people to sign at your place of business then please email us on caring4kaiwaka@gmail.com.

As the police advertising warns us speed kills, so save a life by signing the petition and helping us get the speed in Kaiwaka lowered.

Are you are a volunteering super hero?

National Volunteer Week is on! There is a place for you to volunteer, he wahi mohou hei tuao.

Alot of what is done in our community relies on volunteers to make it happen.  These heroes of Kaiwaka are the ones who work tirelessly for others and are often forgotten.

Unfortunately there are not as many people volunteering as there are jobs to be done.  What you do to help others could be something little or something big.

As it's National Volunteer Week look out for opportunities to assist others.  These are just some ideas on things you might want to do.  Can you think of others?

• Your neighbour is sick with a cold so you could offer to pickup supplies from Jaques so they don't have to go out.  
• A friend needs help keeping up with their gardens so you could volunteer to mow their lawns. 
• Know a new parent, offer to go over and do dishes or fold laundry (trust me that can be an amazing help in those first weeks of getting to know your newborn.
• Hold open the door for another person.
• See someone struggling to carry their parcels up the hill and you know they live near you, offer them a lift home.

We have many volunteer heroes in our community.  Some are obvious, ie Fire Service and St John Ambulance staff.  Others less so, ie the people working in the Op Shop, our librarians, our sports coaches, and the team who put together the Bugle are great examples.

So open your eyes to the volunteers around you, and if you are able to help ... do!

Volunteering has a massive impact on Kaiwaka, do you have a volunteer story to share? 

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We are in need of more ambulance staff for our St John station.  Are you willing to help?  Follow this link to find out more.

Always wanted to ride on a Fire Engine and fight fires and help others?  Our volunteer Fire Service is always on the lookout for more to join their team.  Follow this link to find out more.

Winter is coming ....

No this is not a plug for the series Game of Thrones.

It's the hard truth that we have to admit to ourselves that summer has gone.  The nights are getting longer and the days shorter.  And brrrrr it is a little chilly some nights and mornings.

If insulation in your house is in short supply then you might want to investigate the Warm Up New Zealand initiative.  Especially as there is only one more year of funding available!

Energy Wise (EECA) is a government organisation which is subsidising insulation for those homes in New Zealand that are lacking it.  The target homes for funding are:

• homes built before 2000
• someone living in the house is over 65 or under 17
• someone in the household suffers a serious illness, particularly illnesses which are affected by damp and cold like asthma and arthritis
• additionally funding is available for people with a Community Services Card

The great thing is that if your home qualifies for funding then if you are the homeowner you can get up to 100% subsidy.  If you are renting then your landlord may only have to pay $500 of the $3000 cost of installing insulation in the ceiling and under the floors.

There are two providers in the Northland area they are:

• Healthy Homes Tai Tokerau
• Smart Energy Solutions

Why am I telling you all this?  Well I am currently living in a home with no insulation and some morning it is much warmer outside than it is inside.  Having already having had a bad bout of bronchitis this year my landlord and I are working to get my house warm and toasty for winter.

So if your home needs insulation apply now, there is so much to be gained by just making the call.