22 minute read
Interview: Dame Judy McGregor
Dame Judy McGregor
– activist, advocate, academic By Christine Young
Devonport resident Judy McGregor received a CNZM for services to journalism in the 2004 New Year’s Honours. She is now Dame Judy McGregor, honoured with a DNZM for services to human rights and health this year, a highly regarded academic and human rights advocate, and the immediate past (and last) chair of the Waitematā District Health Board. Christine Young traces her career – and discovers a hidden passion for gardening.
Dame Judy might have remained and been a highly respected journalist throughout her career if she hadn’t been sacked from the Murdoch-owned 'Auckland Star' as its third to last editor. But ever the rebel as well as an achiever (she was suspended from school while a prefect for speaking out) she “didn’t want to take the paper tabloid, which management wanted,” she says. “It was in terminal decline anyway. I had been studying law part-time and I went home to Palmerston North (John and I married and he was editing the Manawatu Standard – we commuted for about seven years from Auckland) and I finished my law degree at Massey University where I began teaching journalism and communications.”
She became a professor at Massey University and helped start the Massey campus at Albany, using business and community contacts she had from living on the North Shore.
She still regards journalism as providing her with a strong foundation for her future career. “Journalism is an honourable and professional skill that has helped me with whatever job I’ve had. It helps you write clearly, develop finely honed intuition for those who fudge facts, and it is a great skill to have for advocacy roles,” – roles she has relished since she left journalism. Her dismissal effectively offered an opportunity for career change, and Judy made the most of the opportunity.
At Massey, Judy completed a PhD in political communication; shortly afterwards, she was appointed to the first of two five-year terms as the first Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner with the New Zealand Human Rights Commission. This role perfectly suited Judy’s penchant for both advocacy and activism. “I had always been involved in gender activism around issues like the right to abortion and women’s representation and participation in governance and management. I had also developed a keen interest as an editor and as an academic in ensuring young Māori and Pacific people had opportunities to become journalists, and worked with the NZJTO (New Zealand Journalism Training Organisation) and Mana Māori Media on training programmes.”
She could have added her support for the Māori land march in 1975 and the 1981 Springbok tour marches as earlier examples of her activism, an ethos developed even earlier: “As a youngster I was taught that if something was wrong or worth fighting for you had to speak up and more than that, take action.”
Among many other achievements as EEO Commissioner, in 2012, during the statutory inquiry into employment issues in the age care industry, Judy went undercover and worked as a carer before completing a report published as ‘Caring Counts’. This experience still resonates with her. “[It] showed me how under-valued health care assistants and carers are in New Zealand, and still are, as they continue to fight for pay equity and a reasonable wage. During Covid, New Zealand relied on nurses and carers to keep older people and others safe. We owe them decent pay. A pay equity claim has just been lodged and I believe carers should be paid at least a third more than their current rates, to compensate for the hard physical job they do, the dirty work, and the emotional labour that is involved in caring for frail and vulnerable people every day.”
Next step was an appointment at AUT University (where she is now Emeritus Professor) as professor of Human Rights. Judy explains this appointment as being a result of the work she did during her time as EEO Commissioner, working for the UN and the Asia Pacific Forum teaching communications strategies to new human rights institutions in
countries as diverse as Mongolia, Palestine, Jordan, Malaysia, and the Maldives, as well as doing work in the Pacific (Samoa, Tonga and the Solomons) in climate change reporting.
At AUT she co-authored a paper on human rights titled ‘Human Rights in New Zealand: Emerging Faultlines’, identifying five critical issues to be addressed including women’s rights, equal pay, child poverty and the over-imprisonment of Māori.
In 2016, Judy received the Women in Governance Award. The citation says she was “well known for promoting board diversity, both locally and internationally and has for many years been considered the ‘eminence grise’ for women directors in New Zealand”. It was another well-deserved award. Throughout Judy’s academic life she not only researched women in governance and management but encouraged other women to research and write in the field, as well as to join boards.
“My interest began when I was the first woman to edit a major modern New Zealand newspaper and saw how few women there were at the top. For many years I published a census report for the Human Rights Commission that audited NZX-listed companies in terms of women on boards. I think the research, which had high factual integrity and named and shamed, began to shake some of the boardroom old boys’ clubs. We also looked at the legal and accountancy professions, local government, trade unions, the defence forces, the media, and sports organisations. I think boardroom diversity has become normalised in public dialogue now, but women everywhere should [still] be alert to equality of representation and participation, whatever they do.”
Next career step was her appointment as chair of the Waitematā District Health Board, succeeding Lester Levy in June 2018. “One of the reasons I said yes,” explains Judy, “was so there was one female out of three board chairs in the Auckland metro region. While I had knowledge of health workforce issues, I had a very steep learning curve to understand other areas of the health sector.
“Waitematā is not only the biggest by population size, it also has extremely strong community networks both on the North Shore and in West Auckland. The strength of the Consumer Council, of the iwi partnership board Kōtui Hauora, and the strength of the Well Foundation, made me realise the expansive scope of health service delivery in hospitals and in community services. The experience reinforced my belief that women in health – nurses, carers, doctors, administrators – are under-paid both in parity and equity, and while it is slowly being addressed I can understand the frustration of health workers. Chairing Waitematā showed me every day how incredibly fortunate we are to have committed, caring and compassionate health staff who go to work, whether it is a pandemic or not, to try and help people and their families and whānau. While the media narrative of DHBs is often one of individual victim stories, I was struck by the huge support the public showed through letters and emails for the care they received from the public health system. I think those of us living on the North Shore are proud of our hospital and want to see it and Waitākere Hospital grow and develop.”
That role, of course, finished at the end of June this year as the new Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act disestablished the 20 DHBs and established four new entities: a new public health agency; Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand to lead and coordinate delivery of health services; Te Aka Whai Ora – the Māori Health Authority; and Whaikaha – the Ministry of Disabled People.
While Judy enjoyed her time as board chair, she says that the arrival of Covid meant that it was more hands-on and time consuming than she had anticipated. She was more than ready to take a break by the beginning of July, and while she admits to needing to adjust to days without the structure of a regular schedule, she is now enjoying swimming more often, and getting into the outdoors with “wonderful tramping girl-friends”. (They are doing Paparoa track in November.) She is also an “addicted gardener” at home and in a shared allotment, and is “very keen” on New Zealand art.
It may seem that she is slowing down, but don’t expect Dame Judy. to slip quietly into full retirement. “I read and write. I hope to do a small equal pay book in the next year. Emeritus Professor means you’ve gone but retain some research or teaching interests!” she quips.
How will October’s Earthquake Commission changes affect your home insurance costs?
This October, the Earthquake Commission (EQC) cap and levy are set to rise, which will impact home insurance policies, body corporates, and the residential component of commercial buildings across New Zealand.
Garry Stewart and the North Shore Rothbury Insurance Brokers team have been busy advising their local clients of this change and what the impact may be on their insurance policies. Here are the main changes you should be aware of:
What is the EQC cap?
If your home is damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster (such as an earthquake, tsunami and natural landslip), currently the Earthquake Commission provides cover for it to be repaired or replaced up to $150,000. This portion of cover is referred to as the EQC cap.
Effective from 1st October 2022, the Government is increasing the EQC cap from $150,000 to $300,000 (excluding GST).
What is the EQC levy?
To enable the Earthquake Commission to increase their cap, they are increasing the EQC levy you currently pay in your insurance from $300 to $480 (excluding GST). The Government’s intention is to keep insurance affordable in high seismic areas.
What this means for you
To ensure affordability and sustainability of earthquake cover in the areas most exposed to an earthquake (high seismic areas), insurers are now looking to redistribute some of these costs to other parts of New Zealand such as Auckland and the North Shore, where there is lower earthquake risk, to help share the load.
Earthquake-prone areas such as Wellington, Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay have, to date, carried a disproportionate share of the earthquake pricing; this is set to change with a redistribution of cost across all areas.
Each insurer will determine their pricing strategy in response to the EQC change and unfortunately there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach.
How do I find out more information?
Get in touch with your insurance provider or talk to your insurance broker. Your insurance broker will be more than happy to discuss how the EQC changes, and other market factors, will impact you and your insurance policies.
If you would like a second opinion to make sure you have the right insurance coverage for your needs, then get in touch with Garry and the Rothbury North Shore team for quality, personalised advice from locals who understand your needs.
Rothbury North Shore has been helping insure and advise locals for over 15 years, and proudly manages all of their claims right here on the Shore. With local knowledge and insurance expertise, they can help tailor an insurance policy specific to you.
For personal service and quality advice from a local, give Garry Stewart and the Rothbury North Shore team a call today.
rothbury.co.nz/branch/north-shore
After a second opinion on your insurance needs?
CALL ME TODAY FOR LOCAL, TAILORED ADVICE
Garry Stewart | Senior Commercial Broker P: 021 388 857 E: garry.stewart@rothbury.co.nz rothbury.co.nz
Stiebel Eltron launches brand new showroom in Takapuna
THis mopnth, German water heating and renewables manufacturer, Stiebel Eltron celebraes the launch of its new showroom in Takapuna, where customers can experience Stiebel Eltron's hot water, heating, and ventilation products in an interactive showroom space.
Auckland is the headquarters for the New Zealand team and home to seven employees. In this North Shore showroom space, a wide variety of products from the business are on display, including energy-efficient hot water, renewables technology for heating, and balanced heat recovery ventilation.
The company's New Zealand operations began over 25 years ago with agents representing the brand mainly selling hot water and heaters. After over a decade of success in New Zealand, the company decided to open its own subsidiary under the leadership of Stiebel Eltron New Zealand's Managing Director, Jason Kerr, in 2016.
Jason says, "The main aim of the showroom is to create a space where architects and designers can come in and visualise the products, which allows them to specify them and present them to building owners. Installers can also come in and participate in training in-store."
A central feature of the showroom is hydronic heating which is powered by a Stiebel Eltron air-sourced heat pump. This heat pump technology has been tried and tested in Germany for nearly 50 years, consistently delivering energy, environmental and financial savings. Stiebel Eltron began developing heat pump technology as early as 1976 for energy-efficient hot water, heating, and cooling.
On August 23rd, key industry stakeholders will gather at the new Stiebel Eltron showroom opening. Guests will enjoy drinks and canapés and have the chance to inspect, try out and learn about different green energy products in the brand-new showroom space. Jason concludes, "It is really great to see Germany invest in New Zealand with interactive showrooms and employing key staff. This allows us to show the industry what's available in the market here in New Zealand in terms of energy-efficient products."
Hot Water | Heating | Ventilation | Cooling www.stiebel-eltron.co.nz | 09 486 2221
Japanese Influence
A lovely old villa in Devonport receives an extraordinary kitchen makeover, influenced by a family’s previous life in Japan.
It’s hard to know what you want if you don’t know where to start. This is the exact situation these homeowners found themselves in when looking for inspiration for their new kitchen. Then, through a friend, they were recommended to speak to local designers, Kitchens By Design.
In-house designer Marianne Gailer says the couple had never planned a new kitchen and were looking for guidance. “It’s not an unusual situation. That’s why we are here,” says the designer. “Once I met them and learnt about their family connections to Japan, I decided to draw on an Oriental theme by taking in their surrounding furniture and art.”
With the theme set in her mind, Marianne then had to address the size and functionality of the existing kitchen, which literally looked like a makeshift kitchen in the corner of the open-plan kitchen-dining-living space, she says. “It was about a quarter of the size of the new kitchen, which was way too small in terms of scale and functionality for the room and the family.”
The key to the design's success was Marianne’s inspirational choice of natural materials – a wonderfully grained titanium granite in a tactile, leathered finish for the kitchen island, paired with solid Tasmanian blackwood cabinetry, crown cut and mismatched, to give a natural, organic feel. The combination is an explosion of grain, colour and texture and gives the kitchen its unique character.
“The colours of the leathered titanium granite were the starting point for my scheme,” she says. “The mitred island ‘block’ anchors the kitchen in the open-plan living space and also provides the required bench space.”
Centring the cooker within the cabinetry along the back wall balanced the fridge and bi-fold pantry/appliance garage nicely. Two additional space towers, one on each side, give ample food storage.
“A jet-black leathered splashback and black cooker help balance the central feature. Above, timber battens add to the texture and the Japanese feel. The inspiration for this slatted look came to me one evening when we were sitting in a Japanese restaurant – from the partitions between the seating.”
Apart from the cooker, all the appliances are integrated – a notion the owners weren’t initially on board with, says the designer. “But after I showed them a 3D walk-through of their new kitchen, with and without hidden appliances, they changed their minds.”
‘Beyond our wildest dreams’ was the client’s reaction to their new Zen aesthetic kitchen. Mum cooks, the daughter preps, and dad makes tea, all in their designated zones.
This kitchen was named Runner Up in the Auckland Chapter category at the prestigious NKBA Excellence in Design Awards 2022.
If you're looking for a new kitchen, pop into Kitchens By Design's showroom, located at 3 Byron Ave in Takapuna, or call one of its designers on (09) 379 3084. For inspiration, take a look at some fabulous projects at www.kitchensbydesign.co.nz
Top tips from Amanda Graham, Newhaven Gardens. North Shore Hedge Trimming, Garden Tidy Ups, Planting, Pruning and Garden Maintenance.
Hedge trimming tips
Amanda Graham.
Regular trims and pruning keep your hedge in great condition, allowing increased sunlight and airflow, as well as making them look neat and appealing.
Hedge trimmer versus shears
For large hedges and for the newer gardener, I would recommend using powered hedge trimmers: they are easier to control and you can cover much larger areas. The only real draw-back to hedge trimmers is that they don’t give quite as sharp a cut as hand held shears.
Their precision cuts make shears ideal for topiary, and also provide a cleaner looking cut for larger leaved hedges. The down-side to shears is that they take considerably longer to trim large areas, and there is bit of a knack to using them, so they can be a little daunting to a less experienced gardener. Whether you opt for hedge trimmers or shears, ensure they are sharp, clean and in good repair before using.
Whichever method you use, you should always make sure you have the correct protective gear: heavy duty gloves , protective eyewear, a long sleeved top, safety boots, and ear protection if using hedge trimmers. If trimming over mulch or stones, it often pays to pop a tarpaulin down before you start which will help with the clean up at the end.
When trimming a medium to large hedge with a hedge trimmer, it is easier to cut a hedge from the ground up using a sweeping action from bottom to top. The reason for this is you will get a better cut due to more visible control and it’s far safer than a top to bottom approach which could lead to injury if you slip. Ideally you want to aim for slightly flared sides that are a little wider at the bottom than the top. This allows the sunlight to hit the sides of the hedge more evenly, and promotes more balanced growth.
The final stage is to cut the top. Place the hedge trimmer horizontal to the hedge top and gently cut away from yourself from front to back. Ensure you don’t place too much pressure on the hedge trimmer when cutting away from yourself to avoid any unsightly dips.
Amanda Graham Newhaven Gardens Ltd Ph: 021 378969 amanda@newhavengardens.co.nz www.newhavengardens.co.nz
By Jane and Jeremy Bain, franchisees at Pack & Send Takapuna.
Wish international imports were easier?
Jane and Jeremy Bain.
Pack & Send Takapuna is your "one stop shop" for all your international freight needs.
Have you purchased something online from abroad and need to arrange a courier delivery to New Zealand yourself? Finding eBay shipping too slow? Our import services include collection from almost any part of the globe and delivery to your door here in New Zealand for a competitive price.
Some of you may experience difficulty getting a seller or sender to arrange shipments from overseas because they’re concerned about duties and taxes. Pack & Send can assist with any potential hassles!
Pack & Send know how to navigate this often challenging process. Onerous regulations and paperwork can make importing goods from overseas a difficult task. Our import courier service will make these logistics smoother sailing for you or your business. We streamline the customs clearance and other associated details and keep you up to date on your package’s whereabouts every step of the way.
We import documents, send & return passports
Yes, we can assist with visa and immigration documents pick up and return from overseas embassies. We have a dedicated and pretty unique service called ‘Send & Return’ just for passports and important documents.
Need an import freight forwarder?
Importing goods to New Zealand with us can save you time and money compared to doing this yourself and arranging for a seller to export a product from the country of origin.
Pack & Send provides logistics solutions for large businesses as well as small volume shipments. We ensure a safe and timely delivery of your freight at an even more competitive price than ever before.
When you need to import/export overseas to any country you can rely on Pack & Send's experience to package it and get it delivered, safely.
Pack & Send provides service, systems and packaging to make your freight experience as simple and smooth as possible. You don't need to open an account; they send anything, anywhere and take care of the hassles.
Pack & Send Takapuna open Mon – Sat, located at 77 Barrys Point Rd, Takapuna with exclusive and convenient parking outside. Ph 486-3355 or email takapuna@packsend.co.nz and let them make sending easy.
Pack & Send Takapuna
77 Barry’s Point Rd, Takapuna Phone: 09 486 3355 Email: takapuna@packsend.co.nz
www.packsend.co.nz
(09) 486 3355
August is Daffodil Day month
Claire Bellingham.
New Zealanders have the fourth-highest rate of cancer in the world and it’s the country’s single biggest cause of death. Your chance of suffering from cancer increases with age. Risk factors can be genetically pre-determined, lifestyle-induced or a combination.
Often they take time to impact. The older you get the more important it is to stay active, both to reduce your risk of cancer and to put yourself in the best health to receive treatment if you ever need it.
Exercise reduces the risk of cancer in several ways. Movement helps regulate insulin production. Insulin can turn on signals that tell cells to multiply, so regulating insulin levels can help stop cancer developing. In addition to this, exercise is a good method of keeping body fat levels under control. Fat cells in the body are active and can produce hormones and proteins that promote the growth of several types of cancer. Research links obesity with increased risk of endometrial, breast, oesophageal, liver and pancreatic cancers. Another cancer that exercise can reduce the risk of is bowel cancer. Exercise helps move food through the digestive system, reducing the time bowels are exposed to potentially harmful chemicals such as when you’re drinking alcohol. Physical activity also balances hormone levels, lowering the risk of prostate, breast and endometrial cancers.
After a cancer diagnosis many people slow down. Stress and illness from treatment tend to make people less active. Unfortunately, fatigue can lead to less activity which can spiral downwards into more fatigue. Light aerobic activity at a manageable intensity can improve energy levels over the long term. It can enhance circulation and help the heart operate more efficiently. Blood flow to the brain improves cognitive function and mood. Light resistance activity is also important. Cancer treatments combined with inactivity can lead to muscle wasting and loss of function. Maintaining strength can make you less dependent on others for help with daily activities. Muscle wasting can also lead to lack of flexibility so stretching is important to maintain range of motion in the joints. Light stretching is a great way to stay active if you’re not ready for more vigorous exercise.
Many factors will influence ability to exercise, for example the type and stage of cancer, type of treatment and fitness level prior to illness. The goal of an exercise programme is to gain the benefits without exacerbating the discomfort. Your doctor and your own intuition will be the best guides on how to strike this balance. Cancer treatment can be very isolating so it’s often helpful to enjoy a common interest with other like-minded, health-focused people.
Cancer isn’t something that only happens to other people. It’s becoming increasingly common and it’s important to take proactive steps to reduce your risk. Fortunately cancer treatments are becoming more effective all the time and The Cancer Society estimates that one in three New Zealanders diagnosed with cancer make a full recovery. Life offers no guarantees but prioritising your fitness gives you the best possible chance of enjoying health, wellbeing and independence.
Les Mills Takapuna, Rooftop Level, Shore City, Takapuna 0800 LES MILLS lesmills.co.nz clairebellingham.co.nz claire@clairebellingham.co.nz
By Teresa Burns, Doctor of Audiology. Director and owner of Teresa Burns Hearing Ltd.
Hearing aids in the drawer?
Teresa Burns.
Do you know someone who spent thousands on hearing aids but doesn’t wear them? What a huge waste of money and opportunity. Hearing aids are like little computers with amazing levels of technology and options. But they certainly won’t help if they aren’t in your ears!
Hearing aids should be comfortable and easy to use – but they do take some getting used to. It can often take a few weeks for your brain to acclimatise to hearing the wide world of sound again, and wearers also need to learn how to put them in properly, clean and manage them. This is why hearing aids are often bundled with follow up appointments and after-care services so fit and management can be checked, and settings adjusted as needed.
Even after a few years hearing aids can be re-programmed easily if they are too loud or if hearing levels have changed. Most hearing aids carry previous hearing test information in their settings so all it takes is a booking to upload this info and adjust as needed. A hearing check and a quick clean and adjustment can make a huge difference. There is no problem transferring ACC, veterans or other funding to a new provider – previous records and funding info are available if needed.
If you know someone who has hearing aids but doesn’t wear them, or if you are looking to upgrade your hearing aids, book in to see Teresa Burns, Doctor of Audiology.
