Letting loose on canvas

Parental leave payments boost begins

Expectant parents will be excited to hear that parental leave payments have gone up.

e Associate Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Priyanca Radhakrishnan has announced parental leave payments will increase by 7.7 per cent from July 1 this year, to re ect the 7.7 per cent rise in the average weekly earnings.

e maximum weekly rate for eligible employees and self-employed parents will increase from $661.12 to $712.17 gross per week.

Under the Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987, eligible parents are entitled to payments equal to their normal pay – up to the current maximum rate. e maximum rate is adjusted annually to account for any increase in average weekly earnings.

e minimum parental leave payment rate for self-employed parents will increase this year from $212 to $227 gross per week, to re ect the minimum wage increase on April 1.

Brilliant colours soar and swirl through the air, before splattering in vibrant chaos upon the canvas – another unique masterpiece is born.

It’s a new creative initiative to the Bay of Plenty, nestled in the heart of Ohauiti – the Splatter Shed.

O cially opened last weekend, the Splatter Shed is a creative space to have fun with paints and colour, creating your very own paint splattered style art piece.

e innovative mind behind the shed is photographer Vanessa Laval-Glad who was inspired after seeing similar setups internationally.

“I couldn’t nd anything like it anywhere in New Zealand and it was kind of a small idea that evolved into something a bit bigger,” says Vanessa. “Just being a mum myself –there’s not that many indoor activities for kids… and it’s a good opportunity for families to do something fun together!”

Vanessa says she has had great feedback from the Splatter Shed and has had friends feeling “lighter” from the experience.

“[Some friends] are going through a bit of a stressful time and they said it was such a stress relieving activity and even for the next day or two they just felt so much lighter.

“Everyone is under pressure. Everyone is under stress in the current economy and it’s just having that space to let loose and not having to worry about cleaning up afterwards and just having fun.” e Splatter Shed has a range of tools on hand to tap into your creativity too. “We have brushes of all types and sizes. We have some kitchen utensils, and we work with water guns, water balloons, and normal balloons. We’re also now working on a paint can where people can have a paint can hanging and they put a hole in the bottom of it and swirl it around over a canvas.”

Guiding Splatter Shed goers, Vanessa says: “I don’t actually want to tell them what to do with the utensils and things I provide because it is a matter of guring it out and how to be creative with a spatula or whatever, and the one challenge I present is to not touch the canvas so that it doesn’t become a traditional painting.

“ ere’s some really cool stu you can do and some of them I would hang on my wall!” e Splatter Shed is open to everyone and no artistic experience is required with adult, kids, family and date sessions available! Incorporating her photography, Vanessa also captures the colour and joy on camera. For more information, visit: splattershed.nz

Georgia

e minimum rate for self-employed parents is equivalent to 10 hours worked per week at the adult minimum wage, which is now $22.70 per hour.

Funding applications open for rugby clubrooms

Community rugby clubs across Aotearoa once again have the chance to apply for Bunnings Rugby Assist, with applications now open.

Bunnings Rugby Assist is an annual programme designed to help community rugby clubs build and maintain facilities that are vital to their operation.

Ten clubs will be selected to receive $30,000 worth of Bunnings products and materials to improve their clubrooms.

Nearly one-third of rugby clubs have expressed a desire to make their club even more welcoming to all members of their community. Needs range from upgrading clubroom conditions and ensuring changing rooms are suitable for all players, to increasing clubs’ use and functionality by developing all weather training facilities.

Grassroots clubs from across the country are eligible to apply for the chance to receive a share of $300,000 worth of Bunnings products and materials.

Applications close August 6. For more information, visit: www.provincial.rugby/bunningsrugby-assist