Opinion: The retirement village sector is commercial, and it must be
THE FACTS
Shane Te Pou's recent Herald on Sunday column raises issues many New Zealanders consider when planning for later life.
It's encouraging that he acknowledges the security, companionship and community that retirement villages provide, and the high satisfaction levels reported by residents.
However, some of his criticisms are based
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The Spinoff
12 hours ago
- The Spinoff
What Canterbury can teach the rest of the country about insurance stress
In Canterbury, some people are still dealing with insurance claims nearly 15 years after the earthquakes – and worsening climate change means more New Zealanders may have this emotional and financial toll ahead of them. Kate Dewes has a four-drawer filing cabinet in the garage of her house in Riccarton, Christchurch; it's filled with documents related to the series of insurance claims and disputed cases she went through to get her home repaired following the 2010 Christchurch earthquake. 'Our general experience was traumatic,' Dewes says. After filing a claim following the initial earthquake, the damage to Dewes' house wasn't completely repaired. She and her husband, Robert Green, asked for the repairs to be fully completed, which became an ordeal that sent them to the High Court, where they had to pay for their own lawyers and expert witnesses. Dewes' case was particularly high profile; it was used as a kind of test case for the Canterbury Earthquakes Insurance Tribunal and a short film was made about Dewes' experience. It is only recently, after nearly 15 years, that her family has been able to live in a fully repaired home, which doesn't leak or have falling chimneys. 'You saw how I looked in the film – I'm much calmer now. We've got our home back,' Dewes says, sitting in her restored study. Following the Christchurch earthquakes of 2011 and 2011, insurance claims were an ongoing reminder of the disaster. 'From research in Australia, and anecdotally here, we've heard that disputing an insurance claim can be more distressing than the experience of the disaster itself,' says Lauren Vinnell, a lecturer in psychology at Massey University who studies disasters. 'Insurance is a really important part of recovery; if claims are settled quickly, people are less likely to move, businesses are less likely to close.' The years following the Canterbury earthquakes showed this acutely. Ilan Noy, a professor of economics, specialises in the impacts of disaster and climate change at Victoria University of Wellington, and has pored through economic data showing how the quakes reshaped Christchurch. 'Data from eight years following the earthquakes show increased levels of anxiety and stress,' he says. He looked at insurance specifically, comparing people in the red zone who accepted a government buyout of their house at its capital value (CV) to those who made an insurance claim. On a financial level, many people made the wrong choice – they could have got more money from the government than via insurance, or vice versa, with the choice largely influenced by what their neighbours were doing. But people who went through the government buyout process tended to be happier, even if they hadn't got the best deal financially. 'It's a lot more straightforward to tick a box and get the money within weeks,' Noy says. Negotiating with private insurance meant both sides paying for experts, making arguments about what the damage was. 'It's not terribly surprising that that process is more cumbersome than just going with the CV,' Noy says. Cantabrians' experience with insurance disputes, on a financial and emotional level, has something to teach the rest of the country as disasters exacerbated by climate change continue. Natural hazards like flooding, landslides and wildfires are more intense and frequent in a hotter climate. This is already affecting insurance. Areas with recurrent flooding, for example, have had their premiums hiked; Nick Smith, Nelson mayor, has pointed out that the council's hazard map, identifying risky areas, affected insurance premiums and house sales. Hundreds of insurance claims have already been made following the recent Nelson-Tasman floods. An independent reference group led by the Ministry of the Environment recently examined the issue of how to pay for climate buyouts in a report on climate adaptation. 'In the past, local and central government have offered buyouts of up to the full value of properties affected by natural hazards. These decisions reduce incentives for people to understand and manage their own risk, can distort property prices, and have given rise to an expectation that buyouts will continue, creating a moral hazard,' the report said. It recommended slowly phasing out buyouts over 20 years, as well as changing land-use patterns to reduce future risks. It's not just people in earthquake-damaged Canterbury who will be negotiating with insurers and the government for the value of their primary asset, it will be people everywhere. Vinnell's research team, a collaboration between Massey's Centre for Disaster Research and the University of Canterbury, has just launched a survey, trying to get a better understanding of the experience of disputing insurance claims, beyond Canterbury. 'People in a disaster situation are often physically and psychologically traumatised,' she says. 'We're interested in how this interacts with dealing with an insurance dispute.' Vinnell and the other researchers will use the survey as a starting point, also interviewing people about their experiences. While she expects that most people will have had a negative experience, she's also interested in people who have had disputes resolved quickly, and how they feel about it as a result. The mundane details, of emails and photos, documentation and going through policies line by line, look like office work. But it implicates your home – a major financial asset – and where you can live. Dewes would sometimes stay up all night preparing documents for hearings in the morning. 'When I was up all night with the photocopier going, using my computer, something that kept me strong was knowing that it could help a whole lot of other people settle – but I got close to a breakdown.' Her hope is that her case will set a precedent for others. After featuring in the short film, she had people come to her house 'bawling their eyes out' over their experiences with insurance claims, and wanting to talk to someone about it. Dewes has worked as peace campaigner and researcher; she was able to pay for lawyers and experts and was confident dealing with documents, which isn't the case for everyone. Still, the experience of disputing the insurance claim felt harrowing. 'In the end, the earthquakes were an absolute doddle compared to the insurance company,' says Robert Green, Dewes' husband. Continuing to find the money for lawyers was stressful, as was the fact that Green was diagnosed with cancer in 2013. 'I don't allow myself to think about what I could have done with the last 15 years if we hadn't had to deal with this – you'd just become resentful,' says Green. Dewes imagines more time with her kids and grandkids; less time living in a cold, leaky house, waiting for repairs. Both have practical tips for people preparing to dispute insurance claims. 'Take notes, of everything,' Dewes says. When calling an insurance company, write down what you've discussed; take photos and keep evidence of work you've done on your home in case the cause of damage is debated afterwards. She's also heard of people whose computers and documents are destroyed in a disaster; she recommends digital and hard copies of documents, kept at a different location. Insurance makes calculations to insure homes based on risk and profit, Noy says. But having ultra-high premiums – like, say, $50,000 – isn't a good look as a business, so in areas exposed to severe natural hazards, insurers may simply refuse to insure houses. 'Insurance is always a one-year contract, so every year insurers can recalculate the risk,' Noy says. Events like Auckland's 2023 floods have caused insurers to advocate for greater flood protection in areas where inundation is likely. For politicians, choosing to pay for buyouts of houses after a disaster isn't a financial calculation, but a political one. 'It's more about electability than cost,' Noy says. Telling people that their home, and likely their greatest asset, is now impossible to sell because it can't be publicly bought out or privately insured following a disaster is always going to be unpopular. Noy has called the current system, where the government has no set position on buyouts, the 'worst' possible policy option – especially because money spent on buyouts is money not spent on planning and preparing for future disasters. Vinnell has talked to the Natural Hazards Commission and the Insurance Council, both of which are interested in the outcomes of her research into the emotional effect of insurance disputes. 'We're particularly interested in how one experience might shape decisions to dispute insurance in the future,' she says. Homes are linked to emotions as well as mortgages and bank accounts. 'How much do insurance claims take into account the value of staying in your neighbourhood, choosing to rebuild or repair?' The number of people dealing with insurance disputes is likely to keep rising as disasters continue. 'I can see that this problem is going to get worse because of climate change, let alone another major earthquake,' Green says. Both he and Dewes feel for the many people who share their experience of living in damaged houses, not knowing when they will get a resolution. 'My heart aches for anyone else who has to go through what we went through,' Dewes says.
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- NZ Herald
Fire crews responding to blaze at Mitre 10 MEGA in West Auckland
Seventeen fire trucks are responding to a blaze at Mitre 10 MEGA in Westgate, West Auckland tonight. Photo / Hayden Woodward Fire crews from all around Auckland are responding to a blaze in West Auckland tonight. Seventeen fire trucks and crews are responding to the incident at the Mitre 10 MEGA in the suburb of Westgate, near Massey. A photographer at the scene told the Herald fire crews wearing breathing apparatus
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- NZ Herald
How the humble air fryer took over Kiwi kitchens – and what we're cooking in it now
In 2022, demand surged in the lead-up to Christmas, and shops struggled to keep up with sales. A year later, Consumer NZ released a detailed buying guide to help shoppers compare the swelling number of models on the market, including larger, oven-style versions big enough to cook a roast chicken. Fast-forward to now, and the trend hasn't fizzled. If anything, it's evolved. What we're cooking now On TikTok, a search for 'air fryer baked oats' returns thousands of short videos featuring ramekins of mashed banana, oats, milk and baking powder, cooked at 180C until puffed and golden. The result is somewhere between a muffin and porridge – a warm breakfast for one with minimal mess. Chocolate chips, peanut butter and berries are popular additions. Other recipes trending this winter include molten chocolate cakes, croissant bakes, cheesy breakfast wraps and stuffed capsicums. On the savoury side, creators are showing off 15-minute pork roasts, skin-crackling chicken thighs, and air-fried gnocchi with crispy edges. Reddit threads and Facebook groups devoted to air fryer cooking are full of creative ideas, from drying orange slices to reviving day-old pizza and finishing off sourdough loaves. Whether it all tastes as good as it looks is another matter, but for many, the joy is in the trying. More than just convenience Part of the air fryer's success lies in how it aligns with how many people now cook: often solo or in small households, and without the time or inclination to use a full-sized oven. It heats quickly, cooks quickly and doesn't leave a sink full of dishes in its wake. Independent tests from UK-based consumer groups show that air fryers can use less than half the electricity of a conventional electric oven when preparing small to medium meals. As energy costs rise, that efficiency can make a noticeable difference to household bills. Air fryer ownership has risen sharply in Australia and New Zealand since 2020, driven by consumers prioritising speed, cost-effectiveness and healthier cooking methods. That shift is visible in local food media and retail recipe collections, where air fryer instructions now sit comfortably alongside oven and stovetop methods. From nuggets to lava cakes While early air fryer content focused on simple swaps – think nuggets, wedges and spring rolls – the new wave is more ambitious. Some creators are tackling pavlovas and bread puddings, while others use the appliance to streamline traditional favourites: shepherd's pie with a mashed kumara topping, or roast vegetables done in half the usual time. Of course, it has its limits. The air fryer isn't a magic wand. Large casseroles and liquid-based recipes are still better suited to a conventional oven or slow cooker. And some of the more elaborate desserts, such as lava cakes in silicone moulds, can be fiddly and prone to failure. 'Frying' without oil was the air fryer's biggest pull for those looking to limit fat in their diets. Photo / 123RF But for everyday use, especially in winter, the appliance has become an unlikely hero. It suits a generation of cooks who want fast results, low energy use and fewer dishes – and it taps into the quiet satisfaction of producing something hot and crispy with just the push of a button. An air fryer is no longer a novelty; it's shorthand for a practical, flexible, and modern approach to home cooking. As winter settles in, more New Zealanders are reaching for theirs not just for after-school snacks or reheating pizza, but for solo breakfasts, weeknight roasts, and the kind of crispy, warming dinners that keep power bills down and satisfaction levels up. And while the internet may still have a few unhinged hacks left to share (air-fried scrambled eggs, anyone?), most people are sticking to what the appliance does best: fast, hot food with minimal mess. Herald contributor Nikki Birrell has worked in food and travel publishing for nearly 20 years. From managing your kitchen to cutting costs, she's shared some helpful advice recently, including how to prep your barbecue for summer grilling, gourmet hacks for elevating budget ingredients and what toppings to choose for different crackers.
