Winter Energy Payment
The Winter Energy payment starts today. This is an extra payment to help with the cost of heating your home over winter.
If you're single or widowed, you'll get an extra $20.46 a week. Couples and people with dependent children will get an extra $31.82 a week. Couples are paid $63.64 a fortnight and the combined payment is made to one person in the couple – unfortunately we can’t split it, but we can switch it to the other person’s account. Payments will start from 1 May and continue until 1 October 2023.
If you're getting Foster Care Allowance, please get in touch. We may be able to pay you at a higher rate.
When the Winter Energy Payment starts part way through the pay period, your first payment due on the 9 May will be less than the full amount (this includes 9 days of Winter Energy Payment). You’ll be paid the full amount in the following payment due on the 23 May.
The Winter Energy Payment won’t affect other payments you get from us and isn’t considered income (for tax purposes).
If you'd prefer not to get this payment, just let us know and we'll stop it for you.
Travelling overseas while getting the Winter Energy Payment
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If you're heading away from New Zealand over the winter months, we can keep paying your Winter Energy Payment for up to 28 days. Tell us if you plan to leave New Zealand for more than 28 days, otherwise we might pay you too much and have to ask for some money back. The easiest way to let us know is to either:
• fill out and submit the overseas travel dates online form
• call us on our Seniors line, 0800 552 002
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Ministry Of Social Development------NZ Government
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Live Q&A: Garden maintenance with Crewcut
This Wednesday, we are having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with John Bracewell from Crewcut.
John Bracewell, former Black Caps coach turned Franchisee Development Manager and currently the face of Crewcut’s #Movember campaign, knows a thing or two about keeping the grass looking sharp—whether it’s on a cricket pitch or in your backyard!
As a seasoned Crewcut franchisee, John is excited to answer your lawn and gardening questions. After years of perfecting the greens on the field, he's ready to share tips on how to knock your garden out of the park. Let's just say he’s as passionate about lush lawns as he is about a good game of cricket!
John is happy to answer questions about lawn mowing, tree/hedge trimming, tidying your garden, ride on mowing, you name it! He'll be online on Wednesday, 27th of November to answer them all.
Share your question below now ⬇️
Calling All Puzzle Masters! Can You Solve This?
When John was six years old he hammered a nail into his favorite tree to mark his height.
Ten years later at age sixteen, John returned to see how much higher the nail was.
If the tree grew by five centimetres each year, how much higher would the nail be?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.