The cost of insurance

Reporter Simon Wong asked people in Blenheim yesterday what a rise in insurance premiums would mean for them.

Government-backed AMI Insurance has warned its premiums are likely to increase by more than 20 per cent for South Island policyholders from July 1.

AMI chief executive John Balmforth said the rise followed natural disasters around the world, including the two major earthquakes in Christchurch.

Marianna Daly, of Grovetown, with AMI Insurance:

The increase is a bit rough if you've paid insurance for X amount of years and they turn around and sting you. I probably wouldn't switch – aren't all insurance companies in the same boat at the end of the day? You don't really have a choice about how much you pay for your premiums when you've got a home and a family.

Sheelagh Smith, of Blenheim, with State Insurance:

I can understand why AMI might be increasing their premiums, but when you're on a tight budget, it just makes it tighter. Insurance is essential, so if premiums are going to increase, then you're going to have to give something up. If they go up, then I'll have to take it and pay it.

Gerald Wilkes, of Blenheim, with AMI Insurance:

You just have to go with any increases. It doesn't matter if the price of premiums is too high, you've just got to go with it, but you'll still probably find yourself under-insured anyway. You never really know with other companies when you shop around. Some companies would say you've got this and this type of insurance, but then you have to work hard to get it from them.

Anne Brown, of Christchurch, with AMI Insurance:

Everyone has the choice to shop around if they don't like the increase. It's important for people to ensure they have adequate insurance and ultimately it's your responsibility to pay for what you expect to be covered for.

- The Marlborough Express

Last updated 14:05 10/06/2011

Tolley opens Renwick classrooms

Four bright, environmentally friendly and technologically advanced junior classrooms were officially opened at Renwick School by Education Minister Anne Tolley yesterday.

Mrs Tolley said the rooms set a standard for schools around the country to aspire to when thinking about redesigning and building new or existing classrooms.

In a speech to pupils, parents and staff, Mrs Tolley said the rooms were a fantastic example of modern classrooms which allowed teachers to make sure children enjoyed their learning.

The rooms include underfloor heating, interactive whiteboards, projectors, computers, heatpumps and also collect rainwater from the roof for use in school toilets.

Mrs Tolley said it was important to modernise the country's 40 to 50-year-old building stock to keep up with changing technology.

"We're trying to make schools think about how their new classes are designed and make good use of natural resources because I'd much rather the money go into teaching and learning," she said.

Renwick School principal Simon Heath said the ministry-funded build took about five months and caused little disruption to school life except when pupils peered through the safety fence while diggers were working.

The school was funded for three rooms, but the board of trustees pitched in $45,000 for an extra class.

Mr Heath said the school would be reimbursed by the ministry because of its continually growing roll.

"It's a small price for long-term gain," he said of the board's contribution.

The classes have been in use since the start of this year.

The next stage would be to develop the area outside the classroom block to include an amphitheatre, playground and court area for junior students, he said.

Pupil Frank Hartland, 6, enjoyed the bright colours of the classroom because they suited the rest of the school.

The ceremony was a special occasion and they were lucky the "boss of all schools in New Zealand" was at the school to open the classes, he said.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 17:00 10/06/2011

Minister of Education Anne Tolley visits Renwick School to open their new block. Ben Rogers, 5, and Maia Watene, 5.

Maia Watene, 5, Kaden Bassett, 7 and Frank Hartland, 6, read stories about their new class

Maia Watene, 5, reads a story about her new class.

Last updated 17:00 10/06/2011

Colin King (second from left) Anne Tolley and school principal Simon Heath

Last updated 17:00 10/06/2011

Kaden Bassett, 7 and Frank Hartland, 6, Ben Rogers, 5, Anne Tolley and Maia Watene, 5

QSM reward for `miracle' worker

Yvonne Dasler was at the Gurajat home of Mahatma Gandhi in India when the Queen's Birthday honours call came.

"How amazing is that," says the Blenheim woman, who has also been a long-term advocate for the poor, on being awarded a Queen's Service Medal.

"I was surprised, humbled, excited, and most of all – because I have always been a patriot – deeply moved."

The citation for services to the community noted Mrs Dasler had been the convener and driving force behind John's Kitchen, which runs a koha cafe at lunchtime and a free evening meal every Wednesday, and distributes bread in Blenheim.

Last year, when John's Kitchen put its 50,000th meal on a plate, Mrs Dasler called the milestone "phenomenal".

The kitchen run by the Crossroads Trust in Redwood St has no direct funding and relies completely on donations and volunteers.

"We perform the miracle of the loaves and fishes every day here. We always have enough and we've never turned anyone away," she said.

As well as being chairwoman of the Crossroads Charitable Trust, Mrs Dasler has also been a trustee of the Marlborough Migrant Centre, a trustee of the Marlborough Volunteer Centre, secretary of the Maori Women's Welfare League and a member of the ethics committee of the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board, and still serves as a parish councillor for the Blenheim Methodist Church.

She is modest about her achievements, which is not unexpected.

"I'm quite unworthy of this. I'm just doing the sort of work other Methodists have been doing for 300 years in the fight for social justice.

"Now it's working for the many people who are alienated and impoverished in Marlborough at present to make it a better place."

She had "absolutely no idea" of the recognition coming her way.

"I'm completely overwhelmed. I don't see it as my award, but for everyone working voluntarily in Marlborough."

Marlborough Mayor Alistair Sowman was pleased Mrs Dasler had been nationally recognised for her efforts in Marlborough.

She was "extremely community minded" and was the driving force behind the establishment of John's Kitchen a decade ago, he said.

"John's Kitchen has grown in importance and has been recognised by the TrustPower National Community Awards this year, but it's her dedication to reach out to people in need that has made this organisation the success it is."

- The Marlborough Express

ANNA WALLIS AND SIMON WONG

Last updated 09:35 07/06/2011

Deeply moved patriot: John's Kitchen convener Yvonne Dasler is deeply moved by her Queen's Birthday honour

MGC student picked for UN conference

Year 13 Marlborough Girls' College student Alyssa Ryan ranked herself an outside chance to attend an international climate change conference in South Africa so when she was picked, she began shaking with excitement.

Alyssa, 18, is the youngest of 12 people from the United Nations New Zealand Youth Delegation chosen to attend the UN Earth Summit conference in Durban, South Africa, in November.

She applied to attend the conference on a whim just to see whether she would be picked and two weeks after getting the call is still buzzing from the news.

The conference brought together two of her interests, the environment and international policy, she said.

Her involvement in environmental issues began in year 10 at Marlborough Girls' College where she attended several environment conferences and learnt about the effects of climate change.

From there she said her career path was set with plans to pursue environment and development studies at university.

During the conference the group will work with non-government organisations and will report back to the rest of the New Zealand delegation through their website.

It would also be a chance to network with other young people from around the world, she said.

Aside from the conference, the trip to South Africa would be a highlight for the novice traveller.

"I've never been to Africa before, I've just started travelling this year and can see how it becomes addictive," she said.

Earlier this year Alyssa returned from the Girls' College Classical Studies trip to Italy and Greece and spent two weeks in Germany visiting a friend.

The conference falls right in the high school end-of-year exam season, but Alyssa hopes to have all her internal exams done before leaving.

The group need to raise about $6000 each for the three-and-a-half week trip, but are looking for sponsorship.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 17:00 03/06/2011

BEN CURRAN/The Marlborough Express

Green awareness: Marlborough Girls' College student Alyssa Ryan is thrilled she is on her way to a United Nations environment conference in South Africa this year.

MGC student picked for UN conference

Year 13 Marlborough Girls' College student Alyssa Ryan ranked herself an outside chance to attend an international climate change conference in South Africa so when she was picked, she began shaking with excitement.

Alyssa, 18, is the youngest of 12 people from the United Nations New Zealand Youth Delegation chosen to attend the UN Earth Summit conference in Durban, South Africa, in November.

She applied to attend the conference on a whim just to see whether she would be picked and two weeks after getting the call is still buzzing from the news.

The conference brought together two of her interests, the environment and international policy, she said.

Her involvement in environmental issues began in year 10 at Marlborough Girls' College where she attended several environment conferences and learnt about the effects of climate change.

From there she said her career path was set with plans to pursue environment and development studies at university.

During the conference the group will work with non-government organisations and will report back to the rest of the New Zealand delegation through their website.

It would also be a chance to network with other young people from around the world, she said.

Aside from the conference, the trip to South Africa would be a highlight for the novice traveller.

"I've never been to Africa before, I've just started travelling this year and can see how it becomes addictive," she said.

Earlier this year Alyssa returned from the Girls' College Classical Studies trip to Italy and Greece and spent two weeks in Germany visiting a friend.

The conference falls right in the high school end-of-year exam season, but Alyssa hopes to have all her internal exams done before leaving.

The group need to raise about $6000 each for the three-and-a-half week trip, but are looking for sponsorship.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 17:00 03/06/2011

BEN CURRAN/The Marlborough Express

Green awareness: Marlborough Girls' College student Alyssa Ryan is thrilled she is on her way to a United Nations environment conference in South Africa this year.

Bolt punctures tractor driver's leg

A bolt in a tractor driver's pocket went into his leg and caused serious bleeding when he slipped and fell off the tractor near Blenheim yesterday afternoon.

His boss used his belt to make a tourniquet to stop the bleeding until emergency services arrived.

Piquant Garlic co-owner Alan Jones and his brother were planting onions with driver James Cresswell, 67, in a paddock alongside Boyces Rd in Rapaura about 1.30pm when Mr Cresswell lost his footing getting out of the tractor.

Mr Cresswell had a 10-millimetre bolt in his pocket which went into his leg as he landed, Mr Jones said.

He remembered his first aid training and wrapped his belt around Mr Cresswell's leg to stop the bleeding.

Mr Jones did not know how bad the injury was, but treated it as life-threatening.

"When there's someone in need you can't just stand around and look at them," he said.

St John Ambulance operations team manager Rebecca Lee said Mr Cresswell was taken to Wairau Hospital, in Blenheim, with a serious leg injury. A spokeswoman for Nelson Marlborough District Health Board, Brandon Kay, said Mr Cresswell was in a comfortable condition this morning.

A spokesman for the Department of Labour said they were investigating the accident, but he was not sure how long the process would take.

Police and the Renwick and Woodbourne volunteer fire brigades were also called to the accident.

Work death and injury rates too high, page 9

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 17:00 03/06/2011

SCOTT HAMMOND/The Marlborough Express

Workplace injury: Emergency services help a worker injured on a property at Rapaura yesterday after he lost his footing and fell from a tractor. His boss used his belt to stop the bleeding until emergency services arrived.

Council dog shelter overflowing

The Marlborough District Council's dog shelter has a furry problem.

It has more puppies than it can take care of and is looking for good owners to take them home.

Fourteen dogs, including seven puppies between three months and one year old, are residents at the pound, which has a capacity of 20. Marlborough District Council compliance manager Garth Congdon said the animals would usually be taken to the SPCA in Renwick, but the centre was also full.

Council animal control officer Jason McMillan said the dogs and pups were generally picked up roaming the streets of Marlborough around this time of year because June is the start of the dog registration period. Owners may believe it is too expensive to keep and register their dogs or decide to "boot them outside" and don't care about their dogs, Mr McMillan said.

Animal control officer Candice O'Brien said the puppies need constant care and attention which places a huge demand on staff.

Maataa Waka, which runs animal control for the council, is selling the pups for $130, which includes registration and micro-chipping. Prospective owners can also take the puppies for a week-long trial to see whether they make a good match.

If you want a new furry friend, call Maata Waka on 5209033.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 17:00 02/06/2011