‘Don’t leave elderly behind’, council told Sevens main focus as Robertson takes game to next level

Waimate District councillor and former Grey Power national president Tom O’Connor has warned ‘‘not to leave the elderly behind’’ in the age of electronic transactions.

O’Connor made the call during debate on a report about how people paid their rates at the council’s environmental services and finance committee meeting.

The council’s corporate service group manager Tina Stevenson said in her report that four councils provided their percentages of ratepayers who receive their rate invoices by email and who pay by direct debit.

Figures from late 2019, through the Canterbury Rating Forum, showed the range receiving email rates invoices was between 1.2 and 18 per cent, with Waimate sitting at a ‘‘pleasing’’ 16.5 per cent, the report stated.

‘‘Additionally, the same four councils identified the percentage of ratepayers who pay by direct debit, the range for the other three councils was from 34 to 43 per cent, with Waimate sitting at 32 per cent.

‘‘In addition to direct debits, we have a number of ratepayers who pay by automatic payment and internet banking and we are considering how best to report on the volume of all electronic payments in the future,’’ Stevenson said.

O’Connor, however, responded: ‘‘As we move forward into a cashless society, we have to be careful we don’t leave our elderly behind.

‘‘There are a number of agencies now that have no cash or cheques.’’

Waimate deputy mayor Sharyn Cain said there was no move at the moment to make the council ‘‘cashless’’.

‘‘It’s pleasing to see our numbers are increasing as our people become educated,’’ Cain said of the figures. ‘‘From my perspective we work on behalf of our entire community.’’

Speaking after the meeting, O’Connor said his statement was ‘‘just a caution that they shouldn’t overlook the fact that some elderly people don’t use electronic banking and probably never will’’.

‘‘When I was Grey Power national president, some of our people were quite stressed when their banks moved away from cheques.

‘‘A lot of agencies are moving away from cheques and some are moving away from cash.

‘‘Waimate District Council is not doing that and I don’t want that to even be considered.’’

Timaru Senior Citizens Association community support coordinator Robyn Baldwin agreed with O’Connor.

"We have all the notifications regarding the banks stopping cheques and it is a concern for elderly folk, it is a worry.

‘‘I can understand where Tom is coming from because there are changes coming. This has been going on since 2019.

‘‘I’m sure seniors will get round it [electronic transactions] once they get into the habit of it.’’

‘‘. . . just a caution that they shouldn’t overlook the fact that some elderly people don’t use electronic banking and probably never will’’. Tom O’Connor

Timaru’s James Robertson is chasing the dream of representing New Zealand in sevens rugby.

The 18-year-old has just finished year 13 at Timaru Boys’ High School and is preparing to play under 21 rugby for Marist Albion in Christchurch.

As a rising star, the halfback had a stellar 2019, culminating in selection for the New Zealand Maori Sevens side which finished third at the World Schools Sevens in Auckland in December.

He was also selected for the Crusaders Junior Knights development camp wider training group, South Canterbury under 18, Mackenzie senior sevens and South Canterbury sevens while playing for TBHS in the first XV and sevens.

Robertson has had a holiday job as he prepares to study for a sport coaching degree at Canterbury University this year.

‘‘I quite enjoy the space of sevens as I’m not the biggest guy. I’m going to plays sevens and 15 this year, and I will try hard in both, but sevens will be my main focus.’’

The speed of sevens was appealing, he said.

‘‘For the 15 I will try and make the Canterbury under 19 team, that’s my main goal this year.

‘‘My ultimate goal will be the All Blacks Sevens. I have a lot of work to do before I get to that.’’

Robertson said he plans to complete the degree in the next three years and spend a fourth year at university to qualify as a physical education teacher.

‘‘I will definitely aim high . . . and if I work hard, anything is possible.’’