WELFARE NEWS from the NZR Staff Welfare Trust
September 2009
Annual Report and Financial Statements for YE 30 June 2009
The Board of Trustees at a meeting on 26 August 2009 adopted the Annual Report and Financial Statements.Items of interest were -
Membership
Membership numbers at 30 June 2009 were -
| Group A | 4407 | an increase of 170 over the previous year |
| Group B | 2692 | a decrease of 151 over the previous year |
| Group C | 220 | a decrease of 12 over the previous year |
| Group E | 117 | a decrease of 5 over the previous year |
Financial Result
An operating profit of $252,774 was shown on general operations for the year. The result was an increase of $96,602 on the result recorded in the previous year. The main influencing factors are: increased revenue from rentals of holiday accommodation; greater amounts of member contributions; offset by an increase in the operating costs for the holiday accommodation.
The result achieved in the past year indicates that the Trust has a strong and increasingly more active member base, which is making more use of the trusts facilities and services. The Board of Trustees considers that the coming year will be a challenging one for the Trust and our focus will continue to be providing members with value for money and improving the overall financial position of the Trust.
Subscription fees
Subscription fees were again held at levels that were applicable in the previous three years.
Benefits
The total amount paid under the Benefit Schedule during the year was $813,000. The average amount paid to members under the Schedule was $188.21. The number of members that made claims during the year increased over the number for last year. Cost of doctors’ visits has decreased slightly.
Extended Health Plan
The Trust offers members a choice of two extended health plans – one underwritten by Southern Cross the other by Consignia. A total of 722 Group A members have policies offered under the Extended Health Plan (Southern Cross 319 and Cosignia 403) together with a number of Group B members.
Group Life Plan
At 30 June 2009 there were 357 members or former members with active policies. In the same period a total of 6 grants were paid following the death of persons covered under the plan.
Retirement Investment Plan
As at 30 June 2009 there were 37 Group A members investing in the plan. The scheme providers are winding up the Plan with effect from 31 August 2009.
Holiday Housing
The total number of units available for use by the membership during the past year was 67. Additional units at Paihia (four units), Queenstown (two units), Auckland, Orewa and Westport (one at each locality) were rented under tenancy agreements.
Occupancies
The overall level of occupancies was 70% of the availability – this was an excellent increase on the 68% recorded in the previous year. Again some localities showed good levels for the year while others were down on expectations.
Operating Costs
Operating costs increased by 6.73% compared with those incurred in the previous year. This was a good increase as the Trust used some of the funds it had built up to complete some much needed maintenance.
Capital Expenditure
Capital expenditure for the year was $847,000. $360,000 was spent on the purchase of a property in Whitianga and $448,000 to purchase another in Wellington. $39,000 was spent on furnishings and equipment within the holiday accommodation.
Administration and General
General costs increased by 6.95% compared to the previous year. This was a moderate increase on the previous year, and in line with expectations.
General
Some details of the Financial Statements are included within this newsletter. Any member wishing to have further information on the Annual Report and Financial Statements should contact the Trust’s office in Wellington. A copy of the full report is available in Wellington for members to read.
Website
The site continues to be popular with members seeking details of the services provided by the Trust. The site address is www.nzrwelfare.co.nz. Why not log on and check accommodation availability?
Holiday Accommodation
Vacancies currently exist in most locations in the October/November period (although limited in the school holidays). Why not give us a call and organise a Spring break.
Remember vacancy information changes from day to day as bookings are accepted. Thus any vacancies shown in this newsletter may no longer exist when you make your call to our office.
The following vacancies are available between 5 December and 27 February -
| Auckland | 5 December to 26 December, and from 23 January |
| Paraparaumu | 5 December to 19 December, and from 23 January |
| Gisborne | 5 December to 19 December, and from 20 February |
| Mt Maunganui | 5 December to 26 December, and from 13 February |
| Napier | 5 December to 26 December, 23January to 13 February |
| New Plymouth | 5 December to 19 December, and from 23 January |
| Ohope | 5 December to 19 December, and from 30 January to 6 February |
| Orewa | 5 December to 26 December, and from 16 January |
| Whitianga | 19 December to 26 December |
| Paihia | 5 December to 26 December, and from 30 January |
| Rotorua | 5 December to 26 December, and from 9 January |
| Taupo | 5 December to 26 December, and from 23 January |
| Wellington | 5 December to 19 December, and from 6 February |
| Christchurch | 5 December to 19 December, and from 23 January |
| Dunedin | 5 December to 19 December, and from 9 January |
| Queenstown | 5 December to 26 December, and from 23 January |
| Hanmer | 5 December to 26 December, and from 30 January |
| Kaikoura | 5 December to 26 December, and from 30 January |
| Nelson | 5 December to 26 December, and from 30 January |
| Picton | 5 December to 26 December, and from 23 January |
| Timaru | 5 December to 26 December, and from 9 January |
| Westport | 5 December to 26 December, and from 23 January |
If you are interested in making a booking please contact our office - extension 43043, 43073 or FREEPHONE 0800 806 444
Access to Units
A reminder that members must vacate accommodation before 10 am on the day of departure and that access to accommodation is not available until after 2pm on the day of arrival. Please also remember that keys to the units are only available during certain times of the day. It is a member’s responsibility to arrange collection of the keys during this time or make special arrangements with the keyholder.
Cleaning Units before departure
Another reminder to make it clear that cleaning accommodation before departure is YOUR responsibility. The rates that the Trust charge to use the accommodation are very reasonable and do not include cleaning. A cleaning service is available at some locations and it is the member’s responsibility to ensure that the caretaker is available to clean the unit. Caretakers do have the right to decline the request. A charge of $45.00 is payable by you to the caretaker for the service..
Christmas Closedown
The Trust’s Wellington office will close for business on Thursday, 24 December 2009 and will not reopen until Tuesday, 5 January 2009. Please ensure you conduct your business with the Trust before we go on holiday. The telephone message service and email message service will remain available and will be cleared on the 5th or as soon as possible thereafter. Please do not ring other numbers in the KiwiRail network, as they will be unable to help you. Caretakers will of course be available at the various sites during this period and their contact details are on you booking documents
Financial Statement
Please click here to access the finacial statement (.pdf format)
Contact Details
Telephone - | KiwiRail NZ telephone network 43043 or 43073 |
Fax - | KiwiRail NZ telephone network 43158 |
Address - | KiwiRail Internal Mail |
or | NZ Post mail |
Email - | |
Website - |
Chris Ball,
Manager, NZRSWT