(BASED IN MASTERTON BUT SERVING THE WAIRARAPA)
The volunteers at Citizens Advice Bureau want to wish you all the very best for 2022, we hope you will have a happy, healthy, loving and worry-free year, perhaps never needing to use our services.
In 2021 our service of information, advice and support was delivered by our volunteers (approximately 30) who answered hundreds of queries from the public of the Wairarapa. We are the first to admit that we don’t know everything but we do have access to a great range of resources and, if we are not able to immediately solve a problem, we are often the beginning of the enquiry, leading folk to knowing what path to take next in order to sort out the issue that is worrying them. We also have years of life experiences ourselves and sometimes we are able to answer your query in a practical manner.
How many of you know that we have a remarkable website which you can access? Perhaps you would prefer to try to find an answer without having to talk to another person, for various reasons. Our website has 2,755 answers and is an easy site to navigate.
Our web address is https://www.cab.org.nz or just type in Citizens Advice Bureau, NZ
Answers are listed under various categories, as follows:
- Consumer
- Employment and Business
- Family and Personal
- Government & Law
- Health & Wellbeing
- Housing, Land & Environment
- Money
- Travel & Transport
Each category is then split into several topics, e.g., perhaps you have an enquiry about the Bond for the home you are renting. You would choose “Housing, Land & Environment” and the sub-title “Residential Tenancy” is listed under this category. There are many queries listed as a “questions and answers” format, making it very clear, as follows:
If my landlord increases my rent, can they also ask for extra bond money?
This is not something that landlords necessarily do, however as long as the rent increase was lawful your landlord can ask for a “top-up” of bond money up to the equivalent of four weeks’ rent.
Also under Housing, Land & Environment there is the sub-category “Neighbours” which answers many questions regarding your rights as far as neighbour are concerned.
Do I need a building consent for a fence?
In general, you do not need to apply for building consent for a fence that will be 2.5 metres or less in height.
The above answers may be all you need to know but some questions have much longer and more enhanced answers. There will be occasions when there doesn’t seem to be an answer to a specific question or a local question, so after making the CAB website your first line of enquiry you can ring us, we will do the research and hopefully be able to give you a satisfactory answer.
Please do not hesitate to use our free and confidential services – we are a nationwide, but locally based, community organisation. We help people to know and understand their rights and obligations, and how to use this information to get the best outcomes. We provide people with the confidence and support they need.
