This is in response to a growing number of members who struggle to afford the ongoing costs of health insurance, but are frustrated that they have to retain health insurances if they are to continue with fire and general insurances, and have unrestricted access to the Holiday Homes.

Association president Chris Cahill says while the optimum model for most is membership of the three key parts of the organisation – the Police Association, Police Welfare Fund (PWF) and Police Health Plan (PHP), the association recognises the need for a more flexible approach for those on restricted incomes.

“This change will mean a member can become a retired member of the PWF and that will allow them to retain access to the Holiday Homes which they can book six months in advance, rather than the limited three-month option available to associate members. Retired members will also remain eligible for fire and general insurances,” he says.

“We hope this new option will demonstrate to our older members that they are an integral part of the PWF. We certainly want to retain them, and of course retired members are welcome to remain members of the PHP.”

One of the key stipulations for meeting the retired membership criteria is being able to show they were a member of the PWF for 14 years before retirement.

For Ross Pinkham, secretary of the Retired Hawke’s Bay Police Club, such acknowledgement of what members have built during their years in the PWF is very important.

“There are advantages and disadvantages in membership of any organisation or group, and it’s good for members who are about to retire, or have recently retired, to maintain access to some of the benefits of their years of PWF subscriptions,” he says.

“The flexibility of the new membership category will be welcomed by retired members, many of whom value the feeling of still being in the fold.”

The Hawke’s Bay club has 92 on its mailing list, and retired members in the five or six clubs throughout the country stay in touch, share emails and all sorts of relevant information.

In this regard, Ross says, the association’s initiative to have a dedicated retired members page on its website “hits the mark”.

Visit the Retired Members page at www.policeassn.org.nz/support/retired-members.