Now back in Level 1, business as ‘normal’ as it can be, is beginning to return for members

Kia ora whānau o te Waitaha Justices of the Peace 

The past 4 months have provided some of the most disruptive influences in my lifetime, on lives in NZ, and around the world. My wife Diane and I were to be in Europe for 2 months returning to NZ today, our daughter and partner were house-sitting for us while attempting to enter the housing market and we expected to return to find them readying themselves to move into their first home. 

Instead, we stayed at home and enjoyed 'flatting' with our daughter and partner complete with every spare space storing their belongings and turned into 'working from home' offices. And, they are still looking to purchase a home.

COVID presented opportunities, for me, to stay connected with Justice and IO work, regularly meet with Council members by phone and VLE, compile updates to members, and answer many emails along with an increased walking/fitness regime to stay fit and combat the COVID home baking.

Council always strove to keep you safe and informed during and post COVID.

So, this report focuses on returning to business as normal as it can be. We also have an 'eye' on being prepared should community transmission reappear.

More and more members are providing service to clients from home, work and on library desks. If you haven't yet changed your availability on Find a JP' please do so ASAP so as to ensure clients have access to the full list of available CJPA Justices in our Association.

The following is repeated from the update emails on 9 June:

Any person now looking for a Justice will expect to contact anyone listed according to their message contained in the availability section.

Please manage your own change in availability by logging in to the Members Services section on the Federation's website and navigate through 'My Account' and 'Account Maintenance' to update your details and availability.

In line with our client-centric approach please return missed messages from persons looking for service and where possible give them another Justice's phone number or direct them to the 'Find a JP' site.

Best Practice - Keep a record of Client contact details, wash hands regularly and avoid accepting clients if unwell.

Throughout COVID I was advised that clients searching for a Justice have been finding names on sites other the Royal Federations 'Find a JP' and our own site via the link direct link to 'Find a JP'. This has caused distress where a Justice is deceased, and delays for clients. The order of sites on Google is directly correlated to the number of 'hits' a site gets. So that both the Federation and CJPA sites stay at the top of a Google search, in order to make visible the most current Justice information, we seek your help by clicking the CJPA website link as often as possible over the next few weeks.

Gwen, Neville and desk coordinators have done a sterling job reconnecting with library staff and justices who 'work' on desks. This preparatory work has further developed a constructive and mutually beneficial relationship with libraries and justices across our region. The full list of Library desks and opening dates is provided in a separate article.

With meetings now able to take place, without restriction, Rod and the education team have prepared a revised professional development programme that includes induction, accreditation and ongoing education. The full list is included in a separate article and also listed in the events calendar on the CJPA website.

Adrienne and her team continue to provide Judicial Justice support to the Bail Courts on Saturdays with a return to full service from 16 July.

Business as usual, continued before we returned to Level 1 including Ken actively administering CJPA affairs and providing pastoral care, and Garth ensuring our finances were well managed. The great news is that due to their efforts there are only 12 members who remain non-financial.

Regional Conferences have been cancelled this year due to the unpredictability of COVID so the planned Southern Regional Oamaru event in August has been removed from our Calendar.  

Certificate Presentation
During a recent bubble bursting break to Hanmer, I had the real privilege of presenting Peter Ensor (JP retired), with his RFNZJA Justice Retired badge and certificate. 

Connect with your Council

All Council members are ready and able to receive calls from you.  Their contact details are provided in a separate article in this newsletter.

Back to 'Normal'

We are all looking forward to catching up with you again at the next Education Session, July 4 from 9-11 am at the Chapel Street Methodist Church on Papanui Road.  Peter Fantham will speak on Affidavits, Declarations and Probates. This session will be repeated on 12 August from 7 – 9.00 pm and at the same venue. Confirmed agenda will be loaded on to each event entry on our website prior.

Stay warm, stay well and stay safe.

Ngā mihi nui, mā te wā
Thank you very much and until next time

Graeme Barber, JP
President
0274 351940
communications@jpcanterbury.org.nz