Pensioners are warned they will have to fight if they want to fend off the latest government attack on the Supergold Card, a popular pensioners' concession card.
NZ First leader Winston Peters says more than 640,000 New Zealanders now have the SuperGold Card and enjoy superannuation at levels his party secured.
NZ First leader Winston Peters believes the SuperGold card is under attack by the Government. Photo: File
'You have to defend what you have got and you need to send Mr Key and Mr Joyce one clear message, which is, touch our SuperGold Card and our benefits at your peril,” he told an audience at a Grey Power meeting in Whanganui on Thursday.
Winston warns the latest attack on the SuperGold Card is undermining the card's value and using it to cut government costs.
From July 1 cardholders who want to have free off-peak travel wherever smartcards are used, will have to buy the smartcard and pay $10. These include Auckland's HOP card and Wellington's Snapper card.
'Just as the population of seniors rises, as the general population rises, National has put a lid on funding and pushed responsibility on to regional councils,” says Winston. 'That means ratepayers could have to pay for any shortfall.
'This latest attack on the SuperGold Card is the action of a mean-spirited, penny pinching government that has little respect for its older citizens.”
Paying for a card goes against the logic and rationale of the SuperGold Card, he says. The card is free and is to allow seniors to occupy empty seats in off-peak hours.
'National is deceitfully undermining the card's value and using it to cut government costs. First it froze the travel costs for six years and now it is allowing local councils to artificially impose their costs. If seniors travel to another region they will be forced to buy a new card.”
It is a renewed government attack on a card that has added to the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of senior citizens, helping them remain active and engaged in their communities, says Winston.
Councils around the country are also not happy about it. Environment Canterbury will release a report this month showing how much ratepayers will have to pay to top up the fund to keep the scheme operating.
It's time for seniors to speak out again –as they did in 2010 when Steven Joyce's covert cost cutting plans were made public.
'Steven Joyce decided secretly that he wanted to stop free SuperGold transport on off-peak public transport services,” says Winston.
'When his plans became known the cry of outrage was loud, and prolonged. And it had the desired effect.
'Mr Joyce backed down. He thought better of it and beat a retreat.
'The SuperGold Card is yours, you have earned it, but please in your own interests fight to keep it.”
The only way to make the government change its mind and turn the policy around is to speak up and apply pressure, says Winston.
'Governments react to pressure.”
9 comments
Woe betide !
Posted on 18-03-2016 16:44 | By Mackka
Woe betide any government move to tamper with the senior citizens Gold Card! They form a huge portion of the voting public and won't go down without a fight for what has been given as rightfully theirs - no strings attached. DON'T DO IT JOHN KEY IF YOU WANT TO STAY AT THE TOP FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS!
Slash the costs but
Posted on 18-03-2016 19:28 | By Merlin
slash the costs by the Government does that mean they can spend more on other things Flags,sheep deals Etc Etc The least affluent always seem to get hit by this government.
Hmmmm
Posted on 18-03-2016 21:35 | By How about this view!
I am now strongly against the Goldcard. No doubt I will be a lone voice on this and will upset people to the point that they will respond without thinking. The card is now corrupt! There are now cards being passed on to other family members to gain discounts or free goods, there are cards being made at home on printers, there are cards being split in half (The front half to one family member and the back to another). There is starting to be a sense of "RIGHTS" when presenting a card and an expectation that the privileges attached to the card are un-ending and set in stone. Free bus fares??? I don't think so, because I am paying and so are you and the true cost is not just the bus fare but all of the administration costs involved. Increase the pension, scrap the card!!!
Unfair practice Winston
Posted on 19-03-2016 11:17 | By Towball
This legal discrimination upon you so strongly support is unfair. Example being I occupy the same space as my Mother for example and yet she travels at same fare as my school children who don't have a new car freehold home savings extensive travel etc.. Then there is my wife myself supporting this lady and 639000 others a big portion of whom are same or better off than mentioned. Asset test them to see who are double dipping and those that would obviously benefit from a little extra rather than planning next new investment or holiday or how to dupe the up and coming out of a dollar. Retire Winston enjoy your three provided meals and a clean bum. Let the next productive generation have a swipe also before you exhaust this option also you greedy needy dependants.
Fools
Posted on 19-03-2016 13:46 | By Kaimai
There's no such thing as a free lunch - someone pays, always!
to hear about this view and towball
Posted on 19-03-2016 15:28 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
donot know your age, but to work 7 days a week for almost 60 years,look forward to getting something back from GOV,T,i probably paid your yearly wages of 6-7years or more in TAXES,what next productive generation of young people who by then get to our age will all be on ACC, WITH SORE WRISTS AND NECKS FROM LOOKING AT PHONES ALL DAY,Get up ya sook and keep working when and if you get to late 60s you will have a different view, GOV,T do not want you to have any savings while all GOV,T MP,Sget big fat salaries,they will get old one day as you,SO DO NOT THROW STONES AT GLASS HOUSES,Thankyou Sun Live NO1 in the Bay
Answer
Posted on 19-03-2016 19:57 | By Old
Hmmmm. You are so right.The answer Is to be set up for life and retirement. Don't rely on government . OLD TRUCKER seems to want any one that has worked hard , saved there money. Pay for him. nothing is life is free. Maybe a biggggggg chip on shoulder.
Within Reason !!
Posted on 19-03-2016 21:13 | By The Caveman
I am fully in support of the Gold Card for "local" transport, for our SENIOR citizens. HOWEVER, there are areas in which it is being TOTALY ABUSED. i.e. One of, but not the only one, is travel to / from Waiheke Island. While I FULLY agree that the 65+'s that OWN property/house and LIVE on Waiheke Island should get the Gold Card benefit to allow travel to Auckland, the 100's of daily 65+ travellers on a "day out" to Waiheke Island, should NOT get the FREE travel. Remember the original intention was for free travel in your
old trucker
Posted on 19-03-2016 23:33 | By How about this view!
As I said "respond without thinking". I'm sure you will hear the whole nation applauding your efforts for 60 years, However, another thing to consider is that to qualify for a Goldcard, there is NO NEED to have worked at all and you only need to have been in THIS country for a few years. The card is corrupt and should be scrapped!!!
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