The National Party should be commended for standing fast on calls from opposition parties and others to raise the New Zealand Superannuation Fund eligibility age from 65 to maybe 70.

While the reasons of growing cost, people living and working longer etc are true, there are better ways of handling the challenge.

There are many people in their 60s who, for all sorts of reasons, need the safety net of NZ Super. Manual workers in particular, others who become ill or fall on hard times such as losing money in finance companies, to name a few.

To young people I say you will all hopefully become old and receive NZ Super, maybe for 20-plus years. Don't rely on KiwiSaver. That is likely to be decimated by an irresponsible Government during your lifetime and/or by world conflicts.

Most of you haven't been through a period of rapid inflation. It's dreadful.

The Government should restore contributions to the Cullen Fund, which was a savings scheme by Government itself - set up some years ago to provide a 'compulsory” saving scheme so NZ Superannuation can be afforded. Make the politicians do the saving and thus provide ongoing affordability.

My comments come from life's experience, resulting in being a recipient of NZ Superannuation.

Bill Capamagian, Tauranga.