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SuperGold Card

Introduction

New Zealand First introduced the SuperGold Card to improve the quality of life of New Zealand’s senior citizens and acknowledge their contribution to society. As a condition of the 2005 confidence and supply agreement between the New Zealand First Party and the Labour Government, Rt Hon Winston Peters launched the SuperGold Card in August 2007. The well-being of seniors has always been a primary concern for New Zealand First, and the party has taken many initiatives to improve the life of seniors.

New Zealand First established a research team to design the SuperGold Card, which included public transport benefits like free off-peak travel (funded by the Government) and discounts from businesses and companies across thousands of outlets. Rt Hon Winston Peters negotiated with then Prime Minister Helen Clark despite widespread opposition to the card on the grounds of high cost. However, it was argued much of the extra costs were ‘book entries’, for example; the Government subsidises much of public transport anyway, where buses and trains travel with empty seats during off-peak hours. SuperGold Card commuters are simply using buses and trains during off-peak times (Auckland SuperGold cardholders also enjoy the benefit during peak times). The real costs are relatively low compared to the benefits enjoyed.

Performance

The SuperGold Card has been one of Winston Peters’ flagship initiatives. It is available to all eligible New Zealanders over the age of 65. The card provides nearly 600,000 (citation needed) New Zealanders with access to a wide range of government and local authority services, business discounts, entitlements and concessions. Notable, are the hearing aid subsidies. Special mention has to be given to the Veterans’ SuperGold Card, a specially branded version of the SuperGold Card. It is for those who have served in the New Zealand Armed Forces in a recognised war or emergency. The SuperGold Card can be combined with the Community Services Card . This is renewed for reassessment every three years. Seniors can go to the AA and upload their Photo IDonto their SuperGold Card for free if they choose. The major benefit of the SuperGold Card is improved mobility through use of public transport in off-peak hours- this is reflected both in policy documents from current and past Governments and in surveys which reveal exactly how New Zealand senior citizens have been using the card. There is a robust emerging body of academic research that makes a convincing case for the social and psychological benefits of free public transport to seniors extend far beyond the financial cost to the Government (citations needed). This includes encouraging seniors who would normally stay at home to make outings to see friends and family. Staying involved in the community is good for a senior’s mental and physical health. Businesses appreciate Super-Gold card holders who frequently go out of their way to support and show loyalty to businesses offering a SuperGold discount. SuperGold Card came under threat in 2010 when Minister Steven Joyce tried to terminate the Waiheke Island ferry trip for SuperGold cardholders. The Minister retreated when he came under fire from senior citizens.

Members’ Bills

During the 2011-2014 Parliament, New Zealand First MPs submitted two Members’ Bills in the ballot which would directly benefit SuperGold cardholders. New Zealand First MP Barbara Stewart’s SuperGold Health Check Bill will give all SuperGold Card Holders three free doctors’ visits every year. For pensioners living on fixed incomes, the extra cost of a doctor’s visit can be prohibitive to some people. But often, if their ailments deteriorate they end up needing hospital care, which is a far more expensive cost to the taxpayer. The basic premise of this strategy is the age-old concept that ‘prevention is better than a cure’. Preventing hospitalisation is not only a huge financial cost saving to our health service, but has far-reaching benefits in terms of social, emotional, physical and mental well-being, especially for the elderly. It has been calculated that three free health checks only needs to prevent one per cent of those elderly from hospitalisation, and it will save, not cost, the Government money. New Zealand First MP Andrew Williams’ Affordable Healthcare Bill proposes a 25 per cent SuperGold discount off health insurance up to a maximum of $500. There is a dramatic fall in the number of people who retain their health insurance after they turn 65 . Just when seniors need health insurance most, the premiums escalate. A 25 per cent rebate would encourage many pensioners to keep their health cover. No government can realistically fund all healthcare from tax revenue when public demand and medical costs are increasing. If the government does not stimulate higher voluntary levels of private health cover, the consequence will be greater rationing of and/or service cuts to public healthcare as we deal with an ageing population.

New Zealand First’s SuperGold Electricity Discount Bill giving pensioners 10% off electricity in the winter months from State Owned Enterprises was shelved because of the National Government’s sale of SOEs from 2013. This initiative will be reinstated pending the new definition of the Mixed Ownership Model. New Zealand First’s initiative in introducing the SuperGold Card has been an outstanding success.