Rt Hon Winston Peters
Associate Minister for Senior Citizens

10 May 2007

Seniors have nothing to fear over SuperGold Card

Seniors should ignore scaremongering over the future use of microchips in the SuperGold Card as it is based on misinformation and distortions, Associate Senior Citizens Minister Winston Peters said today.

"The facts are simple – the card will not be issued with a microchip when it is launched in August," Mr Peters said.

"Legislation currently before the House covers microchip technology simply to future-proof the card for the fast-approaching day when magnetic strips and barcodes become redundant.

"Any move to use microchips in the SuperGold Card will not occur without thorough consultation with the Privacy Commissioner and the State Services Commission, which was always going to be the case despite the ignorant claims of some politicians.

"Microchip technology is already used in our passports and by some transport companies. In the next year or so it will become the standard technology used by banks and retailers simply because it is more secure, not less, than magnetic strips and barcodes.

"The government has no desire to see information related to our seniors abused or misused, and the checks are already in place to provide the strongest-possible protection against this.

"We are also determined to protect the integrity of the SuperGold Card. It would be irresponsible not to future-proof it to ensure that our seniors will not miss out on discounts in the future due to out-dated technology.

"MPs more interested in learning to dance or disappearing for months on military training should stop their petty scaremongering and leave the serious issues to those who actually know what they are doing. Our seniors deserve better than this," Mr Peters said.

ENDS

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