Stalling on Supergold Card Discounts Shuts Out New Applicants

SuperGold Card discounts are being thwarted by National stalling its review of the travel concession programme, says New Zealand First.

“Northlanders, Stewart Islanders, Waiheke Islanders and all other SuperGold Cardholders wanting the travel concession on off-peak hours are not getting a fair deal,” says the Member of Parliament for Northland and New Zealand First Leader, Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“No transport operator can apply for SuperGold Cardholder concessions while National’s five-year moratorium remains. The review was promised to be completed in June 2014. It is still not completed and there’s no certainty it will be delivered by June 30 this year.

“In Parliament today the Minister for Senior Citizens Maggie Barry was completely at a loss to explain the delay and was unable to say what she has done to advocate on behalf of Seniors.

“It was pointed out to the Minister that no new applications can be made by operators such as those who run the Paihia to Russell ferry, the Okiato to Opua ferry, the Kohukohu to Rawene ferry and the Bluff to Stewart Island ferry, but she spared not a thought for the operators of Seniors.

“It is clear that as Senior Citizens Minister she has done nothing to persuade the Minister responsible for travel concessions, Craig Foss, which is probably why political newsletter Trans Tasman described her as ‘particularly ineffective’.

“New Zealand First has been pushing for an end to the review and moratorium with questions in the House in February and letters to the two responsible Ministers on the 27th May.”

ENDS

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