Rt Hon Winston Peters
New Zealand First Leader
Member of Parliament for Northland
5 JULY 2016

Supergold Card under Attack From National

The government insisting SuperGold Cardholders have to buy smartcards to travel free on public transport at off-peak times is a move towards undermining the value of the card, New Zealand First Leader and Northland Member of Parliament Rt Hon Winston Peters said when accepting a Grey Power petition at Parliament today.

“It is unfair and wrong that after seniors have paid a lifetime of taxes, this government wants to chip away and ultimately destroy what the SuperGold Card is all about.

“By capping funding to councils for seniors’ free off-peak travel, it will be only a matter of time before the councils and transport operators say the scheme is too expensive.

“That is why this petition started at Tauranga Grey Power is so important – it tells the government not to mess with the SuperGold Card and to ensure adequate funding is made available for seniors to travel free on public transportation during off-peak periods.

“Free off-peak travel has added to the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of seniors, helping them to remain active and engaged in their communities; it must be maintained,” Mr Peters said.

The petition states:
“We the undersigned, respectfully request that the House of Representatives examine the capped bulk funding model to ensure SuperGold Card free off-peak public transport scheme is adequately funded and appropriately resourced by central government”.

ENDS

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