Stewart Barbara: Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Stewart Barbara: Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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BARBARA STEWART (NZ First) 
: 
 On behalf of New Zealand First I rise to support the Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Bill. We are extremely pleased to see that this Supergold card launched last month will become a reality for the senior citizens and the veterans of New Zealand. It was very interesting to hear the National speaker finally acknowledge that she did welcome the implementation of the gold card and will actually support this legislation. Like many others in this House I was waiting for her to state the freephone number as she had said she would. She did not so I will give it on her behalf: 0800 254 565. We want to encourage our seniors to find out more about this extremely important card. 
As previous speakers have said the Supergold card was a critical part of New Zealand First’s supply and confidence agreement with the Government. Today we see the gold card move to the next stage in the process. It will finally be available from August 2007. We must acknowledge the Minister for Senior Citizens the Hon Ruth Dyson for the work that she has done. The Supergold card really is an acknowledgement of the MMP environment and how MMP the environment that we now operate in actually works. The gold card is about keeping promises too to our senior citizens that we all made during the 2005 election. We did not promise the moon and deliver dust like others have often done. We have followed through on this particular card and on this policy and we will continue to do so on the other policies that are coming forward. 
In New Zealand First we recognise the value that our senior citizens bring to their families and to the communities they live in and we will always support that value in all policy that has an impact on them. We have heard today that senior citizens number well over half a million people—half a million New Zealanders. We maintain in New Zealand First that the treatment of our seniors sends a clear signal of our status as a developed nation. We believe that there is very little point in pursuing economic growth and other objectives if our seniors are not looked after adequately. It is imperative that the most vulnerable in our society are always looked after—the very young and the seniors. In this case we are focusing on our seniors. 
The Supergold card as outlined earlier by the Rt Hon Winston Peters will provide negotiated commercial discounts from participating businesses and it will help seniors get access to concessions on Government and local authority services. The very fact that large businesses have already expressed a strong desire to be a part of the Supergold card bodes well for the future. We are only too aware that our seniors who visit Australia are very keen to have the same card here in New Zealand. They know the value of the card over in Australia and when they return to our shores we often hear that a card such as that one should be available here. At last the card will be available thanks to New Zealand First. 
We have also talked to our seniors and found out that in Australia the discounts have built up steadily over a period of years as businesses have recognised the value of the card that they operate. Of course the exact same thing will happen here in New Zealand. We expect the value of the discounts here to build up steadily over the coming years. The Supergold card will make a real difference to the lives of our senior citizens. We are very aware in New Zealand First that many of our seniors face challenges to make their pensions stretch a little bit further so that they can enjoy the very busy life that all of them lead after they retire. We have often heard it said that it is the busiest time of their lives. I myself have heard seniors say that they do not know how they had time to work in paid employment. Of course we know too that many of our seniors continue to work in paid employment for a very long time. They also make valuable contributions in voluntary work and in the community in so many ways from the St John Ambulance Association and keeping in contact with seniors in various communities to Meals on Wheels to the very many other organisations that our seniors contribute to. Of course many of our seniors are involved in the very successful running of those particular organisations. 
We cannot fail to say that seniors make a very valuable contribution in a family situation. How many of us give our children to our parents when they are sick and cannot go to school so that we can go to work? It happens every day in very many communities right throughout New Zealand and in every family. We know that seniors are a very vital part of each and every one of our lives. Any family would find it extremely difficult to function without their parents—without their seniors—there to assist. 
This card is for seniors and veterans who have participated fully in our communities and in our families. It has the potential to make their lives easier. It is essential that we recognise the contribution that our seniors make and continue to make in so many ways. So New Zealand First supports the Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Bill totally. We will support it going through all of its stages. We want to have a very positive future for our seniors and our veterans. We believe that they have earned it.