Stewart Barbara: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
Stewart Barbara: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
[Volume:637;Page:7385] 
BARBARA STEWART (NZ First) 
: 
 I am delighted to take a call in this debate. New Zealand First is looking forward to 2007. My leader said yesterday that we are looking forward to it with enthusiasm and humour—a good combination. 
I must say that I have listened with interest to many of the speeches tonight and yesterday. I have been totally amazed that those people sitting on the Opposition side of this House now want the Government—any Government I might say—to be responsible for more and more and in fact almost to become a de facto parent. This ranges from ensuring that children go to school having had breakfast—only my colleague the Hon Brian Donnelly has even mentioned lunches—to ensuring that greater numbers of students are held in the school environment to achieve a higher level of education and leave only when they have a qualification. We know that thousands leave without qualifications but really if some of these measures were put in place then the Government would be accused of interfering far too much in our families and their lives. We acknowledge that we need to engage teenagers in education that is meaningful and relevant to their future and that is one of the challenges that any Government faces. 
We know that these are complex problems and that the solutions are complex. They require far more than just money. The problems have been here for quite some time and we cannot afford to ignore them or just use slogans as the solution. 
In 2006 New Zealand First put a large number of policy initiatives in place—initiatives that will make a positive difference to the lives of New Zealanders in 2007 and beyond. Those initiatives needed the goodwill of the Government and those with goodwill can work together for the greater good of all New Zealanders. We want to make a positive difference and we will continue to do so through 2007 and 2008. 
I will focus on two initiatives that have been put in place that are of particular interest to senior citizens and the veterans of New Zealand and that this group will benefit from. We know that many in this group face many challenges to try to make their pensions spread that little bit further. As we indicated in the debates on the legislation that is going through this House the SuperGold card will be available from August 2007 for over half a million seniors. That is a promise New Zealand First delivered on as a result of its confidence and supply agreement with the Government. The SuperGold card will automatically be sent to people if they receive New Zealand superannuation or the veterans pensions. New Zealand First is looking forward to this SuperGold card becoming a reality. The Australian experience shows that the discounts steadily build up as businesses recognise the value of the card that they operate. The same thing can happen here in New Zealand and no doubt will. 
The second area where senior citizens will benefit is in the increase in superannuation they will receive this year. Grey Power has informed us that according to its calculations this year 2007 as a result of our confidence and supply agreement married couples receiving New Zealand superannuation will be nearly $6.50 a week better off because of New Zealand First’s insistence that the minimum rate be set at 66 percent of the net average wage. This means that the amount they receive will be more than just the inflation adjustment they would receive anyway. It means that this year they will finally be able to get ahead of the eight ball even if only slightly. 
To some of us in this House an extra $6.50 a week is only small change. To people on superannuation it is the difference between a good meal and being able to pay their power bill particularly over the winter months. When this is added to the SuperGold card it is a meaningful development for our seniors. New Zealand First would have liked to see the rate even higher than at 66 percent of the net average wage but for now we are pleased to be making a difference to be making people’s lives better and to be keeping our policy promises. The bottom line is that we are all here in Parliament to try to make New Zealand a better place in which to live.