Peters Winston: Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Peters Winston: Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:636;Page:6945] 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) 
: 
 I move  
That the Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. 
 At the appropriate time I intend to move that the bill be considered by the Social Services Committee that the committee report finally to the House—[ 
Interruption 
]—it will be a long time 64 years later but that person will be entitled to it too—on or before 5 April 2007 and that the committee have authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting except during oral questions during any evening on a day on which there has been a sitting of the House and on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House despite Standing Orders 192 and 195(1)(b) and (c). 
This bill is the next stepping stone in the process of making the Supergold card launched last month a reality. This card was a central feature of New Zealand First’s confidence and supply agreement with the Government and the purpose of the bill is to enable the full potential effect of the card to occur. It would be churlish not to recognise the work and cooperation of the Government and in particular the Hon Ruth Dyson and her staff. 
The Supergold card is a concession card for the nearly 540000 New Zealand residents who are aged 65 or over or who otherwise qualify for and receive New Zealand superannuation including non-qualified spouses or a veterans pension. The card will be available from August 2007 will provide negotiated commercial discounts from participating businesses and will help facilitate seniors’ access to concessions on Government and local authority services. 
Part 1 makes two amendments to section 132A of the Social Security Act 1964. That section of the Act enables regulations to be made for the issue of entitlement cards. The first amendment in Part 1 will allow a regulation to be made for cardholder photographs to be placed on entitlement cards. Of course if that were to happen from an individual point of view it would be on a voluntary basis. This will enable the Government to provide cardholders with the choice of having their photo on the Supergold card which will be useful for those who do not have photo ID. 
The second amendment in Part 1 will enable regulations to be made allowing a microchip to be embedded on entitlement cards that will contain the same information that is currently contained on a magnetic stripe. This will allow the future possibility of embedding a microchip in the Supergold card for this will prove to be useful for cardholders. In essence the provision future-proofs the capability and capacity of the Supergold card. 
Sandra Goudie 
: You should know this off by heart. 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: Should I know it off by heart? 
Sandra Goudie 
: You should. 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: Well that member according to Nicky Hager does not. That is only a third opinion but it is a neutral and independent one. 
Part 2 amends schedule 1A of the Births Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1995. 
Sandra Goudie 
: Oh come on. Put a bit of action into it. 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: The member should not criticise it; it will not be long before she needs it. That member will be able to retire with some dignity and grace knowing that she can “fly buy” not to Bali or some other part of the world but to a better retirement with some dignity and grace. Actually it sounds as if that will happen sooner rather than later. This amendment will allow births deaths and marriages information to be used by the Ministry of Social Development to verify entitlement to the Supergold card. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: Why do they hate old people? 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: I do not know why they hate old people. But when we in New Zealand First said we could increase the amount of superannuation they get every fortnight National’s leader said it could not be done and we would not do it. Well it has been done. The superannuation rate is now 66.12 percent of the net average wage but it was 63.85 percent before the election. It is just one more promise made and kept. 
Sandra Goudie 
: Grey Power aren’t dumb enough to be sucked into that. 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: I do not know why that member being on the cusp of age-assisted retirement—occupational or otherwise—is putting up a protest. She should ask mums and dads or aunties and uncles. Those people will say they are waiting with bated breath for August next year for the release of this card. It is difficult now but hang on— 
Hon Paul Swain 
: Help is on its way. 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: Help is on its way. 
The Supergold card is an important initiative that will provide tangible benefits that will make a real difference to the lives of senior citizens in recognition of the contributions they have made currently make and will go on making to New Zealand society. I would be horrified—we all would be—if the level of voluntary work by the elderly of this country were to stop for example tomorrow. We would not recognise this society and it would be all for the worse. In a way this legislation recognises what the elderly have done. National Party members can laugh in their heartless way but New Zealand First is a people’s party. We are the party with humanity and we bring a human face to capitalism. That is why we are here. The Supergold card will be sent automatically to people— 
Sandra Goudie 
: Slick as! 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: The member says “Who cares?”. 
Sandra Goudie 
: No I didn’t say that. 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: Well first of all we do and hundreds and thousands out there do too. Even the richest capitalist sons and daughters in their minds’ eye think they will not have to worry so much about their mums and dads because more will be done for them. 
The card will be sent to people who automatically receive New Zealand superannuation or a veterans pension with a special version going to war and emergency service veterans just like we promised. The card will be of a credit card size it will carry the cardholder’s name and client number and it will indicate whether that person receives New Zealand superannuation a veterans pension or community services card benefits. It will replace the community services card and the superannuation card for senior citizens. People who currently hold these cards will be able to access their entitlements through the Supergold card and other Government concessions may be added later. 
There will be a dedicated Supergold card website and an 0800 phone number—I will send the number over shortly. A printed directory will promote the range of concessions and discounts available to cardholders across the country from central government local authorities and businesses. Just in passing I say that it is time for local and regional government to be far more involved in the care of the elderly. 
The large number of seniors who will be eligible for the Supergold card represents a valuable loyal and rapidly growing market for businesses to be involved in. Already several large companies have expressed a strong desire to be involved in offering business discounts. Their enthusiasm at this stage bodes well for the Supergold card rapidly becoming a valuable discount card for seniors. The experience in Australia where states have successfully implemented similar seniors cards over the past decade is also very encouraging. Discounts there have built up steadily year by year as more businesses have recognised the value of the card. 
The amendments contained in the bill will add to the value of the Supergold card by maximising its potential uses including offering cardholders the option of including their photograph on the card. Let me also again thank the Minister for Senior Citizens Ruth Dyson for her enthusiasm for this card and for her own work and that of her office in assisting in the work needed to make this happen. 
This is a great development for our seniors. This card has so much potential to make our seniors’ lives better. This card is about promises kept by New Zealand First. This card is about a genuine effort to recognise the contribution our seniors have made and continue to make. This card is about looking after ordinary New Zealanders who have served this country well. Ultimately this card is our way of saying we have heard their call for help and here is something real and tangible to make their lot in life better. That after all is the New Zealand way. That after all is what being a Kiwi is all about. That after all is why we are proud to live in New Zealand and why millions and millions of people around the world would rather live in New Zealand than somewhere else. At the end of the day a society is judged on many principles and many measures one of which is how it looks after its young its healthy its lame its maimed and above all its elderly. I commend this bill to the House.