Guy Nathan: New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans' Pensions (Entitlements of Spouses and Partners of People in Long-term Residential Care and Remedial Matters) Bill — In Committee 
Guy Nathan: New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans' Pensions (Entitlements of Spouses and Partners of People in Long-term Residential Care and Remedial Matters) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:631;Page:3511] 
NATHAN GUY (National) 
: 
 I rise in support of the New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans’ Pensions (Entitlements of Spouses and Partners of People in Long-term Residential Care and Remedial Matters) Bill. It is good to hear that the Maori Party would have supported Nick Smith’s amendment which has unfortunately been vetoed. I think this is a callous Government that has actually— 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: It’s a rebuff. 
NATHAN GUY 
: That is exactly right. That amendment should have been allowed to go through. Fundamentally it should have been in there. It is good to see that the Maori Party is supporting National in that matter. 
I was also interested to hear Mrs Stewart from New Zealand First talk about the golden age card that will come in soon. I think we are all waiting to see exactly what the golden age card will deliver. Will it deliver cheaper petrol or power for those who are over 65? We will wait and see. 
I am from Kapiti in Horowhenua and as members know that region has the highest number of people over 65 per capita. We have an ageing population in Horowhenua and Kapiti and this bill will help those people. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: Including my mother. 
NATHAN GUY 
: That is exactly right. The member’s mother who resides in Otaki may well be listening this evening and I think she will be delighted with this bill. 
To understand more about the bill I recently went out with some caregivers in Otaki. They are doing a fantastic job in looking after war veterans and people who want to age with dignity in their homes but they are not being very well rewarded. It was interesting to see exactly what caregivers do. They are friends of the people they care for. They clean for them look after them and get their groceries for them. They are a point of contact for them. It was great to see in the Budget that some money is to flow through to those caregivers—they are to get 50c an hour. How pitiful is that for caregivers who look after those superannuitants? An hourly rate of 50c equates to about $1000 a year. Petrol is the biggest issue for caregivers who look after elderly people in their homes. We all know that it now costs about $100 to fuel up a car. Caregivers of aged people living at home have their own vehicles to look after. They have to provide their vehicle’s warrant of fitness and pay for its repairs and maintenance. Caregivers are being unfairly treated—just like superannuitants with this bill. 
It has taken 6 long years to get this measure through—6½ actually but who is counting? I guess caregivers are wondering whether they will have to wait that long before they get fairly remunerated and receive some assistance towards costs for looking after superannuitants who live in their own homes. 
I believe that about 2000 superannuitants aged over 65 will qualify under this bill which is fantastic. It will be only a small drop in the bucket though. My arithmetic is that they will benefit by only about $20 a week. That is about $100 a month. Is that enough? I guess it is a start is it not? It is a start in relation to rewarding those people who have been unfairly treated by an old tired dilapidated Government that is on its last legs. 
Dr Jackie Blue 
: They’re running out of ideas. 
NATHAN GUY 
: That is exactly right. Government members are running out of ideas so it is great to see that this bill has come into the House because National and the Hon Nick Smith—who has worked hard for people in his electorate of Nelson—have forced the Government’s hand. It has taken 6½ years to get the bill to this stage. 
It is also nice to see in relation to eligibility the extension of time from 1 year to 3 years for those who do voluntary service abroad. That is fantastic but I am still waiting as is the member for East Coast Anne Tolley for the Minister to take a call to explain why the extension to 3 years was introduced through the submission process when there was already a huge amount of support for the eligible period to go to 2 years. Why has it been extended to 3 years? Let us hear from the Minister. The challenge is for the Minister to take a call on that. 
Dr Jonathan Coleman 
: We haven’t heard from anyone in Labour. 
NATHAN GUY 
: That is right. 
Dr Jonathan Coleman 
: Get Jim out of his newspaper. 
NATHAN GUY 
:They are not interested. The Government is old and tired. This bill is all about allowing those people who are over 65—those war veterans who have served this country—to age with dignity. Those people have looked after us and after this country.