7. DARREN HUGHES (Labour—Otaki) Link to this
to the Minister for Senior Citizens
Has the Government taken any steps recently towards meeting the goals of the New Zealand Positive Ageing Strategy?
Hon RUTH DYSON (Minister for Senior Citizens) Link to this
Following on from the recent very successful launch of the Supergold card by my colleague and associate the Rt Hon Winston Peters, the Prime Minister announced yesterday the removal of the mandatory on-road driving test for people aged 80 years and over. This will remove the stress of older people taking the test, without unduly compromising road safety.
Has she seen any reports of proposals that would be detrimental to the welfare and positive ageing of older New Zealanders?
Actually, I have. I have seen a report suggesting lifting the age of eligibility for New Zealand superannuation to 68 years of age, while at the same time seeking to “inoculate” the issue by publicly promising not to change the age of eligibility, and to be prepared to find a “nuanced way of talking about super issues.” I challenge the new leader of the National Party to confirm that the National Party’s stated policy on superannuation is its real policy, and not just another example of style over substance.