SuperGold Card
The SuperGold Card is a discounts and concessions card for senior citizens and veterans in New Zealand.[1] It includes public transport benefits like free off-peak travel (funded by the government) and discounts from businesses and companies across thousands of outlets.[2][3]
It was a major initiative of the political party New Zealand First,[4] which established a research team to design the SuperGold Card.[5] The party leader Winston Peters negotiated the scheme with then-Prime Minister Helen Clark, despite widespread opposition to the card on the grounds of high cost.[6] As a condition of the 2005 confidence and supply agreement[7] between New Zealand First and the Labour Government, Peters launched the SuperGold Card in August 2007.[8]
The card is available to all eligible New Zealanders over the age of 65. The card does not expire.[9] A Veterans' SuperGold Card also exists for those who have served in the New Zealand Defence Force in a recognised war or emergency.[10] The card provides over 600,000[11] New Zealanders with access to a wide range of government and local authority services, business discounts, entitlements and concessions, such as hearing aid subsidies.[12] However, it was argued much of the extra costs were 'book entries'. For example, the Government subsidises much of public transport anyway, where buses and trains travel with empty seats during off-peak hours; SuperGold Card commuters are simply using buses and trains during off-peak times.[13]
SuperGold Card came under threat in 2010[14] when National Minister Steven Joyce tried to terminate free SuperGold transport on some more expensive public transport services, including the Waiheke Island ferry and the Wairarapa Connection train.[15] The Minister retreated when he came under fire from senior citizens.[citation needed]
In October 2019, Peters announced a $7.7 million investment into the SuperGold Card scheme. The "upgrade" includes a new website, a mobile app, and 500 new partner businesses.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ "SuperGold Card (MSD website)". New Zealand Government (Ministry of Social Development). Archived from the original on 24 July 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- ^ "What is the SuperGold card? ('busit' website)". Archived from the original on 7 May 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- ^ "SuperGold Card directory updated (NZ Government website)". Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- ^ "SuperGold benefits for travel, hearing aids". beehive.govt.nz (Press release). New Zealand Government. 23 May 2008. Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- ^ "Update: The SuperGold Card (MSD website)". Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- ^ "Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Bill – Third Reading (HANSARD)". Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- ^ "Confidence and Supply Agreement with NZ First". NZ Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- ^ "188 businesses add weight to SuperGold Card (NZ Government website)". Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- ^ "SuperGold Card". Work and Income. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Veterans SuperGold Card (MSD website)". Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- ^ "SuperGold Card Why Join? (MSD website)". Archived from the original on 2 August 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- ^ "Increased hearing aid subsidy for SuperGold Card (Scoop.co.nz)". Archived from the original on 3 January 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- ^ "Using your SuperGold Card on public transport". supergold.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
- ^ "Seniors' Super Gold Card could be clipped (kiwidollar.com blog 1-3-2010)". Archived from the original on 26 February 2014.
- ^ "Hasty U-Turn Over SuperGold Card (Colin Espiner, The Press 15-3-2010)". 14 March 2010. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- ^ Small, Zane (1 October 2019). "Winston Peters hails 'major' SuperGold Card upgrade including app, updated website". Newshub. Archived from the original on 20 July 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.