SuperGold_Card

SuperGold Card

SuperGold Card

Discounts and concessions card in New Zealand


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]

SuperGold Card, a flagship policy by New Zealand First

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

  1. "SuperGold Card (MSD website)". New Zealand Government (Ministry of Social Development). Archived from the original on 24 July 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  2. "What is the SuperGold card? ('busit' website)". Archived from the original on 7 May 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  3. "SuperGold Card directory updated (NZ Government website)". Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  4. "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.
  5. "Update: The SuperGold Card (MSD website)". Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  6. "Confidence and Supply Agreement with NZ First". NZ Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  7. "188 businesses add weight to SuperGold Card (NZ Government website)". Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  8. "SuperGold Card". Work and Income. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  9. "Veterans SuperGold Card (MSD website)". Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  10. "SuperGold Card Why Join? (MSD website)". Archived from the original on 2 August 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  11. "Increased hearing aid subsidy for SuperGold Card (Scoop.co.nz)". Archived from the original on 3 January 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  12. "Using your SuperGold Card on public transport". supergold.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  13. "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.
  14. 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.

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