Jonathan Milne: Year of the Oldie as MPs court grey vote

In China, Parliament's oldest leader likes to remind us, politicians aren't even taken seriously until they are hitting their 80s.

Progressive Party leader Jim Anderton is now 67, but this election he will be joined by more parliamentary leaders in their golden years than ever before. National's Don Brash is 64, and Winston Peters, Jeanette Fitzsimons and Tariana Turia are all 60. And you'd better believe most of them are capitalising on it.

This past week was Labour's designated Week for the Elderly, but really 2005 is the Year of the Oldie.

By the time this four-week recess ends on Friday, Helen Clark will have spoken at eight Grey Power or Organisation for Older Persons meetings, Brash at one, and Peters at two. Peters celebrated his 60th birthday by announcing his superannuation policy to a Grey Power meeting earlier this year.

There are almost 500,000 super-annuitants, making up a hefty 16 per-cent of the voting-age population - an increase from 10 years ago.

What's more, research suggests the elderly are conscientious both about turning out to vote and taking time to decide how to vote. That being the case, it is easy to understand why politicians are devoting so much time to them this election year.

So Don Brash's decision to attack Grey Power for (he alleged) supporting NZ First can only be put down to senility and the onset of dementia. He said he was "disturbed" at Grey Power's politicisation, and that "the National Party will not be bullied by any small party into policies which are grossly irresponsible".

He is right that all the implicit signals from the Grey Power hierarchy have been that its 85,000 members should give their party vote to NZ First, despite the organisation's claims of impartiality. But he was never going to win them back by attacking them - you just don't talk to your grandmother like that - and right now National needs every vote it can get.

Of course, winning the senior vote is more complicated than simply turning up, charming the ladies, and promising to increase superannuation - though it seems to work a treat for Peters.

Grey Power says its members are most concerned about rising power prices, followed by waiting times for elective surgery, with superannuation levels back in third place.

So here are some key 2005 bribes for the seniors:

Labour: rates relief, superannuitants who live alone because their partner is in care will get a higher payment.

National: more money to cut hospital waiting lists.

NZ First: a gold card identifying superannuitants as entitled to discounts, and a $700m-a-year increase to super levels.

Greens: get rid of electricity line charges so a power bill is based entirely on consumption.

Act: using private health sector to reduce waiting lists for operations.

United Future: 5.4 percent increase in super rate.