Extension of Waiheke SuperGold Card scheme tabled in Parliament

The Explore Group had provided those aged 65 and older free off-peak travel to Waiheke last year. The deal was scrapped because the company could not get a Government subsidy. Photo / Dean Purcell

A petition asking for the SuperGold Card scheme to be extended to Explore ferries to Waiheke has been tabled in Parliament.

The Explore Group had given those aged 65 and older free off-peak travel after starting ferry services to Waiheke late last year.

However, that was scrapped because the company could not get a Government subsidy, because of a 2010 moratorium preventing major new services entering the scheme.

The moratorium was brought in to ensure the costs of the SuperGold Card scheme do not get out of hand. A review of the scheme's sustainability is planned.

Today a petition was presented to Parliament by Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye and referred to the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee.

Organised by Daniel Silva on behalf of Ferry Users Group of Waiheke, the petition has almost 1560 signatures.

Labour's Jacinda Ardern welcomed the petition on Twitter. NZ First leader Winston Peters is another politician to call for Explore to be granted a share of the scheme's subsidy.

The SuperGold Card was part of the NZ First confidence and supply agreement with Labour after the 2005 election.

The scheme's annual cost of $18 million in 2008 has since risen to $26 million, of which Fullers receives a capped payment of $1.5 million.