KEY POINTS:
National leader John Key has promised Grey Power he will resign as Prime Minister if he cuts super-annuation, should he be elected.
A Grey Power delegate told the Herald about the comment Mr Key made in response to a question after he spoke to the Grey Power AGM on Monday.
Mr Key confirmed he had said "I will resign as Prime Minister and from Parliament if I cut super" should he form the next Government.
He said his promise applied to the 66 per cent of the net average wage that pensioners get under NZ First's confidence and supply agreement with Labour.
Mr Key has already said he did not intend to lower the level of superannuation or raise the age of eligibility but his promise to Grey Power to resign is far more strongly worded.
"I told them that's how strongly I feel about maintaining New Zealanders' rates of super. Labour are constantly putting out a fear factor campaign that I am going to cut New Zealand super. I'm not."
Mr Key's pledge to stick to the higher 66 per cent level will be welcome news to NZ First. Under its agreement with Labour the official super rate is 65 per cent of the net average wage, but adjustments lift it up to 66 per cent.
However, a spokesman for Finance Minister Michael Cullen said National had no credibility on superannuation matters, saying Mr Key had previously expressed "personal support" for increasing the age of eligibility.
