Rate rebate features on new Labour pledge card

Helen Clark has announced pledge cards for each election campaign. File picture / Kenny Rodger

An improvement to the rates rebate scheme is among the promises on a Labour election pledge card announced today.

The card is the latest produced by the party after it used them at previous elections. British Prime Minister Tony Blair's Labour Party has also included them in its election campaigns.

Prime Minister Helen Clark, speaking at a Hamilton Grey Power meeting this morning, said this year's card would contain seven key pledges in policy areas including health, education, and law and order. 

Details would be announced in coming weeks but the first was to fulfil the Government's promise to improve rates rebates.

"Up to 300,000 households will be eligible for the revamped rates rebate -- that's up from only around 3500 now," Helen Clark said.

The maximum rebate would increase from $200 to $500 a year.

"This policy is of significance to superannuitants who have to budget carefully to pay for their rates," she said.

"For example single superannuitants on an income of $16,645 next year will be eligible for the full rebate of $500 if their rates bill is over $1000. This equates to an increase in income of almost $10 a week to help with the rates."

Labour first used pledge cards in 1999.

Helen Clark said all Labour's pledges would be fully costed.

"Over two terms in government, New Zealanders have seen Labour run a strong economy and strong budgets while also making big investments in critical areas, from health and education, to superannuation and family services and to law and order and key infrastructure," she said.

She claimed National would be unable to deliver ongoing investment in those areas if it cut taxes.

"Labour has delivered strong, stable government to New Zealand, based on being upfront with voters and doing what we said we would. Our pledge card and our commitment to keep our word are central to our campaign for a third term," the Prime Minister added.

- NZPA