The new NZ Seniors Party will seek "fairness and justice" for pensioners. Photo / Thinkstock
The new NZ Seniors Party will seek "fairness and justice" for pensioners. Photo / Thinkstock
A new political party has formed and is vying for the older vote.
The New Zealand Seniors Party announced it would "achieve fairness and justice" for pensioners and future pensioners.
When asked what the party would mean for the seniors of the Bay of Plenty, spokesman Paul Rea said the party intended to be a voice for all.
"Seniors have been silent for too long, the time has come to stand up and be heard. Many seniors are living on the bread line, this is a situation that cannot be left to continue," he said.
A key policy of the party was "the fight against Section 70" (of the Social Security Act 1964), which would see a deduction of overseas pensions from the New Zealand Superannuation.
"Today's seniors are tired of being ignored and dictated to by politicians, government departments and their overpaid staff," the party said.
"They are not willing to remain invisible. They are educated and bring a lifetime of experience and knowledge to the table, and they are certainly capable of taking an active role in the running of their own country."
Mr Rea said there were more issues that the party wanted to focus on.
"All of which are aimed at bettering the lives of our senior citizens throughout the country."
Mr Rea said the New Zealand Seniors Party had not yet set up teams around the country, including Tauranga, but expected to once they had finalised the set-up of their party structure.
New Zealand First MP Clayton Mitchell questioned whether focusing on one main policy would work for a political party.
"We have sympathy when it comes to Section 70 and the absurdity of it, and how it's been implemented," said Mr Mitchell.
Many seniors are living on the bread line, this is a situation that cannot be left to continue.
"We agree it needs to be amended and appealed, but to have a political party being set up just on that one point ... they've got a lot of work to do to get it across the line," he said.
Mr Mitchell said NZ First already had a strong policy on proportional payments of pensions.
Lions Mount Maunganui club president Desmond Anderson said the party was bringing up "a few things" and under the MMP system "anything can work".
When asked if he thought seniors needed a party specifically for them, he said, "not necessarily, but sure, why not?"
Outgoing Tauranga Grey Power president Christina Humphreys said she did not know much about the new party but if it was looking out for seniors on health and Gold Card issues it could "only be good".
