Letters: Pension travesty must end

INCREASINGLY, I am getting letters from Kiwis who spent a few years in their adult life working overseas.

When they apply for their New Zealand Superannuation, they discover their entire overseas pension is confiscated under section 70 of the Social Security Act 1964.
One successful Kiwi spent 12 of his younger years working in Germany. He then brought back his skills to contribute to New Zealand.

During his OE he paid 9 per cent of his income into the German pension scheme.
On getting his NZ Super at 65, his entire contributory German pension is confiscated – an amount equivalent to 90 per cent of NZ Super.

Remember he only spent 12 of his 70 years overseas.

New Zealand First is the only party which considers section 70 a travesty.

The unfairness stems from comparing apples with oranges; when overseas pensions are contributory whereas NZ Super is a universal, non-contributory entitlement.
We have highlighted the injustice of section 70 compared to migrants (from non-pension countries) who get full NZ Super after just 10 years of residency.

Considering 25 per cent of all NZ Superannuitants were born overseas, there are huge anomalies to entitlement to NZ Super.

New Zealand First has proposed a member's bill that rejects the premise on which overseas pensions are confiscated.

New Zealand First believes overseas pensions are no business of the New Zealand Government and reciprocal pension agreements should be abolished.

The New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income (Pro Rata Entitlement) Amendment Bill bases proportional NZ Super entitlement on years residency in New Zealand between ages 20 and 65 (45 years).

Our Kiwi who worked in Germany for 12 years would get 38/45th NZ Super and keep his German pension.

Section 70 is a contentious issue for 70,000 migrants who bring their overseas pensions, as well as increasing numbers of Kiwis who have spent some of their working lives overseas.

This blatant discrimination should be stopped immediately.

Until the public of New Zealand are made aware of this situation, nothing will be done to rectify it.

PAUL REA
Retired chairman, NZ Seniors Party, Hawera

Perversions supported

K A Benfell desires to "target the sinners" and leave the "institution" of the Catholic Church untarnished by the "horrifying scandals of abuse, sexual predation and cover-ups by priests and bishops".

It is, though understandable, an argument that cannot wash.

It is a myopic vision that fails to recognise the common background of much sexual malpractice in institutional religion and to such "institutions" as military forces or other "hot-house" professions.

The major difference between the religious association and others is that, because religions habitually claim dominion over human sexuality, it becomes relatively easy for priesthoods to bend lay members to distorted practices.

This is especially so when the hierarchy of the religion insists on the celibacy of its priests, and invents make-believe marriage to Christ for nuns, a perversion of nature from the outset.

In short, the "institution" of the Catholic Church, through its doctrines and hierarchic structures, directly enables and has supported and condoned these perverted practices.
So Benfell's fairy story of the pure institution is not good enough.

It is not enough to muck out the Augean stable. The Herculean task is to demolish and rebuild it.

RUSS HAY
Whanganui

Fully covered track

Now that the consolidation of the Springvale sports complex is coming to fruition, I think it's time we considered a new proposal regarding roofing of the Cooks Gardens velodrome cycling facility.

I propose we utilise the existing track as a summer-only training track, as $12 million could be better spent elsewhere.

Further, I propose building a fully covered track with facilities for other sports (ie, netball etc) on the existing Riding for the Disabled site alongside Whanganui High School.

I'm sure council could find an alternative site for RDA, such as the old pony club site on Tayforth Rd.

I'd at least like to see some preliminary costings produced. Considering some funding was apparently forthcoming from Massey University, it may be more cost-effective.

H McINNES
Gonville

Peters on winner

I voted for Winston Peters last election because he was going to have a referendum on the Māori seats in Parliament. This seems to have slid into the background, but he is fighting for the racing industry.

He appears to be one of the few politicians who understands that racing supports a very large, important export industry, employing lots of people — not like pokies and casinos, which import all their product.

Most politicians just see it as gambling; their knowledge of this industry is low.

Racing gambling is way different to pokie and casino gambling, which are not very sociable. Racing is very social, sharing of ideas of which horse/dog is best suited and there is a combined joy of getting it right.

Māori hierarchy seem to think Māori seats should be enshrined in law, but they haven't thought it through. Winston might prevent it.

If they were to abolish the Māori seats and set up a very strong Māori party, elected from the general roll, they would end up with way more Māori in Parliament as the main parties have many Māori and a successful Māori party could take 15 or so seats.

This would lead them not to be beholden to Labour, meaning they would have much strength in a coalition.

G R SCOWN
Whanganui

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