Estimates Debate — Vote Senior Citizens

In Vote Senior Citizens there is an appropriation of $1.035 million. There was the same appropriation last year. There have been no cuts, and, in these testing times, that is the way it should be for our vulnerable and older senior citizens. This National Government is dealing with senior citizens in an honest way and with compassion. This directly contrasts with the scaremongering approach from the Labour members. Right now, in these times of recession, older New Zealanders need to know that their entitlements are safe, and National has pledged to maintain New Zealand superannuation at the current rates, and the age of entitlement at 65 years. Such is the watertight nature of that pledge that our Prime Minister, the Hon John Key, has assured us that should we break that promise, he will resign. I can tell members that older citizens have been absolutely delighted to receive a letter from the Prime Minister with that assurance.

Vote Senior Citizens is very ably looked after by its Minister, the Hon John Carter. He is a Minister who, through his Northland electorate, has shown, time and time again, that he has the interests of senior citizens in his very being. In fact, he has so much experience in handling and assisting senior citizens that this is a fantastic role to see him in. In his role he supports advocacy for senior citizens. He provides the Government with policy advice on older people’s issues and a second opinion or advice to Government agencies on older people’s issues. He promotes positive ageing to Government departments and to local communities, and there is a network of 50 older volunteer community coordinators around New Zealand. He works with local and national interest groups, and all of this is in Vote Senior Citizens.

New Zealand’s Positive Aging Strategy was introduced and produced by the previous Government in 2001, and it has been adopted by this Government. It established 10 positive ageing goals, with 41 central government and 36 local government agencies contributing to the 2008 to 2010 positive ageing action plan.

To champion positive ageing, National intends to focus on some key goals such as the employment of mature workers, changing attitudes about ageing, and protecting the rights and interests of older people by raising awareness of elder abuse and neglect prevention. The Office for Senior Citizens is also leading work on a proposed amendment to refine the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988 in relation to enduring powers of attorney. That will clarify the independence requirement for witnesses and allow couples to use the same law firm when making an enduring power of attorney, and that has been called for for quite some time.

There are other votes involved in the advocacy role of the Minister for Senior Citizens. The well-being of senior citizens relies on policies that fall across a range of portfolios—for example, health, housing, and transport. The Minister works closely with his colleagues to ensure that the interests of senior New Zealanders are taken into account. This Minister and this National Government have focused on elder abuse and neglect prevention, and I show the House this booklet that is finding favour around New Zealand. Groups are promoting it when striving to prevent and detect elder abuse and neglect. The Government provides $1.553 million a year to elder abuse and neglect prevention services. I have looked at the locations of those offices, and there are 18 providing that service in the North Island and six in the South Island. Many of those agencies attended meetings that I held around New Zealand when I was looking at issues for ageing New Zealanders. There are 24 local elder abuse and neglect prevention services nationwide, and they are doing a fantastic job.

Vote agreed to.

Vote Internal Affairs agreed to.

Vote National Archives agreed to.

Vote National Library agreed to.

Vote Local Government