'Razor gang' set to slash gold-card travel, diminish elderly's quality of life: Peters

by Ellen Irvine | 12th March 2010

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has slammed the Government's review of free off-peak transport for the elderly, describing it as a "razor gang" to make cuts.

"It's not a review, it's a razor gang put in charge to make cuts and start changing the policy," he said.

Free off-peak travel for elderly people under the SuperGold card is set to exceed its annual $18 million budget and the Government is looking at ways of reining it in, which may impact on services.

The SuperGold Card was a NZ First initiative.

Mr Peters said the review was a case of the Government going back on a promise. He said the scheme had not gone over budget - the cost of the first year of the scheme had been as predicted. The scheme had made a "huge difference" to the quality of life of elderly people, he said.

"A tremendous number of elderly can't afford to go anywhere. They are locked in their homes not by health, but but economic circumstances. The ability to go and see friends and relations had never been available to them, and now they can go."

Tauranga Age Concern president Lorraine Wilson said the free off-peak buses were well-used in the city, and she expected the elderly would think twice about travelling if the scheme was cut.

Read more in today's Bay of Plenty Times