Grey Power Whakatane General Meeting

Thank you for inviting me to address your Annual General Meeting today.

First of all, I would like to say the Prime Minister Helen Clark would have liked to address your meeting today, but with the Budget, Fiji and other issues of importance was unable to take up your offer. I know she enjoyed her last visit here in August last year, and was very pleased with the turnout.

So far I've been quite busy in my Senior Citizens portfolio. Not only is there a lot of work being done at policy level, but I've also been meeting with and speaking to Grey Power organisations all around the country.

I recently spoke at your National Federation's annual conference in Christchurch. I also spoke at the Grey Power Wanganui meeting last month, Grey Power Otago and Grey Power Marlborough last week and now here today.

I enjoy meeting with Grey Power representatives in different parts of the country. These meetings keep me well informed on where your organisation is at and the issues that affect you.

I understand that membership of the Whakatane Grey Power has increased to the point where a branch has recently been established in Kawerau, with about 200 members transferring from this branch to the Kawerau branch.

At some recent Grey Power meetings I attended is said that it has been pleasing to see the support Grey Power has given to this new coalition Government.

In March, at your Federation's annual conference, Don Robertson said the signs were good and point to a return to political integrity. He said he believed that this country was returning to those principles where people count more than the market.

I agree. For too long, ordinary New Zealanders have been swept aside in the tidal wave of free market reform. And that brings with it an enormous cost, which is borne by the most vulnerable members of our society ¡V those for whom the market cannot and will not deliver.

I am pleased that we have stemmed the tide, and restored the focus on people. More of that will become apparent on the 15th of June „o Budget Day.

To clarify my role in Government, I often make the point that I am the Minister of Immigration, but the Minister for Senior Citizens. This means I am your advocate in Cabinet.

It is my role, not to advance legislation, but rather to promote issues to the portfolio Ministers with responsibility in the particular area. I am your voice at the Cabinet Table. Fortunately, this is not a difficult task.

This coalition Government values the contribution older New Zealanders have made, and continue to make, to this country.

That is why we made the promise before the election to restore the superannuation floor. It was one of the seven commitments Helen Clark made to the electorate, and we have delivered. And what is more, we delivered, not merely on the actual promise, but also on the spirit of the promise.

When we took office the method for calculating the average wage had been adjusted by Statistics NZ. A strict application of our commitment would have seen a modest increase in superannuation but we decided to use the old calculation, which meant superannuitants received the increase they were expecting to receive.

And the feedback has been positive. I've received letters and phone calls, as have all my colleagues, thanking us for delivering what we promised.

But why should we be congratulated for keeping our promises? It should be expected that we do.

In my experience it has been older New Zealanders who have been the most bewildered by the change to MMP, the Party-hopping and the failure to keep promises.

It was older New Zealanders, who were really let down by the breach of faith between the political parties who made up the last Government and the people who elected them there.

And in that regard, I see it as an important function of this Government to restore faith in the parliamentary process, as well as faith in the elected representatives to do the right thing. That's why I am such a strong advocate for the anti-defection Bill that is currently before the House. That Bill basically says ¡V if you leave the Party that got you elected to Parliament then you have to leave Parliament as well. I am amazed at those who oppose the Bill ¡V if you want to be an independent MP then stand as one.

If you want to form your own Party, then stand under its banner. If you want to join another Party, then stand for it. To allow this situation to continue is, in my view, dishonest, unethical, and it lacks the political mandate required of a House of Representatives.

I have brought a new focus to the role of Minister for Senior Citizens. In my view the previous administration placed too much emphasis on ill health and disability. My role is to develop a Positive Aging Strategy for New Zealanders, focussing on well being and participation.

It will not be my role to deliver on the strategy, per se, but rather to promote an inter-sectoral approach to the range of issues that affect older New Zealander's ability to participate.

The range of issues stretches from Superannuation, through Housing, Health, Disability Support, Adult Education, Transport, Community Involvement, Security, Residential Care, Carer Support, Home Help ¡K the list goes on.

It is a different approach that places the older person at the centre of the picture, and ensures that the range of services and the support mechanisms are appropriate to encourage participation and independence.

I was pleased to see the number of activities carried out in the Whakatane area during the International Year of the Older Persons. These activities were coordinated by the Ngati Awa Social and Health Services Trust.

I mention this because the events that were coordinated in the district are important in developing and maintaining positive attitudes. Society needs to realise that just because people have retired from work, that it does not mean they have retired from life. It is that ability to participate, that sense of belonging, that makes us part of our communities.

Positive attitudes are important in creating a society that both encourages older people to contribute to family and to the community they're living in, and also one in which that contribution is recognised and appreciated.

One concept that is gaining much more recognition here as well as overseas is that of the "third age". This refers to the stage in life when people leave the paid workforce, have reduced family responsibilities and have time and energy to contribute to the community in a variety of ways.

The City Council in Christchurch, where I have my electorate, has taken the lead in promoting consideration of Third Age issues by appointing a Third Age Co-ordinator. And Christchurch will host in September a seminar on third age issues and I believe this will have relevance to every community in New Zealand.

Why I mention this is that I believe as we learn more and more about how we can improve our society to more inclusive of older New Zealanders, Grey Power branches may wish to encourage their local authorities to follow the Christchurch City Council's lead.

SUPERANNUATION

I have already mentioned what we have done so far about superannuation. I would like to add this.

The Labour Party strongly supports the ringfencing of a superannuation fund, managed at arms length from Government, supervised by guardians. I know most New Zealanders do not want superannuation to continue being a political football and it is time to put up a long-term, sustainable option.

We would like to have this scheme entrenched so it could not be changed without at least 75% of all MPs. But this is still a minority coalition Government and the work is going in to build the numbers needed to change the law, let alone 75% to entrench it.

It is only fair that the financial future for older New Zealanders is stable and secure. We should all be able to know exactly where we stand when we get to retirement age.

HEALTH

One issue I have spoken about each time I have addressed either a Grey Power organisation or Age Concern is health.

Focussing on patients, not profit and cutting waiting times for surgery was one of Helen Clark's seven commitments. Health Minister Annette King last month announced an extra $21 million would be put into elective surgery. This will reduce waiting times for surgery.

I have always thought it's not the number of people on the list that matters, but how long you actually have to wait. But I do believe that the cost to the economy is greater by having people wait than by increasing surgery.

Hip replacements are a perfect example of this. I remember a woman who came to address a health select committee a few years ago. She needed a hip replacement. Before she got one, she couldn't do a large number of things. Shopping, cleaning, she found it difficult to drive. She couldn't garden. And she needs ongoing pain relief.

When she did get her replacement, she got her life back and all of her need for extra support stopped. So in financial terms and in human terms waiting times must be reduced.

DRIVERS' LICENCING

It seems the drivers' licencing regime that has been implemented is causing concern for a number of older drivers. I have discussed this issue with Grey Power Wanganui, Grey Power Otago, as well as Age Concern representatives.

When I addressed the Wanganui meeting, they informed me that they had been collecting information that older drivers are not being treated fairly when sitting their practical tests. That the assessment process is not being applied equitably throughout the country. This goes for the testing of drivers who are over 80 years of age.

Also, they felt that some older drivers failed their tests after being tested in areas where they wouldn't normally drive. It would be like some older drivers from Ruatoki, being tested in central Tauranga. I would agree that that doesn't sound fair.

As Minister for Senior Citizens, I would be extremely concerned if there are unfair practices and discrimination towards older people occurring over drivers' licences, and I would like to hear from you on any examples you have.

GENERAL

I have already spent time talking about positive attitudes and their importance in society, I would like to reiterate that it is that ability to participate, that sense of belonging, that makes us part of our communities.

Prior to the election, I was Labour¡¦s spokesperson on Youth Affairs. People did think that it was ironic that the Youth Spokesperson became the Senior Citizens Minister. However, in my experience the issues are not entirely different.

Young people who do not have that sense of belonging can become alienated and troubled; older people can become isolated and afraid. I'm sure that these are issues you experience here in the Bay as much as anywhere else in the country.

So, it seems to me that building or maintaining the ability to participate is vital at either end of life¡¦s spectrum, which is why I am a strong supporter of the positive aging and aging in place philosophies that underpin the approach that I have adopted in this portfolio.

Thank you for the invitation to meet with you this afternoon. I hope that Grey Power continues to see this government as approachable and ready to listen. I welcome meeting representatives from your organisation and look forward to many more occasions such as this.