工党交通事务发言人 达伦∙休斯 （Hon Darren Hughes）
对老年人金卡项目的复审意味着老人家们的出行补贴可能要被删减。
工党交通事务发言人达伦∙休斯 （Hon Darren Hughes）日前指出，国家党交通部长斯蒂芬∙乔伊斯10号的声明预示了政府可能拿老年金卡项目开刀---继总理约翰基最近在涨GST问题上的反反复复之后，对老年卡福利的删减将成为国家党的背信弃义的又一个例证。
达伦∙休斯说，2009年3月，约翰∙基还形容老年金卡是“一个成功的项目”，并表示说政府将继续增加投入。乔伊斯先生当时也说政府已划拨好供随后4年内的7200万用度，并认为“现阶段我们无需担心将来会有超支之虞”云云。
如今看来一切都变了。
复审的仍是同一个政府当年声称要支持的老年金卡，可是交通部长声明中的意思却是要砍删老年金卡福利。
这个最新的大转弯给眼睁睁看着家用被砍、电费飙升、GST要涨的新西兰老年人群又一个打击。
达伦∙休斯还说：“国家党还有什么跟老人家们过不去的---人们不得不对此心存疑虑。”
老年金卡项目令成千上万本国老年人得以在非高峰时期享受免费公交待遇，方便他们寻医求诊或探亲访友。工党呼吁诸如“银发力量”和“关注老年”之类的组织在政府的征询意见阶段要为此发表意见”。
10 March 2010 Media Statement
Higher travel costs signalled for the elderly
The review of the SuperGold Card scheme signals cuts to travel subsidies for the elderly, Labour’s Transport spokesperson Darren Hughes said today.
Today's announcement by Transport Minister Steven Joyce foreshadowing cuts to the scheme is another broken promise by Prime Minister John Key, coming after Mr Key's recent flip flop on raising GST, Darren Hughes said.
“In March 2009, John Key described it as 'a successful programme … and we will be funding the increase'. Mr Joyce also said at the time that the Government had allocated $72 million for the scheme over four years … and 'at this stage we are not concerned it will exceed that'.
"Now that appears to have changed.
"A review that improves the scheme is one thing, but the language used in the announcement points to cuts," Darren Hughes said.
"This latest u-turn is another blow for older New Zealanders, who are also seeing their home care cut, higher power bills and a rise to GST.
"One has to wonder what National has got against our senior citizens.
“The SuperGold Card scheme allows hundreds of thousands of older New Zealanders to access free public transport at off peak times, helping them attend medical appointments and visit friends and relatives.
“Labour urges groups such as Grey Power and Age Concern to make their voices heard during the consultation process,” Darren Hughes said.
Contact: Darren Hughes 027 255 5021
