A letter to the editor of HB Today on the 10th April, 2016 by Marie Dunningham, Hastings GP President…
Gold card funding change.
The SuperGold card has been a wonderful scheme. For those pensioners whose only income is the National superannuation, life can be pretty tough. Hoorah for the GoldCard, especially for the free public transport between 9 am and 3 pm.
But National, and our very own National MP Craig Foss, as the Associate Transport Minister, has another idea. From July 1 the scheme will change to a bulk funding model.
The government will introduce a $28 million funding cap for the next five years.
They payment of the cost of the free public transport is in the hands of our regional councils. This passes any responsibility for the scheme on a local body. When the capped payments are out and the transport service ceases, they will get the blame.
In Auckland, SuperGold card holders are now being asked to buy smart cards when using free public transport. So it is no longer free. Nor can smart cards be used outside of Auckland. You must buy a new smart card whatever district you are in.
Hastings Grey Power is wholeheartedly opposed to these changes. We will not be letting this matter rest.
Marie Dunningham, President, Grey Power Hastings and District Association.
More on this from the From the Federation Office.
Super Gold Card and Travel
Associations and their members will be aware of the Government’s move to change the funding mechanism for Super Gold Card (SGC) travel and to make other changes to the administration and operation of this scheme. Several areas of this proposal have caused concern to Grey Power. These include a cap on funding for five years (CPI adjustment only); the potential for cost transfer from central Govt. to regional councils, and the potential impact of the requirement to use electronic ticketing on the universality of the scheme. The relevant Federation Board Committees have been pursuing these issues on your behalf and will continue to do so. Actions taken and positions reached to date are as follows.
No loss of Access
As noted in the report on the October advocacy visit, this issue was discussed with the Minister, Simon Bridges, and we obtained an assurance that none of the changes will affect access. This is reflected in current documentation eg New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA) allocation methodology principles “access of SGC holders to the scheme is not affected”
Funding allocation
NZTA has been tasked with developing a funding model in conjunction with regional councils, Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) and other stakeholders. We will be making a submission to NZTA as major stakeholder on your behalf. We are also in contact with LGNZ and various regional councils throughout the country to ensure our view point is heard. NZTA’s preferred option does give more money to the regions at the expense of the main centres, which together with the lifting of the moratorium on new services could help address the concern about the lack of services there. However it will be down to local associations to lobby for those services within their area.
Cost transfer
We understand from regional councils that NZTA’s proposed option for funding allocation has allayed some concerns regarding cost transfer, and note that provision has now been made for increased funding above CPI if “robust data and evidence is provided to support the need”
Electronic card requirement.
One of our main concerns has been that the requirement for the use of an electronic ticket could undermine the universality of the SGC travel scheme, and add considerable end user cost. To date the Ministry of Transport (MoT) have softened the original proposal to introduce this requirement immediately, to the extent that it is now up to Regional Councils when this requirement is introduced. Our concern is that their change is more to do with the practicalities of implementation for regional councils than an attempt to address the problem of universality. We will raise this issue specifically with the Minister, and will also continue to advocate directly with MoT on this point. We would ask that all associations also lobby their regional councils to ensure that mandatory electronic ticketing is delayed until obtaining one is possible for visitors before they need one eg at the airport, station etc and that there is no requirement to keep a cash balance. This is particularly relevant for Auckland associations and members. We will notify you all of any further issues or progress as and when it occurs.
Federation Office.