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SuperGold Card review underway

Updated: 13 October 2010

The Ministry of Transport – in collaboration with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) - is undertaking a review of the SuperGold Card free off-peak travel scheme. The NZTA is managing the consultation phase, the results of which will be taken into account when the government decides on any changes to ensure the scheme’s sustainability into the future.

Feedback is being sought from key stakeholders on the Options to change the SuperGold card Free Off-Peak Travel Scheme consultation document, which explores ways to refine the scheme to ensure its sustainability.

Consultation index

Background

The SuperGold Card is available to all eligible New Zealanders aged 65 years or over and those under this age who receive the New Zealand Superannuation or the Veterans Pension.

In 2008 funding of $18 million a year was made available by the government to allow free off peak travel on scheduled urban public transport services within regions for SuperGold card holders.

This concession was rolled out in most parts of the country on 1 October 2008 with all regions (except West Coast) in the scheme by 1 November 2008.

The scheme offers the approximately 540,000 (as at October 2009) SuperGold card holders in New Zealand increased mobility and greater access to the community.

The number of SuperGold cardholders is increasing on average by 20,000 net a year.

Review of SuperGold card public transport scheme

At the time the SuperGold card scheme (the scheme) was implemented in 2008 it was announced a review would be undertaken after the first 12 months to identify any refinements that may need to be made to ensure its long term sustainability.

The initiative is new to New Zealand and as there is little international data on similar schemes, projections on uptake have largely needed to be estimated based on available information.

  • After the first 12 months of operation it has become clear that in its present form, the scheme is not financially sustainable with the funding available.
  • To assure the scheme’s future sustainability, changes will need to be made to reduce costs.
  • The aim of the review process is to develop recommendations for changing the scheme in a way that is fair to all while delivering enough cost savings to make it sustainable for the next few years.

The review is considering how a consistent national level of service can continue to be provided for the scheme within the available budget of $18 million a year.

This includes looking at:

  • the uptake of the scheme in each region
  • how the definition of ‘off peak’ is used around the country
  • how operators are being reimbursed for SuperGold card trips.

Consultation document

In addition, key stakeholders including regional and local authorities, public transport operators, Grey Power, Age Concern NZ, the Returned and Services’ Association (RSA), and the Ministry of Social Development’s Volunteer Community Co-ordinators for the Office for Senior Citizens have been asked to give feedback on a Consultation document (PDF, 16 pages, 271 KB) (Ministry of Transport website) which outlines a number of options for keeping the scheme financially sustainable.

The highest priority for the review is to consider how to keep the scheme financially sustainable while continuing to provide improved mobility for older people.