Winston Peters punts revamped Super Gold Card with treats that will cost taxpayers little

NZ First leader Winston Peters at a Grey Power meeting in Kerikeri.

There will be "very little" taxpayer money going into the "new generation" of NZ First's Super Gold Card but the overhaul will deliver for older New Zealanders, says party leader Winston Peters.

He's still a few days away from releasing the details of the upgraded version of his most successful policy concession.

But it didn't stop Peters touting the few public details and promising large at a Grey Power meeting in Kerikeri today.

"I want to make sure people realise how much more they can get out of this card and make their ... national superannuation go a lot further."

Peters repeated his pledge that the overhauled Super Gold Card would include three free doctors visits a year, one free eye test and discounts on power bills during winter.

He said there were "thousands" of elderly who went blind because they did not get eye tests soon enough.

"It's making very very difficult circumstances for older people much better for them. It will ease their way and so much it is smart organisation. There will be very little taxpayer cost in it.

"I'm going to improve that Super Gold Card because it's 10 years old. It's going to be very exciting for older people when they see what we've done."

There were just 31 people at the meeting to hear Peters offer his election promise when the NZ First bus rolled in to his Northland electorate.

He was met at the door with apologies for the turnout and the explanation his campaign trail had clashed with the funeral of a well-known local.

The meeting saw Peters rattle through policies - the return of rail to the north, the relocation of the Ports of Auckland to Whangarei and the revitalisation of provincial airports.

Alternative suggestions of relocating the Ports of Auckland were panned by Peters. He said moving it to the Firth of Thames meant "you would have to drain more than the Sahara" in sand from the seabed to make it possible.

He said the Government had adopted a "Darwinian" attitude to provincial infrastructure which had become "survival of the fittest" which encouraged "dog-eat-dog" behaviour.

Instead, Peters said there should be less focus on the cost of funding and more on the benefits of providing resources needed.

The state of Northland's roads was a feature with Peters - who is traveling on a campaign bus - suggesting those gathered take a similar journey. He said an elevated view of roads revealed they were in poor condition.

Act leader David Seymour - who has taken to challenging Peters - was dismissive of any upcoming Super Gold Card announcement.

"The sad thing is we're seeing is another lolly scramble election. It seems baby boomers are being greedy again."

He said the card was "largely symbolic" with a cost that was a fraction of superannuation.
Seymour added: "He's getting a bit long in the tooth and run out of good ideas."