Peters ups ante in bid for pensioner votes

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has upped the ante in the bidding war for pensioners' votes.

Both National and Labour have moved to support the raising of the New Zealand Superannuation payout from 65 per cent of the average wage to 66 per cent.

It went up as part of NZ First's support deal with Labour after the last election.

Mr Peters said yesterday that this was not good enough and if either party wanted his support after the election they would have to lift the rate to 68 per cent.

He said the cost of 68 per cent was an estimated $200 million.

Mr Peters said National had cut super when last in office and could not be trusted. National leader John Key told the Sunday Star-Times that he would quit his job and Parliament if any party he led cut super.

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