'It's hell on a pension'

Annette King, the Labour Party's shadow health minister, and Penny Gaylor, the Labour candidate for Taranaki-King Country in next month's elections, faced some tough questions when they visited Inglewood last week.

They spent more than an hour at the Marinoto Resthome talking to residents who were more than happy to voice their opinions on the issues facing their families and peers.

"It's sheer hell managing on a pension," Maureen Swantson said, wanting to know how the Labour party plan to help senior citizens.

With lots of nodding heads and murmurs of agreement from others in the room, Maureen added that going to the doctor can be a financial struggle for the elderly.

Annette says that the health policy introduced last week by Labour, would see an improvement in this, with the promise of free prescriptions to those aged over 65.

"Pharmacists tell us that they have hundreds, if not thousands, of prescriptions never picked up by patients because of the cost," she says.

Penny says she is "very proud of our policies", adding that as a mother of young children, she feels the policies will benefit the young as well as the elderly.

"I am seeing the need for teachers in schools and I am confident that our education policies are focused on the right things to improve education in our schools."