Generation split fear over super.

Press, 22 August 1989, Page 1

Generation split fear over super.

By

SUZANNE KEEN

Government superannuation policies announced in the recent Budget could cause ageist attitudes and split generations, says the president of the Canterbury Gerontology Association, Mrs Peggy Koopman-Boyden. She told the "Celebrating Age” conference in Christchurch yesterday that today’s'middle-aged generation paid taxes towards national superannuation while knowing that when they reached old-age payments would be available to fewer of them and at a lesser rate.

The present generation of superannuitants and those who would continue to receive it until the end of the century might be seen as the lucky ones. "Whereas in the past we have

assumed that the Welfare State will endeavour to ensure equity and fairness within the elderly population, now we must ensure that there is equity between generations — that one generation is not unfairly aisked to pass over its money to another generation.” Mrs Koopman-Boyden said it should be recognised that the elderly need not be the enormous burden on society that some people suggested. The support of the older generation could be eased with more flexible retirement policies. She suggested policies where people could move into part-time positions before full retirement, where superannuation was paid at a lesser rate for those who - wished to retire earlier, or alter-

natively at a higher rate for those who retired later. Mrs Koopman-Boyden said that in the 1970 s the women’s movement of New Zealand seriously questioned the narrow stereotype that society held for the role of women. During the last decade it had been proven that “women can do anjhbing” and that biology did not limit a person’s destiny. “It is now time to take the same empowering attitudes to the elderly, to let the elderly jog. continue leadership and maintain full-time Let s celebrate ag?_>r ensuring older people csa" participate to the fullest,” she said. Conference reports page 6