Clare Wilson Local Labour

Imagine working all your life, earning money and bringing up a family, possibly fighting in a war, or receiving minimum wage all your life, but managing your mortgage and bills.

Alternatively, we all know people who've lost their life savings in an investment fund that went belly up, or through unavoidable circumstances.

Now imagine you're in your retirement years, a widower, living in a small freehold property, getting $367 per week in superannuation.

Budget for power, rates, insurance, telephone and food – I used the ‘frugal' settings on the ENZ cost of living website – and it is nearly all gone, without provision for a birthday or Christmas gift, or a dental appointment.

Again, that is for a freehold property. If the average small rental property in Tauranga is $250 per week, we're looking at a whole different picture.

It is with this in mind Labour has released its policy to fund GP visits and prescriptions for our those 65-plus.

There will also be increased funding to the care-plus service for people living with chronic health conditions.

The alternative budget explains clearly how Labour plans to pay for these improvements to health care services for our senior citizens.

Speaking to many retired members of our community during this election campaign, I'm sensing an overwhelming relief from many that the barriers to healthcare will be reduced and we're showing our valued seniors they are important to us – and we believe they deserve to be cared for.

People are our priority.