A New Zealand Senior Citizen Advocacy timeline

 

"Elderly man and woman," Berry & Co, 1920s, Wellington. B.046771, Te Papa Museum collection. 

This will definitely be a work in progress for some time. I have yet to get to visit the archives at the Grey Power Federation's head office (it's a bit of a trek by public transport!), and I have no doubt that folks reading this may well have their memories of this period to relate and add to the narrative. 

I found the history leading up to the beginnings of the current Grey Power movement in New Zealand fascinating. That the moves to provide a voice for our senior citizens dates from 1938 at least shows that the need transcends time, governments, and even the economic situation in the country.

My interest is in the beginnings of Grey Power, what led to the start of the organisation. I didn't realise it was the second, but still the longest lasting, of the political advocacy organisations in its field, as it heads toward its 40th anniversary in 2025.

The first wave of political senior citizen advocacy

A Pensioners’ Association was inaugurated at Whangarei in 1938, to enable “pensioners with common interests to fight more effectively as a united body for the achievement of mutual benefits.” [1]

By 1942, a number of such local associations appear to have formed. The Auckland Social Security Aged Pensioners’ Association met in February, demanding “an increase in pension of 10/- a week for each pensioner.” The Dunedin branch of the association had already passed a similar motion. [2]   The following month, this association was also pushing for housing to be provided for single pensioners. [3]  The Association waited upon Auckland Mayor John Allum to emphasise the urgent housing need. [4]  This was quite a vocal association, and much of what they said then in 1942 would be echoed 40 years later: 

“Alleging that the Government has not carried out promises made to pensioners at the last two general elections, a statement has been issued by the Auckland division of the Age Pensioners' Association, threatening to take concerted political action against future candidates for Parliament who refuse to give satisfactory pledges. We of the old guard are an army of 100,000, not counting widows," the statement continues.” [5]

Around this time, the senior citizen advocacy movement had found its first personality: Thomas Henry Megann of 40a Ponsonby Road in Auckland, a retired clerk who’d shifted from Wellington after 1935 and who became President of the Auckland association. He ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Auckland City Council in 1944, [6]  but between 1944 and 1949 the various local associations appear to have coalesced under his leadership as a national advocacy and lobbying organisation. In 1949, local associations protested against the government’s social security tax. [7]   Megann passed away in 1957 at the age of 84, but had stepped down as President long before that. How long this national organisation lasted beyond Megann’s presidency is not known, although national meetings were held and committees appointed during the 1950s. It is possible, by the early 1970s, that the New Zealand Pensioners Association had become a spent force, local associations becoming involved with their own area’s charity drives etc.

The interim period: moves toward senior citizen’s welfare

As a contrast to the Pensioners Association’s political activism, moves instead to work toward improving the quality of life for senior citizens began in earnest in Otago in 1948. In July that year, a public meeting proposed to be called in Dunedin to set up a local Old People’s Welfare Council. This arose after a meeting of “interested social workers in the honorary staff members’ room in the Public Hospital” was held. [8]   This organisation was set up and founded in September that year. [9]

Just before leaving for England, Dr J A Oddie, medical superintendent of Auckland’s Cornwall Hospital, spoke in December 1949 about the importance of keeping older people as both active members of their families and useful members of the community, and suggested the setting up of an Auckland “old peoples’ welfare committee.” [10] This apparently led to an Old People’s Welfare Council being set up in Auckland. 

Come 1955, when the Government agreed to set up an advisory committee on care of the aged, the committee membership included representatives from the Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Otago Old People’s Welfare Council committees. [11]  This committee functioned from 1956 until 1970 when it was replaced by a sub-committee of the Board of Health. The response to that was the setting up of a National Old People’s Welfare Council. [12] This was incorporated in July 1972, and later in 1987 renamed itself Age Concern New Zealand. 

The second wave of political senior citizen advocacy 

When T H Megann spoke in 1942, he referred to an “old guard” army of 100,000, not counting widows. By 1981, those receiving National Superannuation numbered some 350,000, and they had just been told they would not get an increase of 5% which was to be granted to wage and salary workers, until well after inflation would have eroded its value. 

At the time, there were some local Beneficiaries and Superannuitants Associations, such as one in Christchurch. The head of that association, Mr T R Hill, “said that the 350,000 superannuitants represented a lot of votes. ‘There is enough power in the grey vote to seat or unseat any politician.’” [13]

Whether reference to a “grey vote” influenced the next part of this wave of political outspokenness amongst groups concerned about effects of government policy on national superannuation is not known, but in March 1982 the “Grey Panther” movement began, creating a national “60s Up Movement” organisation, headed by William Sievwright from Birkenhead in Auckland. [14] This was incorporated in June that year. Bill and Margaret Sievwright had learned of the American Grey Panther movement while on holiday there, and returned to New Zealand bringing the idea with them. The movement began with a public meeting in March 1982. [15]

Sievwright spoke out against taxation levels for those on minimum wage, and described the existing tax regime “unbecoming in an affluent society.” [16] With the announcement of the snap election in June 1984, Sievwright was again at the forefront. 

“Superannuation was of considerable concern to at least 21 per cent of voters. He called on parties to pledge themselves to payment of universal superannuation based solely on age and residential qualifications; a rate of payment not less than the existing one; acceptance that it is not a hand-out but a recognition of the contribution this age-group had made; and no means testing or other discriminatory devices. The movement also calls for statements of provision on health services and tax reduction to remove the burden from those on the lowest incomes.” [17]

With Labour’s win in the July election that year, the new Minister of Finance Roger Douglas set-to with drafting a budget to cut the Government deficit and reduce inflation pressures. Amongst the measures was the removal of a tax exemption on new life insurance and superannuation schemes, but he did put through an increase to the rate for National Superannuation. [18]   However, the proposed Income Tax Amendment Bill included a fish-hook; a surcharge on the income above $5200 a year for National Superannuitants, [19] which meant it took effect only once the income surpassed $100 per week above the level of the national superannuation payment itself. The surtax amount would cease once it equalled the full weekly superannuation payment. 

Sievwright responded immediately, saying the move toward the surcharge had frightened people and confused many more. He claimed that a number of those not affected had still hastily withdrawn their money from banks and hidden it in their homes. He described the “poor presentation” of the budget details as “vicious and punitive.” [20]

The newspapers and radio talkback channels filled with stories of senior citizens panicking, cutting down on their household expenses, and the organisation of protest marches. Around 200 superannuitants marched on Parliament on 29 November 1984, led by Mrs Dee Maunder. A petition was organised in Nelson, and a march planned in Auckland. [21]

In December 1984, the 60s Up Movement and the Retired Persons Association held a public meeting in Auckland, opposing the selective taxing of the incomes of national superannuitants. Sievwright also spoke against other measures in the budget. [22] The 60s Up Movement would become formally incorporated in October 1985, and still exists today. 

But they weren’t destined to become the organisation best known for its advocacy and lobbying role on behalf of superannuitants today. 

The rise of Grey Power 

Ray Cody, a prominent sportscaster, retired at the end of 1982. [23] He was interviewed by the Women’s Weekly in April 1985, [24] which is fortunate for those tracing the beginnings of the Grey Power movement.

“When last year’s controversial Budget measures affecting superannuitants were announced, he was stunned,” the Women’s Weekly tells us. “Cody’s silence was only temporary. In the months since, he has become “a bit of a one-man band,” rallying senior citizens to the cause … Ray is emphatic that he didn’t become embroiled in the surcharge furore because his superannuation was threatened. “I had no axe to grind, but I was incensed. Totally angry at the Government’s action. I think they reneged on a major election promise.”

His first actions, as described in the article, probably took place in November and December 1984. He wrote to the Department of Social Welfare. His letter was “passed on to the Finance Ministry, as he received what he considered a less-than-satisfactory stock letter.” Next, he phoned a Sunday paper asking if it would publish an open letter to the Minister of Finance (he got nowhere with that request), and “began talking to people who would be affected by the proposed legislation.”

He then held a meeting at his Mt Albert home “of representatives of senior citizens organisations and welfare groups, who agreed the needs of superannuitants should be widely publicised.”

After his request to have an open letter published was turned down, he did succeed in having an interview with the newspaper – and that received a “heartening” public response. An invitation followed to debate the super surcharge on Christchurch’s 3ZB.

“Within two months more than 1000 letters flooded the letterbox of Ray’s neat Mt Albert home. He logged more than 2000 phone calls, and received unsolicited donations for fighting funds. A morning session on Auckland’s Radio Pacific allowed Ray three solid hours of super debate. There were calls from anxious superannuitants, business people, and the not-so-elderly about the effect of the intended surcharge.”

In January 1985, Cody even debated with Roger Douglas on Radio Pacific.

By April 1985, plans were “underway to develop both a nationwide movement and an Auckland-based ginger group to press for the legislation’s repeal.” By mid May, this had come to pass. Ray Cody was by then President of the National Superannuitants Association, with Ron Hubbard (also from Auckland) as its secretary, flying to Timaru to join the local campaign there to canvass by-election candidates. [25] Jack Thessman, Wellington representative of the National Superannuitants Association, was planning a protest meeting there in September 1985. This was attended by both Cody and Hubbard as President and Secretary of the national association. [26]

In March 1986, the National Superannuitants Association formally incorporated as the New Zealand National Superannuitants Federation, a name altered in 1991 to New Zealand Superannuitants Federation, and then in 1994 to Grey Power New Zealand Federation. By that time Ray Cody had already stepped down as President in March 1991. [27]

Source notes

1.  Northern Advocate, 14 November 1938, p. 3
2.  Auckland Star, 26 February 1942, p. 6
3.  Auckland Star, 13 March 1942, p. 7
4.  NZ Herald, 1 April 1942, p. 6
5.  Auckland Star, 22 May 1942, p. 4
6.  NZ Herald, 7 June 1944, p.4
7.  Press, 15 December 1949, p. 8
8.  Otago Daily Times, 21 July 1948, p. 4 

9.  Otago Daily Times, 10 September 1948, p. 4 

10. Gisborne Herald, 15 December 1949, p. 6
11. Press, 29 September 1955, p. 12
12. Press, 14 September 1971, p. 16
13. Press, 26 May 1981, p. 1
14. NZ Herald 27 May 1982, p. 3; Auckland Star 4 June 1982, p. 6
15. About Us page, 60s Up website. Accessed 7 July 2024
16. Press, 5 August 1983, p. 7
17. Press, 29 June 1984, p. 4
18. Press, 9 November 1984, p. 1
19. Press, 10 November 1984, p.8
20. Press, 12 November 1984, p. 8 

21. Press, 30 November 1984, p. 3
22. Press, 13 December 1984, p. 30
23. NZ Listener, 20 November 1982, p. 136
24. New Zealand Women’s Weekly, 22 April 1985, p. 17
25. Press, 18 May 1985, p. 6
26. Press, 26 August 1985, p. 2; Press, 2 September 1985, p. 8
27. Auckland Star, 17 March 1991, p. A1