Woman can afford only one shower a week | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Rotorua pensioners are doing it tough to save on costs - one woman is even showering once a week to save on her power bill.

Rotorua Grey Power secretary Rosemary MacKenzie told The Daily Post she didn't know of many superannuitants who didn't have "cold washes".

Other cases involve a woman making only one big cup of tea to last her the whole day so she wouldn't have to keep boiling her kettle.

Rather than waste money on heating, one woman has moved all her bedding into her lounge so she has to heat only one room.

Mrs MacKenzie's comments come amid fresh calls for the Government to raise superannuation rates following a survey that found our elderly are short by about $30 a week.

When it came to the weekly food shop, Mrs MacKenzie said elderly people living on super had to go for the cheaper cuts of meat and, with the price of fruit and vegetables so high, some found it hard to pay for the necessities.

Other people she knew of put off going to the doctor, which she thought was concerning as it could lead to health problems.

One group largely affected by medical costs were those who needed glasses or hearing aids.

"The price of hearing aids is out of this world," Rosemary's husband, Allan MacKenzie said.

Hearing aids range in price from $500 to $3000, depending on the sophistication of the product.

The couple said those people could get Work and Income grants, but they had to be paid back.

Mrs MacKenzie said while they dreaded the necessary things that needed doing, it was the unexpected things that "slay you".

Mr and Mrs MacKenzie say the current superannuation amount is not a lot of money for two people to live on a week.

"What we have is an existence," Mrs MacKenzie said.

The couple said retirement should be for living out their lives, but instead elderly people are spending their retirement just trying to get through with what little money they have.

Mrs MacKenzie said an adequate amount would leave enough left over for a bit of living, like being able to take a holiday.

Many superannuitants can't even afford to go and see relatives, she said. "It's a struggle for some people. There's not a lot left over."

Currently, a married couple who both qualify are entitled to $489.42 a week and a married couple where only one spouse is eligible is entitled to $465.48 a week.

A new study by Katikati man John Logan has shown that many people who receive the New Zealand Superannuation are short by about $30 plus every week.

The study was jointly released by Mr Logan, Age Concern New Zealand and Grey Power.

The study revealed that even the most minimal living costs, based on Statistics New Zealand figures, added up to more than the current super payments a week.

They are calling on Prime Minister John Key to raise super to the maximum amount allowed in legislation, to direct officials to check the adequacy of the super level and to adjust super twice a year using price increases of relevant goods and services rather than the more general inflation measure.

Mr Key has told Age Concern and Grey Power that the Ministry of Social Development's research showed the majority of older New Zealanders had a very good standard of living.

Poverty rates are relatively low among older New Zealanders and internationally, the hardship rate for older New Zealanders is among the lowest in the developed world, Mr Key said.