What about a credit system, like Barter Card, for instance, for people who do voluntary work?

There is a ton of untapped talent out there. People of all ages can find themselves under-utilised, from young school leavers, unemployed people, “baby boomers”, and the elderly.     Why not harness this treasury of untapped talent and get all hands back on deck, doing something, and giving back to the community. A system like this should not be allowed to affect the Government benefit they are paid.  There are tens of thousands of hours of study and practical working experience just being thrown onto the rubbish dump of “old age”. Wake up!!!

There was a recent story on TVNZ, about a shortage of long haul truck drivers here in New Zealand. One truck fleet owner was reported as scouring the retirement homes to look for people who could drive these big trucks. Okay, this wasn’t voluntary work, and the people who took him up on his offers would no doubt have their pensions reduced by the government.  Why can’t people over the age, say, of 70, who keep on working, keep their pensions and their wages?  They will pay taxes on both and so contribute to the overall benefit of the community.   I am sure there are many professional people out there thrown into the limbo of wasted time and lost talent. I knew an accountant who was so desperate at the retirement blight on his life, that he re-opened his practice, just to get some relief and human contact going.

And how about the retired health professionals, like doctors, nurses, other trained and qualified health professionals, not to mention teachers., who all cost millions to educate. There are a myriad of people out there who could do a few hours a week.

So how about it, Prime Minister John Keys. Election issue next 2016?