Minister: ‘Boomer’ label is unhelpful

Minister for seniors Ayesha Verrall does not think it’s helpful to describe older people as “boomers”.

Green MP Ricardo MenendezMarch was yesterday announced as the party’s spokesperson for seniors, and was quickly criticised on social media for stating he was ready to ask seniors “are you okay, boomer?”.

The comment was made in reference to Chloe Swarbrick’s infamous exchange with National MP Todd Muller in the House, in which she told him “Okay boomer” after he interrupted her speech on the Zero Carbon Amendment Bill.

In the same post, he pointed to the amount of welfare support seniors receive.

“Hardship grants for senior citizens have increased over the past few years, with growing inequities for our migrant, Pasifika and Ma¯ori senior citizens.

“Everybody deserves to grow old with dignity,” his post said.

“Boomer” is short for baby boomer, the term used for the generation born between 1946 and 1964. That generation is now aged between 56 and 74.

When asked about MenendezMarch’s comment, Verrall said MPS were responsible for their own statements.

She wouldn’t say if she would use the phrase, but added “the important thing is to be respectful for all the people in our community”.