After spending much of his political career fighting for superannuitants, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is now one of them.

Mr Peters turned 65 yesterday, qualifying him for his beloved SuperGold card and a pension.

He is planning a comeback next year although most of his former political colleagues have deserted the party he founded in 1993 after falling out with National. Mr Peters now qualifies for a pension cheque of just over $300 a week and can join other pensioners on their favourite free ride, the Waiheke Island ferry using his SuperGold card.