New Zealand remains financially vulnerable, but there are positive signs emerging and the economy is on track to grow about 3 percent per annum over the next four years following two years of contractions.
The worst of the recession was over and New Zealand had weathered it better than many developed economies, Mr English said.
He said the budget would fund improved public services, a better tax package for the economy and families, while producing a lower track for public debt.
The projected operating deficit in next financial year was $8.6 billion, or 4.2 percent of GDP, but steady improvements meant a surplus was expected in the 2015/2016 year - three years ahead of last year's projection.
Net core crown debt ($26.6b or 14.1 percent of GDP for 2010) was forecast to peak at 27 percent of GDP in the 2014 year, before declining steadily.
Mr English continued to implicate the previous Labour administration in allowing for government expenditure to balloon and the economy to decline well before the recession hit.
"Too many New Zealanders have discovered that growth driven by debt, government spending and property speculation does not create worthwhile, permanent jobs."
The country's largest single vulnerability was its large and growing net external liabilities.
"New Zealand owes the world $168 billion, or around 90 percent of GDP."
Private sector debt to foreign lenders had also grown over the past decade.
Reducing those vulnerabilities by "tilting our economy away from debt and consumption toward savings, investment and exports" was the focus of Government policies.
Mr English said Treasury forecasts showed predicted growth would raise real incomes of the average household by about $7000 over the next four years and create 170,000 jobs.
He was confident a strong emergence from the recession would position New Zealand strongly as a an attractive place to live and do business.
