While today's budget is the most positive change in direction for a decade, it is still fumbling in its approach to stimulating long term growth, says the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER).
The New Zealand sharemarket failed to get a lift from a well received government budget and slipped for a fifth successive session as offshore markets continued to weaken.
Many in the tourism industry rubbing their hands together last week following an announcement that the Government would provide a $25 million marketing boost are now worried about how to deal with a rise in GST.
Students and staff at tertiary education institutions say today's budget continues a trend of underfunding the sector.
A firm commitment to the role of training in supporting the country's economic and social development is shown in today's budget, says Industry Training Federation executive director Jeremy Baker.
People should work out what today's budget means for them before making any financial decisions, says Retirement Commissioner Diana Crossan.
Finance Minister Bill English has come up with a tax package "that almost looks like white rabbits out of the hat", New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants Institute tax director Craig Macalister says.
The education sector has had to come up with more than half of the $1.9 billion to fund new education initiatives over the next four years.
Across the board tax cuts which the Government says will more than compensate for an increase in GST are the main feature of Finance Minister Bill English's second budget.
Property prices may fall as a result of today's budget, but it is harder to tell if rents will go up as landlords try to make up for paying more tax on property investments, according to analysts.
Today's budget is the fairest in more than a decade, according to the Employers and Manufacturers Association.
The Researched Medicines Industry Association (RMI) has welcomed the budget announcement of continued investment in medicines over the next four years.
Children will be the big losers in today's budget, says New Zealand Kindergartens Inc.
Today's budget is a significant step forward in terms of realigning the economy in favour of New Zealand's productive sectors, and creating a fairer tax system for all, according to Food and Grocery Council chief executive Katherine Rich.
Today's budget announcement that GST will rise to 15 percent means there is less money available to community groups from the proceeds of gambling, says Community Gaming Association chairman John Burke.
An email poll of key Auckland retailers reveals that 82 percent of respondents believe the timing of the Government's GST increase is "bad".
The Government doesn't need to lose any sleep over this budget. The tax cuts were more than had been expected, loopholes used by wealthy people to limit their liabilities are being closed and rich property owners are being hit with significant increases.
The Government wants to focus early childhood education (ECE) on low socio-economic areas and has cut down the incentives for having a high proportion of registered teachers - meaning parents may have to pay more.
The tax cuts in today's budget will not lessen the lure of Australia for many New Zealanders, says the Combined Trade Unions (CTU).
Today's budget is an attack on working class new Zealanders, says the Maritime Union.
