Budget 2013: Return to surplus in two years
Finance Minister Bill English has stayed on the track set in previous years in today's Budget, reconfirming the return to surplus in two years while taking steps to reduce the risk of a housing bubble.
Budget 2013
Opinion: It's a win for the South
Opinion: It's a win for the South
Budget 2013 provides plenty for the South, writes ODT political editor Dene Mackenzie.
Lakes area buyers still out in cold
Lakes area buyers still out in cold
For Arrowtown couple Hayden Finch and Bex Harrex, yesterday's Budget was not what they were hoping for.
Government urged to address skill shortage
Government urged to address skill shortage
The Government is not doing enough to attract engineering and construction students in the face of rising demand due to the Christchurch rebuilding and a housing shortage, Otago Polytechnic chief executive Phil Ker says.
Opinion: Government's pragmatism trumps principle in Budget
Opinion: Government's pragmatism trumps principle in Budget
One of the reasons why governments slowly decay and die is that the longer they are in office the more prone they become to ugly pragmatism and compromise of principle.
Eye on the future
Eye on the future
All Budgets are, of course, political as well as financial documents.
Research boost plays to city's strengths
Research boost plays to city's strengths
Discussions around the commercialisation of research from the University of Otago will take on a different dimension following a $130 million Government investment into Kiwi research and development.
Meridian confirmed as next for sale
Meridian confirmed as next for sale
Meridian Energy has been confirmed as the next state-owned electricity generator to be partly sold down and listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX) in the second half of this year.
Gains meagre, family on benefit say
Gains meagre, family on benefit say
A Dunedin family living on an unemployment benefit say measures in the Budget announced yesterday were paltry but some of the proposed pilot schemes had potential.
Tertiary sector still 'squeezed'
Tertiary sector still 'squeezed'
The Government's tertiary education budget represents a continued ''squeeze'' on the sector, with funding for most subjects not even adjusted for inflation, both the Otago Polytechnic and the Otago University Students' Association say.
New measures to address financial stability confirmed
New measures to address financial stability confirmed
The Reserve Bank has been given the go-ahead to implement extra measures which could affect future home buyers by requiring greater deposits before loans are approved.
Predicted $75m barely qualifies as surplus
Predicted $75m barely qualifies as surplus
The Government reaffirmed its commitment to have its books back in surplus by 2015 but at $75 million, the surplus remains in the category of margin for error.
$200m in extra funding 'positive'
$200m in extra funding 'positive'
University of Otago senior genetics researcher Associate Prof Peter Dearden is ''incredibly pleased'' the Government has boosted science, innovation and research funding by $200 million in the Budget.
Diabetes funding welcomed but aged care not enough, critics say
Diabetes funding welcomed but aged care not enough, critics say
Despite health getting the biggest funding increase in yesterday's Budget, critics warn some important areas are not receiving enough money.
Key tips early surplus
Key tips early surplus
Prime Minister John Key says it is possible the Government could get close to a surplus in the coming financial year - one year earlier than officially predicted in yesterday's Budget.
Aussie treasurer 'dumbfounded' by comparison with NZ
Aussie treasurer 'dumbfounded' by comparison with NZ
New Zealand is forecasting a budget surplus a year earlier than Australia but Treasurer Wayne Swan says he is "completely dumbfounded" anyone would suggest that was because of a better economic performance.
Plans to make more expenses deductible
Plans to make more expenses deductible
Deep within the Government's Budget can be found mysterious references to "black hole expenditure" and "thin capitalisation rules".
Loans default policy for 'the worst of the worst'
Loans default policy for 'the worst of the worst'
Steven Joyce says only overseas-based residents who deliberately default on their student loan repayments will be arrested at the border.
Surplus plans please EMA
Surplus plans please EMA
Returning the Government's books to surplus by 2014/15 gives business a lot of confidence, the Employers and Manufacturers Association says.
$188m for welfare reforms
$188m for welfare reforms
The Government has allocated a further $188.6 million for its welfare reforms, including funding to contract out some of its highest-needs beneficiaries to external providers to deal with.