$2b boost for Christchurch rebuild
$2b boost for Christchurch rebuild
The Government has allocated $900 million of new money from the asset sales programme as part of the $2 billion increase in funding for the rebuild of quake-damaged Christchurch.
Budget 2013
All state house tenancies to be reviewed
All state house tenancies to be reviewed
All state house tenants will have their tenancies reviewed and be forced to move on once their circumstances change under changes made in the Budget - a step expected to result in 3000 tenants moving out of state houses by 2017.
Student loan defaulters could be arrested at border
Student loan defaulters could be arrested at border
Student loan borrowers who have defaulted on their repayments could be arrested at the border under new sanctions in Budget 2013 in a drive to increase student loan repayments.
$19m to establish charter schools
$19m to establish charter schools
The Government will spend $19 million on establishing the first charter schools in 2014.
Housing policy underwhelming - opposition parties
Housing policy underwhelming - opposition parties
The Government's new housing policy has been slammed by opposition parties as doing little to ease the pressure for first-home buyers.
Carer payment law change attacked
Carer payment law change attacked
A law change to allow family members to be paid for looking after disabled relatives will leave many carers with little extra in the pocket, the Green Party says.
Markets underwhelmed by Budget
Markets underwhelmed by Budget
The financial markets were underwhelmed by the Government's Budget, although a $3 billion cut in its borrowing requirement over next two years came as some surprise to many.
Raft of measures to tackle poverty
Raft of measures to tackle poverty
The Government is to look at setting up a 'warrant of fitness' for rental houses and reduce reliance on loan sharks by piloting a scheme to provide low- or no-interest loans for people on low incomes.
Budget a 'steady as she goes' document
Budget a 'steady as she goes' document
OPINION: The theme of Bill English's fifth Budget is "Building Momentum''. The finance minister should have added the words "slowly'' and "cautiously''.
ACC levies slashed
ACC levies slashed
ACC levies will be significantly reduced for households and businesses with cuts of $300 million next year and $1 billion in the following year.
Meridian Energy to be partially floated this year
Meridian Energy to be partially floated this year
Meridian Energy has been confirmed as the next state-owned energy company to be partially floated on the stock exchange later this year.
Carer payments boosted in record health budget
Carer payments boosted in record health budget
Family members will be paid to look after their disabled adult relatives after the Government set aside $23 million for carer payments in this year's Budget.
KiwiRail investment 'not without risk'
KiwiRail investment 'not without risk'
KiwiRail will receive an extra $94 million in this year's Budget to help make its rail freight business self-sustaining.
Eligibility tightened for student loans and allowances
Eligibility tightened for student loans and allowances
The Government will cut student allowance and loan spending by $29.6 million by introducing further clamp downs on eligibility.
Opinion: Election year comes into sight
Opinion: Election year comes into sight
The Budget today has important implications for the Government, as it aims to put in place social spending initiatives which will come into effect in April or June 2014, giving them time to settle in before the general election later in the year.
Budget tipped to boost confidence
Budget tipped to boost confidence
Budget 2013 would engender business confidence and demonstrate further improvement in New Zealand's financial position, BNZ senior economist Craig Ebert said yesterday.