English springs surprise
Finance Minister Bill English pulled off a masterstroke in Budget 2015.
Budget 2015
Mixed reaction to Budget
Mixed reaction to Budget
Today's Budget was described as "tight-fisted", lagging in help for workers and it even inspired Winston Peters to quote a Split Enz hit from the late 1970s.
Affordable housing planned on Crown land
Affordable housing planned on Crown land
Housing Minister Nick Smith says thousands of new homes will be built as part of a planned affordable housing development on vacant Crown land.
PM makes move on housing profits
PM makes move on housing profits
The capital gains of people selling residential property within two years of buying it will now be taxed, Prime Minister John Key announced this morning as part of the Budget package.
Protest actions disappointing: poilce
Protest actions disappointing: poilce
The actions of protesters who tried to force their way into the SkyCity events centre today were disappointing, police say.
Business left wanting, barely crumbs for South
Business left wanting, barely crumbs for South
Business interests received only a cursory nod in the Government's Budget yesterday and there was little for regions outside Auckland, except a contestable share of a $25 million fund to create mixed public-private regional research institutes.
$52m fund to help in Auckland
$52m fund to help in Auckland
The Government says it is accelerating its efforts to address the housing crisis in Auckland by establishing a $52million fund to help with housing development.
English keeps tight hold on reins
English keeps tight hold on reins
In his seventh Budget Finance Minister Bill English keeps a tight fist around the reins of government spending.
Surpluses still in forecasts only
Surpluses still in forecasts only
The Crown books are in good shape and on track to a surplus next year as the Government maintains its careful and responsible management of public spending, Finance Minister Bill English says.
Government ditches $1000 kick-start incentive for KiwiSaver
Government ditches $1000 kick-start incentive for KiwiSaver
The $1000 kick-start incentive to join KiwiSaver has ended immediately as part of Budget 2015 announcements by Finance Minister Bill English.
Retailers likely to be disappointed
Retailers likely to be disappointed
Retailers will be disappointed the Government isn't taxing purchases on overseas websites, says Retail NZ's general manager public affairs Greg Harford.
Land on offer but builders scarce
Land on offer but builders scarce
Builders are already fretting about responding to Government plans for up to 10,000 affordable new residences on 500ha of the Auckland Crown landbank.
Comment: A give-and-take Budget
Comment: A give-and-take Budget
Bill English's seventh Budget is a give-and-take Budget.
Ten things you need to know about the Budget
Ten things you need to know about the Budget
The 10 key things you need to know out of today's Budget announcement.
More cash for Christchurch's post-quake recovery
More cash for Christchurch's post-quake recovery
The Government has boosted funding for Christchurch's post-quake recovery by another $27 million in today's Budget.
District health boards get $320m
District health boards get $320m
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman
The country's district health boards will get $320 million over four years to meet cost pressures, in new spending announced in Budget 2015.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman said New Zealand's health budget would reach a record $15.9 billion in the coming year.
Surprise new levy hit for travellers
Surprise new levy hit for travellers
The cost of international travel will likely go up after today's Budget contained a surprise border clearance levy.
Kiwi threat prompts conservation boost
Kiwi threat prompts conservation boost
A warning about the potential extinction of New Zealand's national bird has prompted Government to boost funding to conservation efforts.
Package 'aimed at helping parents into work'
Package 'aimed at helping parents into work'
The Budget has delivered a sweet and sour takeaway for parents on the benefit - they will have to look for work when their youngest child turns three but their benefit will go up by $25 a week.
Govt to write off child support penalty payments
Govt to write off child support penalty payments
The Government will write off $1.7 billion in penalty payments for parents who failed to meet their child support obligations, saying the system was "overly punitive".