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Focus on international visitor levy
The Finance Minister is putting her stocks in proposals to increase money collected through the international visitor levy, saying there's no support from coalition parties to revisit a bed tax.
Budget 2024
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Bishop confronted by protesters in city
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Bishop coy on hospital plans
National MP Chris Bishop had to make a hasty departure from protesters while in Dunedin to talk hospitals and housing yesterday.
Growth needed to beat ‘mismanagement’
Growth needed to beat ‘mismanagement’
"The Budget is the start of a cleanup job after six years of economic mismanagement."
More police jobs from Budget an illusion: union
More police jobs from Budget an illusion: union
The government's Budget funding for 500 new front-line police will actually result in only 300 extra officers on the beat, a union says.
More police jobs from Budget an illusion: union
More police jobs from Budget an illusion: union
The government's Budget funding for 500 new front-line police will actually result in only 300 extra officers on the beat, a union says.
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Seniors will suffer most, Leary says
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Seniors will suffer most, Leary says
Seniors are the biggest losers in this year’s Budget, the MP for Taieri says.
Opinion: Budget a 'mixed bag' for disabled people
Opinion: Budget a 'mixed bag' for disabled people
Disabled people around the country are feeling a mixture of disappointment and relief in the new coalition government's first Budget, writes Dunedin's Chris Ford.
Drug funding U-turn ‘despicable’
Drug funding U-turn ‘despicable’
Melissa Vining has blasted the government for a "despicable" U-turn on promised funding for cancer medicines in Budget 2024.
Cancer patient devastated government won't fund new drugs
Cancer patient devastated government won't fund new drugs
A woman living with tumours on her heart says she is devastated the government has broken its promise to fund 13 new cancer drugs.
Cancer patient devastated government won't fund new drugs
Cancer patient devastated government won't fund new drugs
A woman living with tumours on her heart says she is devastated the government has broken its promise to fund 13 new cancer drugs.
Hope for benefits from infrastructure investment
Hope for benefits from infrastructure investment
No frills or surprises — that’s how business leaders have described Budget 2024.
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$5m for med school business case
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$5m for med school business case
More than $5million is set aside for a business case towards a third medical school at the University of Waikato in the Budget, despite critics suggesting it is on shaky ground.
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Fees-free change seen as disincentive to study by some
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Fees-free change seen as disincentive to study by some
Some university students feel changes to the "fees-free" scheme could put people off starting tertiary education.
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Prudent approach taken by Willis
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Prudent approach taken by Willis
As debut Budgets go, this was a pretty responsible effort. Nicola Willis only occasionally waved her magic wand and all the big spending initiatives - not that there were many - were signalled well in advance, and duly delivered.
‘Astonished’: hundreds protest against govt decisions
‘Astonished’: hundreds protest against govt decisions
A Dunedin student leader told hundreds in the Octagon she was "astonished" Māori still had to fight for their rights in 2024.
Money for extra police hits spot
Money for extra police hits spot
Funding for more police officers was welcomed at a South Dunedin pub. The Otago Daily Times sat down with patrons at Heffs Hotel to get their take on Budget 2024.
Minister just meets the threshold of tax cut promises
Minister just meets the threshold of tax cut promises
Nicola Willis’ first Budget delivered on several promises made by the coalition during the election and while most had been signalled, it's good to see the final form once costs have been calculated.
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Making predictability a virtue
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Making predictability a virtue
Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday played it with as straight a bat as she could. Hers was a predictable Budget.
Willis pulls a skinny rabbit out of the hat
Willis pulls a skinny rabbit out of the hat - but magic is magic
This year’s Budget had a lot riding on it for new finance minister Nicola Willis and the three-way coalition government.
Good intentions will need to match results
Good intentions will need to match results
This first National Budget was always going to be a difficult one because people have been doing it tough for an extended period, writes Presbyterian Support's Jo O'Neill.