No lolly scramble likely today
Finance Minister Bill English is playing down the chance of any election-year bribes in his sixth Budget, being released this afternoon.
The Budget
Govt unlikely to alter taxing despite council pleas
Govt unlikely to alter taxing despite council pleas
Finance Minister Bill English is unlikely to be swayed by a last-minute plea from the Council of Trade Unions yesterday to change the Government's fiscal objectives.
PM, Goff clash over Budget changes
PM, Goff clash over Budget changes
John Key and Phil Goff clashed in Parliament yesterday over whether the changes in tomorrow's Budget to KiwiSaver, Working for Families and student loans amounted to broken promises by National.
Satisfactory surplus predicted
Satisfactory surplus predicted
The University of Otago is anticipating a "satisfactory" operating surplus next year, even though it is in the midst of what it describes as challenging financial times.
Bleak news for public servants
Bleak news for public servants
Public servants have been warned not to expect any extra Government expenditure in next year's Budget.
Minister defends ETS
Minister defends ETS
Households can more than offset the cost of the Government's emissions trading scheme (ETS) and still get benefits from tax cuts, but Minister for Climate Change Nick Smith admits the Government now needs to get that message out.
Creating primary sector's edge
Creating primary sector's edge
Much was made in the Government's pre-Budget announcements of a bolstering of science and research and development spending. Shaun Coffey looks at how agricultural science can help give New Zealand competitive advantage in world markets.
English the messenger but Budget has stamp of Key
English the messenger but Budget has stamp of Key
Bill English may be the only one with his name on the front cover of Thursday's Budget.
Tight Budget could mean health cuts
Tight Budget could mean health cuts
The Government's increase in health spending in next month's Budget is predicted to be as little as half the rise of a year ago, leading to further cuts in services.
Within our means
Within our means
Is the plan to be meaningful or is it just a political gesture? Not since the days of Sir Robert Muldoon's state department cost-cutting threats in the late 1970s has the public service faced the challenge proposed by the Key Government.
Budget to show long-term debt coming down - Key
Budget to show long-term debt coming down - Key
May's budget will deliver a long-term debt track showing a downward trend, Prime Minister John Key said today.
English warns of tough budget
English warns of tough budget
Finance Minister Bill English today prepared the ground for a tough budget next month in a speech painting a bleak picture of the country's economy which could see promised tax cuts dropped.
No budget glee for taxpayers
No budget glee for taxpayers
Continued Government spending and relief for families and some drought-affected regional economies will be included in next week's budget - but long-awaited tax cuts will not be huge.
Families focus of tax cuts
Families focus of tax cuts
Finance Minister Michael Cullen yesterday delivered a package of tax cuts he says helps the battlers in society deal with the ill-winds blowing offshore.
Students take dim view of budget
Students take dim view of budget
Tertiary students have generally taken a dim view of today's budget, saying it fails to address growing problems including student debt.
Week in politics: Tax cuts tricky balancing act
Week in politics: Tax cuts tricky balancing act
Has Michael Cullen successfully spiked National's plans to offer bigger tax cuts than those he unveiled in Thursday's budget?
Australian workers still better off after latest budgets
Australian workers still better off after latest budgets
Thursday's budget has narrowed the income gap between New Zealand and Australia, but most if not all demographic groups would still be at least marginally better off across the Tasman.
Pre-election tax relief on cards
Pre-election tax relief on cards
Tax relief for New Zealanders looks likely sooner rather than later, with Parliament due to go into urgency today and tomorrow to pass what is expected to be Finance Minister Michael Cullen's budget tax package.
Cullen's unfamiliar challenge
Cullen's unfamiliar challenge
Finance minister Michael Cullen finds himself in the unusual position of announcing a budget tomorrow in times of a deteriorating economy.
$171.6m boost for schools in Budget
$171.6m boost for schools in Budget
Tomorrow's budget will include a 5 percent boost to schools' operational funding over four years to help them meet day-to-day running costs and provide computer technology.