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Finance Minister Bill English has unveiled his sixth budget, setting the fiscal agenda for NZ just months out from the election. Since 2009, English has worked towards bringing New Zealand back to surplus and has finally been able to confirm what seemed like a distant goal in the wake of the global financial crisis. In what he previewed as a “pretty sensible” outing, English has delivered reassurance and will take solace in the fact that he’s certain to come out looking far better than his Australian counterpart Joe Hockey. In the face of ongoing ministerial scandals and growing concern around party donations, does English have a political ace in the hole to help turn the tide and revitalize a faltering National outfit? Read on.
www.newzealandinc.com – coverage
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2014 Budget – Full Parliamentary Debate Video of parliaments bduget debate yesterday, including speeches from PM John Key and Labour Leader David Cunliffe. Read more… |
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Aaron Quintal: A pop song Budget for a rock star economy? This is not a budget that will change anyone’s opinion of the Government, be they friend or foe. But it does allow the Government to keep its powder dry in the run up to the election. Read more… |
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Jonathan Underhill: ‘Sweet spot’ Budget marks NZ as stand-out economy Two days after Australia’s black budget, New Zealand Finance Minister Bill English has unveiled a Crown balance sheet where revenue growth runs ahead of expenses in an economy accelerating to the fastest pace in a decade. Read more… |
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Pattrick Smellie: The worm turns in Budget 2014 In 2014, Finance Minister Bill English has delivered a Budget that looks like a restrained version of the kind of Budget a Labour Finance Minister would like to deliver. Read more… |
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Alexander Speirs: 5 key points for Bill’s Budget With Finance Minister Bill English set to deliver his sixth budget for the country, New Zealand Inc looks at five key themes to consider for the upcoming years financial framework. Read more… |
Around the Web: Post-Budget Reaction
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Fran O’Sullivan: Left stewing at poached policy Finance Minister Bill English’s sixth Budget has taken the wind out of Labour’s electoral sails. Labour is rather miffed that English has announced a $500 million “children and families” package as the centrepiece of the pre-election Budget. Read more… |
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David Parker: Labour wants to bring back the Kiwi dream It’s time to get our priorities right. The economy is there to serve the people, not the other way round. A secure job, time with family and friends, an affordable home and pride in our land should not come second. Read more… |
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Paul Bloxham: Lesson in Oz Budget for NZ: make most of good times As the New Zealand and Australian Governments hand down Budgets within days of each other, the striking feature is the contrasting fortunes of the two economies and the impact on Budget bottom lines. Read more… |
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Adam Bennett: Bigger surplus unveiled, doctor visits for kids Bill English has delivered an election year Budget which includes a bigger than forecast surplus, free doctors’ visits for 400,000 more children, big cuts to ACC levies and dangles the prospect of tax cuts in front of voters. Read more… |
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Bloomberg: NZ projects first budget surplus in 7 years, eyes tax cuts English and Prime Minister John Key are campaigning for a third term in office with a message of sound financial management as the economy rebounds from recession and a series of devastating earthquakes Read more… |
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John Armstrong: Budget 2014 – The Great Brain Robbery So much for the election-year Budget which was not going to be an election-year Budget. In delivering his sixth Budget, Bill English has pulled off the Great Brain Robbery. The Labour Party’s brain, that is. Read more… |
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Deloitte: Rock star economy – Is the Government hitting the right notes? The surplus is a marker on a journey, not a destination. Successful economies are about enduring the distance, producing results over an extended period of time and successfully dealing with the inevitable shocks. Read more… |
Budget Resources
| Budget 2014 – Income Tax Tracker See how this year’s Budget figures compare to what your tax dollars purchased last year. |
| Budget 2014 – Budget Speech The full speech delivered by Minister of Finance Bill English to commence Parliament’s Budget debate this afternoon. |
| Budget 2014 – At a Glance Official Government released overview of the 2014 budget with need to know facts and figures. |
| Budget 2014 – Fiscal Strategy Report A summary of the Government’s approach to fiscal policy as a surplus is confirmed and decreasing debt promoted to top priority. |
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Around the Web: Pre-Budget Chatter
| Fran O’Sullivan: Budget has more riding on it than economic management Next week Finance Minister Bill English delivers his sixth – and if John Key doesn’t stomp on the political scandals which are wreaking havoc on National – maybe his last Budget. Read more… |
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PWC New Zealand report card Despite the imporving economic climate, this is still going to be a challenging budget for the New Zealand Government says PWC. Read More… |
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Claire Trevett: Finally English gets his Webb Ellis Cup Budget Whether by design or merry happenstance, Finance Minister Bill English will stand to present his maiden surplus today just two days after his counterpart in Australia delivered his Budget. Read more… |
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Alan Judge: What’s left out will define election Thursday’s Budget – and the Opposition’s response -should set the agenda for informed, pre-election debate on issues critical to New Zealand, says EY’s Alan Judge. Read more… |