Adrian Esterman, University of South Australia Compared to many other countries around the world, Australia and New Zealand have done an exceptional job controlling COVID-19. As of May 7, there were 794 active cases of COVID-19 in Australia. Only 62 were in hospital. The situation in New Zealand is similar, with 136 active cases, only two of whom are in …

Robin Gauld, University of Otago New Zealand’s budget brings a significant funding injection for health and disability services, amounting to around a 9% increase. It is the most substantial increase for the health sector in some time, and in this regard, aligns with the government’s 2019 well-being budget. Overall, the budget provides an additional NZ$4.3 billion over the next four …

Grant Duncan, Massey University New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has won global admiration for her personal style. But how will Kiwis judge her government’s performance at the ballot-box in September? A major factor in that decision will be how well today’s budget is received – and how well it achieves its stated aim of “responding, recovering and rebuilding” after …