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BUDGET 2013: At a Glance

Progress in the Government’s programme while on track to surplus Provides a suite of measures to build faster economic growth, support more jobs and deliver a more innovative and productive economy. Forecasts economic growth to average between 2 and 3 per cent a year over the next four years. Includes a $100 million-a-year internationally-focused growth and innovation package to boost …

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BUDGET 2013 Higher tax take, spending restraint keep 2015 surplus intact

Finance Minister Bill English will meet his targets for a return to budget surplus in 2015 and a drop in net debt by 2021 by putting a cap on new spending, taking in more tax and delaying the resumption of pension contributions. The Budget Economic and Fiscal Update forecasts a faster track for economic growth over the next four years, …

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BUDGET 2013 Meridian mega-float to fund rail, hospitals, schools, irrigation

The country’s most valuable electricity company, Meridian Energy, will be partially privatised in the second of this year, assuming market conditions make it a good time to sell, Finance Minister Bill English announced in today’s budget. The widely anticipated announcement could see the government take in perhaps $3.3 billion for its so-called Future Investment Fund, with the state-owned electricity generator …

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BUDGET 2013 COMMENT – Overly conservative, with a good deal of risk

Bill English has been too conservative in reigning in government expenditure.  If he were confronting a bleaker fiscal picture, like the Australian government, I predict he would have done better. Total government spending in New Zealand is down by $1.4 billion on last year. In Australia total taxes to GDP is 22 percent compared with central government taxation of 32 …

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Telecom’s Gen-i slims down with Davanti sale to management

Telecom’s Gen-i has agreed to sell its Davanti Consulting business in a management buy-out the latest step to trim down IT services unit. Davanti Principal Consultants’ Justin Hamilton, Matt Farrar and Robert Carter have signed a conditional agreement for Gen-i’s Davanti unit for an undisclosed sum, and is expected to settle on May 31, Telecom said in a statement. Gen-i …

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BUDGET 2013 Debt Management Office trims $3 bln from borrowing programme

The New Zealand Debt Management Office will cut its borrowing programme by $3 billion over the next two years as the government looks to clamp down on its growing interest bill and build a buffer for future shocks. The DMO will cut its short-term Treasury bills on issue by $1 billion in the 2013/14 financial year and will reduce bond …

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BUDGET 2013 English signs off on Reserve Bank’s new toolkit

Finance Minister Bill English has given the tick of approval to the Reserve Bank’s new set of tools to cool asset bubbles, the most pressing of which is the country’s heated property market. The minister has signed a memorandum of understanding with central bank governor Graeme Wheeler granting the bank regulator the ability to require lenders to hold more capital …

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