Budget 2026

The Herald reports:

That’s a good headline.

Schools, hospitals and the motorists of Waikato are the winners of Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ final Budget of this term, with major losers including banks, which will face an additional tax worth $209 million.

The Budget included no direct fuel crisis relief for households, although there is additional relief for some services that are exposed to high fuel costs, including increases in mileage rates, which were previously announced. The Government has given itself a $450m contingency fund for fuel-related costs in the future. 

Looks a highly responsible budget with more spending in key areas, but funded by way of cuts in other areas so we are on track to get back into surplus a year earlier.