Finance Minister Bill English will deliver the 2016 Budget at 2pm today.

Ahead of this afternoon's announcement, Bill has already said that 'because of some growth in the economy the Crowns accounts are in good order ahead of the release of this year's Budget”.

Finance Minister Bill English.

The $167 million operating balance before gains and losses surplus for the nine months to March 31, was $334 million better than forecast, says Bill.

He says this year's Budget focusses on repaying more debt.

'We've been successful in turning an $18.4 billion deficit in 2011 to a surplus last year. In Budget 2016 our focus is shifting more to repaying debt.

'Budget 2016 will reflect this Government's continued commitment to responsible fiscal management.”

He says at the same time it will build on the good progress the Government made over the previous seven Budgets, with further investment in a growing economy and public services.

'We measure success by results, rather than the level of spending.”

SunLive will bring you Budget announcement updates from 2pm.

But here is what's already been announced:

Apprenticeship training - $14.4 million over four years

Funding for more apprenticeship training will help support another 5500 apprentices by 2020.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce said there was greater demand for apprenticeship, while the training would help to meet projected skills shortages in high-demand industries like construction and infrastructure.

Battle for our Birds - $20.7 million for 2016/17

The Department of Conservation's pest control operation is getting a one-off $20.7 million boost to fight an expected pest population boom.

DOC will ramp up its pest control by 500,000 hectares, while aerial 1080 operations will be backed by ongoing trapping and ground control programmes.

Charter schools

ACT's flagship charter schools policy has been given support, with taxpayer funding for seven new schools.

ACT leader David Seymour said it would cost between $500,000 and $600,000 to set up each school, due to open in 2018 and 2019.

The money would cover the initial payment for the school to be set up, principal funding and property and resource funding for six months.

Cybersecurity - $22.2 million over four years

The Government is investing in a new cybercrime-fighting team as part of the Budget.

Prime Minister John Key said the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) would provide advice and alerts on how to respond and prevent further attacks, while working closely with international counterparts.

The team will be a partnership between the Government, private sector, and non-government organisations.

Cycle trails - $25 million over four years

Cycle trails around the country will be linked up as part of efforts to boost tourism.

A total of $13 million will go towards linking trails in Central Otago, creating a 536-kilometre continuous network made up of four "Great Rides".

Other regions interested in connecting or expanding their trails will be able to apply for funding.

Emergency housing - $41.1 million over four years

A funding boost for New Zealand's emergency housing providers will allow them to focus on vulnerable Kiwis rather than fundraising for beds, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

The Government will fund about 3000 emergency housing places across New Zealand each year for the next four years.

It is also setting up special needs grants to provide up to a week of emergency housing for Kiwis in need who cannot get a place through the emergency providers.

Health research - $97 million over four years

A funding injection of $97 million into health research will help Kiwis live longer lives and keep the country's top scientists here, the Government says.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce said it was the biggest boost to health research funding in New Zealand history.

The annual amount available for health research through the Health Research Council will increase from $77m this financial year to $120m by 2019/20.

High-performance sport and anti-doping - $20 million over four years

Drug Free Sport NZ has been given an extra $4 million to help with "the arms race against the cheats and their chemists", Sport Minister Jonathan Coleman announced earlier this month.

Another $16 million is going towards high-performance sport, with the aim of boosting New Zealand's performance at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

Fire Services merger - $303 million over five years

A $303 million overhaul of New Zealand's fire services will create an organisation "fit for the 21st century", the Government says.

The NZ Fire Service will merge with the National Rural Fire Authority and more than 40 other rural fire services to create a single organisation - Fire and Emergency New Zealand.

A total of $191 million will be spent to address funding gaps in rural fire services and support volunteers, with the remaining $112 million covering the costs of the new organisation.

Maori housing - $12.6 million over four years

The Maori Housing Network's coffers are getting a $12.6 million top up to address the "over-representation" of Maori in housing deprivation statistics.

Since last October, the network has helped build 42 rental homes and supported housing repairs for about 165 whanau, as well as funding infrastructure for social and affordable housing.

The money will go to housing projects, but also go to maintenance and repairs of houses, Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell said.

Maori and Pasifika trades training - $9.6 million over four years

Another 2500 young Maori and Pasifika learners will receive placing on trades training programmes as a result of extra funding in the Budget.

The Government says it wants 5000 people in the programme each year by 2019, encouraging them to take up a trade and meet industry shortages.

Pharmac funding - $124 million over four years

The national drug purchaser has been given a financial boost to purchase new medicines, on the back of a public campaign to fund melanoma drug Keytruda.

Pharmac will receive an immediate $50m boost, with the rest of the money coming later.

However, it's abandoned negotiations to buy Keytruda, instead pushing ahead with a proposal to fund its competitor Opdivo.

Pacific Employment Service - $4.6 million over four years

A support service to help young Pacific people in Auckland find work will receive extra funding.

Pacific People's Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga said the programme identified people who needed help and placed them into training programmes, followed by work or more training.

Lotu-Iiga said 17 per cent of Pacific youth - 6900 people - in Auckland were not in employment, education or training, and needed support.

Teacher aides - $15.3 million over four years

More than 1200 students will benefit from a funding boost for extra teacher aides, although some are calling it a "patch job".

Education Minister Hekia Parata said the increase for in-class support would ensure that students with a range of learning difficulties received support tailored to their individual learning needs.

Parata said students who qualified would receive five hours of teacher aide assistance each week.

Tech start-up support - $15 million over four years

The Government is adding funding to two schemes that speed up the commercialisation of new technologies developed by Kiwi scientists and entrepreneurs.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce said the funding for accelerator programmes would help entrepreneurs and scientists to develop their ideas more quickly and turn research into products.

Tourism - $20 million over four years

A $12 million infrastructure fund will help small communities struggling with record tourist numbers and freedom campers, Prime Minister John Key says.

Tourism New Zealand is receiving another $8 million to target "key growth markets" like India and the eastern United States.

Victim support and sexual violence prevention - $46 million over four years

Extra funding for victim support will focus on "trauma management and connecting victims smoothly and efficiently with the appropriate follow-up response", Justice Minister Amy Adams and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley have said.

A new 24/7 national advice and support helpline will be launched, along with "specialist callout support such as crisis counselling and advocacy services".