Budget to be presented on May 25

Finance Minister Steven Joyce. File photo.

Providing opportunities for all Kiwis to get ahead will be the focus of this year's budget, according to Finance Minister Steven Joyce.

This year the government's 2017 budget will be delivered on Thursday, May 25.

"The budget will build on the strengthening performance of the New Zealand economy over the last several years,” says Steven.

'It will focus on creating the conditions for further growth and greater prosperity for all New Zealanders.”

The minister claims New Zealand businesses have generated 328,000 new jobs since 2008, and average weekly wages have grown by 26.1 per cent – more than double the rate of inflation.

'Budget 2017 will seek to give businesses the confidence to keep investing and keep growing, to provide more opportunities for New Zealand families.”

A key element of the Budget will involve investing in the public services and building the infrastructure for a growing New Zealand.

"As the economy grows, we have a little more headroom to invest in better public services. However, as always, our focus will be on achieving better results, and not just tipping in more taxpayers' money.

'It is also very important to remain mindful the money the government spends comes from hard-working Kiwi families. We remain committed to reducing the tax burden on lower and middle income earners when we have the room to do so.”

He says the budget will continue a relentless focus on reducing debt as a percentage of GDP.

"A key part of building a resilient economy is creating the necessary buffers to deal with the next economic shock. The government remains committed to its target of reducing net debt to 20 per cent of GDP by 2020/21.”

You may also like....

0 comments

Leave a Comment


You must be logged in to make a comment.