Budget 2025 at a glance
From changes to Kiwisaver and benefits, to a tax break from businesses, and changing economic forecasts, here's some of the major announcements made today.
Budget delivers 'major investment' in infrastructure: Bishop
Budget delivers 'major investment' in infrastructure: Bishop
Major investments in hospitals, mental health facilities, school buildings, rail and roads are being funded in Budget 2025, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says.
No respite for the politically driven
No respite for the politically driven
The evergreen Winston Peters keeps rolling on and on, and he tells ODT's political editor Mike Houlahan that he has no intention of quitting now.
Govt's eye on supermarket sector after Budget
Govt's eye on supermarket sector after Budget
Finance Minister Nicola Willis says she will turn her attention to the supermarket sector after this week's Budget.
Te Pāti Māori decision: Labour proposes last-minute deal
Te Pāti Māori decision: Labour proposes last-minute deal
Labour has sent a last-minute offer to the govt to try and avert a long debate in Parliament regarding the behaviour of Te Pāti Māori MPs.
'If they want to muck around, so be it'
'If they want to muck around, so be it': PM on haka punishment
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has flatly rejected the possibility of watering down the proposed punishment for three Te Pāti Māori MPs.
'We have to have rules': Luxon on Te Pāti Māori haka
'We have to have rules': Luxon on Te Pāti Māori haka
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon won't say whether the suspension of Te Pāti Māori's co-leaders for three weeks is an appropriate punishment.
Stanford spars with Radhakrishnan over email ‘spam’ remark
Stanford spars with Radhakrishnan over email ‘spam’ remark
A Labour MP of Indian origin has accused the immigration minister of painting migrants in a "negative light" during an answer to a question in Parliament last week.
Hipkins takes responsibility for C-word question in u-turn
Hipkins takes responsibility for C-word question in u-turn
In a belated u-turn Labour's Chris Hipkins has taken responsibility for one of his MP's using Question Time to quote a newspaper column that called female ministers the c-word.
Te Pāti Māori punishment 'not taken lightly'
Te Pāti Māori punishment 'not taken lightly'
The head of Parliament's powerful Privileges Committee says the decision to impose an unprecedented punishment on Te Pāti Māori MPs over a protest haka in Parliament was not taken lightly.
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Greens keen to get Southerner back on track
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Greens want to get passenger rail back on track
The Green Party wants to supercharge passenger rail in the South - including reviving the Southerner.
Te Pāti Māori co-leaders suspended over haka
Te Pāti Māori co-leaders suspended over haka
Te Pāti Māori MPs will be temporarily suspended from Parliament after performing a haka during the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill.
Minister drops C-word in Parliament
Minister drops C-word in Parliament
Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden has dropped the C-bomb in Parliament in protest over the slur being directed at her in a newspaper column.
New taxes to fund Greens' health promises
Greens promise free doctor visits, childcare on back of new taxes, higher borrowing
The Green Party has laid out its alternative Budget, pledging free GP visits and free childcare funded through new taxes and increased borrowing.
Govt announces $140m to tackle truancy
Govt announces $140m to tackle truancy
The government is allocating $140 million to tackle truancy with a new school attendance service.
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Tamping down expectations
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Tamping down expectations
New Zealand is not in clover, but there is reason to be optimistic as Finance Minister Nicola Willis prepares her second Budget, writes political editor Mike Houlahan.
Luxon, Hipkins clash over pay equity feud
Luxon, Hipkins clash over pay equity feud
The Prime Minister and Opposition leader are in a political feud over who is lying about the overhaul of the pay equity regime.
$100m boost to govt venture capital fund
$100m boost to govt venture capital fund
The state backed Elevate venture capital fund is to get a $100 million injection in next week's Budget.
Luxon accuses pay equity shake-up critics of 'scaremongering'
Luxon accuses pay equity shake-up critics of 'scaremongering'
Prime minister Christopher Luxon has accused critics of the government's pay equity shake-up of "scaremongering" and levelling "gendered abuse".
An eye on achieving ‘good outcomes’
An eye on achieving ‘good outcomes’
A new MP with a new ministerial portfolio, James Meager is a man breaking new ground, political editor Mike Houlahan reports.