Measures implemented by the National-led government in 1990 and 1991 to move New Zealand out of recession are being considered by the Government.
However, Finance Minister Bill English will desperately want to avoid the headlines suffered by his predecessors when on Thursday he releases his first budget since National regained power last year.
The headlines in the Otago Daily Times for the 1990 mini-budget read: "Govt slashes welfare benefits; Bolger's `stiff medicine' reveals a tough streak".
That was followed in July 1991 with Ruth Richardson's "Mother of all budgets" with: "Minister slashes spending; bold, crucial step towards the recovery".
The Jim Bolger-led government took to a wholesale slashing of benefits and promises to strip back the welfare state in a package designed to jolt the economy out of deep recession.
Mr English was elected to Parliament in 1990 and will be acutely aware of the hammering the party took after benefits were slashed, part-charging was introduced for hospital services, superannuation eligibility was raised to 61 and to 65 by 2001 and national superannuation rates were frozen until 1993.
Among things that will have been contemplated by Mr English for the budget will be changes to ACC, help for the unemployed, lifting the age of eligibility for superannuation and the increasing fiscal deficit, all considered by Miss Richardson when she opened the books left by Labour.
In 1991, the deficit was $1.7 billion.
This year, it is expected to be $1.5 billion, rising to $8 billion next year.
Prime Minister John Key has rejected claims a "black budget" will be delivered on Thursday.
Gone, but not forgotten, will be the tax cuts promised for 2010 and 2011.
Infrastructure spending will increase and banks and the public service are likely to come in for further scrutiny.
Mr English will have walked a fine line between the need to slash spending and to keep the faith with voters.
The future of the Government rests on achieving a balance.
