We weren’t expecting much, as Budget 2026 was framed as a ‘‘responsible’’ one.
As expected, there has been no lolly scramble. It has been a practical, predictable election-year focus on fiscal restraint and rebuilding confidence.
For businesses, that last point matters. Confidence and stability underpin investment, hiring and growth.
There wasn’t a lot of new material for business - more a continuation of signals already given.
The government had already announced the Gas Transition Support Scheme before the Budget which is welcome recognition that energy reliability is now a core business continuity issue.
The new $400 million (over four years) incentive tied to housing consents will help towards related infrastructure funding but only goes some way towards catering for the full costs of growth.
In education, the $310m capital allocation for new school projects and land acquisition - with Queenstown explicitly identified - is very welcome.
In Queenstown, our single high school is bursting at the seams, so this is a critical announcement for our community and businesses.
Still, when the books are tight, the government’s continued reluctance to enable regions like Queenstown Lakes to capture value from the millions of visitors they host, via a local visitor levy, is a notable gap - particularly given tourism’s critical role in driving national economic growth.
Along with other high-growth visitor regions, this has been our clear need for years and, aside from the appreciated wilding pine control, the international visitor levy is falling short. It makes sense that growth pays for growth and relieves the pressure on our relatively small ratepayer bases.
An earlier return to surplus is positive, but a ‘‘responsible’’ Budget must ultimately deliver where it matters.
For Queenstown, that means matching growth with infrastructure and responsibly addressing how that growth is funded. If not now, when?
• Sharon Fifield is the chief executive of the Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce.
