SECTIONS

budget 2011

NationalMay 25

110,000 families will get less under Working for Families

About 110,000 families will have less money in their pockets next year, of which over 23,000 earn less than $60,000 combined annual income, following cuts to Working For Families unveiled in the budget.
110,000 families will get less under Working for Families
110,000 families will get less under Working for Families
NationalMay 25

Budget will balance the books - at a price

The Government has delivered a budget that will bring its books back into the black by 2014, and the price will be paid by the public service, more than 100,000 parents in the Working for Families scheme, and KiwiSavers who will have to put more of their own money into their accounts.
NationalMay 25

Soft-centred Budget expected

Finance Minister Bill English will this afternoon release a tough Budget aimed at battling rising debt.
BusinessMay 22

Working For Families now more complicated

In last week's budget, there were changes to the calculation of the Working For Families Tax Credit WFFTC, specifically around the threshold for abatement (reducing slightly to $35,000) and the increasing abatement rate (going from 20% to 25%).
NationalMay 20

Programme should be compulsory

Dunedin accountant Michael Cunningham (23) believes the Government should have taken an extra step in Budget 2011 and made KiwiSaver compulsory.
Programme should be compulsory
Programme should be compulsory
NationalMay 20

Feeling of relief for university student

Changes to the student loan scheme brought a feeling of relief to University of Otago economics and politics student Kaitlen O'Connor (20) yesterday.
Feeling of relief for university student
Feeling of relief for university student
NationalMay 20

Thrilled family $10 a week better off

After expecting "doom and gloom", Shawn Deaker (33) was thrilled to find his family better off under the Government's Working for Families Budget changes.
Thrilled family $10 a week better off
Thrilled family $10 a week better off
NationalMay 20

Medical study boost for Otago

The University of Otago's medical school could see more scholars after additional funding for up to 40 domestic medical students was announced in the Budget yesterday.
NationalMay 20

Over-55s denied education: unions

Student leaders have condemned Budget announcements which they claim will put education and training out of reach of many New Zealanders - women being among the hardest hit.
NationalMay 20

More funds for early childhood learning 'surprising'

Access to early childhood education (ECE) was a focus of yesterday's Budget, though the announcement failed to bring relief to services struggling with increased operating costs.
NationalMay 20

Dementia funding welcomed

The funding boost for dementia care is the "good news item" for the Southern District Health Board, funding and finance general manager Robert Mackway-Jones says.
NationalMay 20

View Budget bad news for healthcare

Yesterday's Budget does not address the "fundamentals of health" and appears to be damage control, Paula Stickings says.
View Budget bad news for healthcare
View Budget bad news for healthcare
NationalMay 19

Smaller wage increases likely to result

Workers face lower wage increases in future as the Government moves to get employers to increase their KiwiSaver contributions for their employees from April 1, 2013.
Smaller wage increases likely to result
Smaller wage increases likely to result
NationalMay 19

Video: Optimistic tone to Budget

Otago Daily Times business and political editor Dene Mackenzie gives his thoughts on today's Budget.    
NationalMay 19

Pensioner singled out

Ruby Martin was raking up leaves in her backyard when she was mentioned by name in Phil Goff's speech in Parliament.
Pensioner singled out
Pensioner singled out
NationalMay 19

Asset sales would fund infrastructural growth

State-owned energy companies Mighty River Power, Genesis, Meridian and Solid Energy are still earmarked for a partial sell-down by the Government, which is also considering reducing its stake in Air New Zealand.
NationalMay 19

Infrastructure spending rise

The Government has increased its infrastructure spending but has clawed back more than $500 million of unused spending to include in the Budget's $1.6 billion allocation.
Infrastructure spending rise
Infrastructure spending rise
NationalMay 19

Christchurch rebuild bonds earn 4%

A new Earthquake Kiwi Bond being launched by the Government to help fund rebuilding in Christchurch should appeal to philanthropists.
NationalMay 19

Changes to make scheme sustainable

Lower-income families will get a greater slice of Working for Families (WFF) funding, while those on high incomes may lose it, as the Government tries to maintain the increasingly expensive scheme.
NationalMay 19

Budget frees up $5.2b of spending

The Government's books are set to return to surplus sooner, although Finance Minister Bill English is ju
Budget frees up $5.2b of spending
Budget frees up $5.2b of spending
OpinionMay 19

National's 'zero ideas, zero leadership' Budget no help

National's "zero ideas, zero leadership" Budget hurts but doesn't help. It is a tinkering Budget that fails to address the fundamental challenges our country's economy faces.
National's 'zero ideas, zero leadership' Budget no help
National's 'zero ideas, zero leadership' Budget no help
NationalMay 19

Hundreds protest budget cuts

Hundreds of public service workers gathered at Parliament today to protest funding cuts in today's budget.
Hundreds protest budget cuts
Hundreds protest budget cuts
NationalMay 19

Government slashes $700m - but where from?

The Government has slashed $700 million in this year's budget to pump more money into core services, but opponents say it has been less than transparent about where the axe will fall.
NationalMay 19

Mixed reaction to 'boring' Budget

A double downer, focused but far-sighted, short-sighted, sugar-coated, a sedative before major surgery, boring in a positive way, safe, and a big zero - all terms used to describe the budget.
NationalMay 19

Parliament in urgency to pass budget Bill

The Government put Parliament into urgency tonight to pass a bill enacting the budget changes to KiwiSaver and Working for Families.