It is an honour and a privilege to present the Wellbeing Budget 2021 – Securing Our Recovery – to the House. Today’s Budget is set against the backdrop of two previous Budgets, one delivered last year and one that was delivered 30 years ago. Budget 2020 was very much a COVID-19 Budget that provided the largest ever fiscal stimulus to support New Zealanders through the shock and impact of the global pandemic. While the economy has outperformed predictions, the job is not yet done. This year’s Budget is still in the shadow of COVID-19, and its focus is to secure our recovery from its impact. This Budget is also set ... (full story)

Budget 2021 supports the long-term wellbeing of New Zealanders by making significant progress towards our Government priorities this term to: • continue to keep Aotearoa New Zealand safe from COVID-19 • accelerate the recovery and rebuild from the impacts of COVID-19, and • lay the foundations for the future, including addressing key issues, such as our climate change response, housing affordability and child povertyIn addition to a core $3.8 billion operating per year Budget 2021 package, we are funding a number of initiatives from the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund (CRRF) to support our recovery and rebuild ... (full story)