New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says the Budget is relying on asset sales to mask the real state of the economy.
The Government confirmed in the Budget announced on Thursday that Meridian Energy will be the next state-owned enterprise put up for partial sale.
It is also predicting the books will be back in surplus by 2014 and forecasting economic growth of 2% to 3% a year over the next four years.
Mr Peters says the Budget might fool some naive people, but when looked at closely there is nothing in it for the great majority of New Zealanders.
"Frankly, it's a pretty soulless, barren, deceitful Budget - because the surplus is built on selling assets."
