Money
High income earners, returning Kiwis among benefit applicants
Those who signed on for the benefit during lockdown were more likely to be first time beneficiaries and higher earners, a new report shows.
Current benefits 'not sufficient to survive on', social welfare groups say
The government is being warned many more families will fall into poverty if it doesn't boost support for people losing their jobs because of Covid-19. Audio
Whānau Ora providers skeptical funding boost enough
Whānau Ora providers are skeptical the significant boost in funding announced in the budget will meet the huge demand from families doing it tough.
The government has topped up the Whānau Ora budget… Audio
Coronavirus: Tens of thousands of new applicants for benefits
A new report on the nearly 40,000 people who signed on for the unemployment benefit during lockdown shows they're more likely to be first time beneficiaries, higher earners, recently returned from… Audio
Coronavirus: Budget spending untargeted - Paul Goldsmith
The National Party says New Zealand is in an economic hole, and yesterday's announcements make it worse.
It says that with an additional $140 billion in debt, the country is looking at nearly $80,000… Audio
Coronavirus: Government Budget lays out billions
The Government's big spending budget lays out $50 billion to fight the impact of Covid-19 and steer New Zealand's economy back on track.
While the numbers are big, not everybody is happy and there… Audio
GPs want to have say in division of extra support
GPs say they've been passed over in the Budget and want to be at the table when the extra health support the government has promised is divvied up.
Coronavirus: Is Budget welfare spending enough?
Those hoping for a further rise in welfare payments to feature in the budget have been disappointed, despite predictions that the Covid-19 outbreak will create tens of thousands of new beneficiaries.
…Coronavirus: How will the budget help Kiwi businesses?
The Budget has been revealed and businesses are thinking about how it will affect them.
Leeann Watson, the chief executive of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce and Craig Hudson, the managing… Audio
Coronavirus: ANZ chief economist on Budget
The Government's big spending budget lays out $50 billion to fight the impact of Covid-19 and steer New Zealand's economy back on track.
But will it be enough?
ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner… Audio
Timing wrong for helicopter cash - Grant Robertson
Grant Robertson's big Budget is out.
There's been a range of reactions to the Government's big spend on $50 billion to fight Covid-19, which includes an extension to the wage subsidy, $1.1 billion… Audio
Climate goals forgotten due to Covid-19 - scientist
An environment scientist says our climate reduction goals have taken a back seat in this year's Budget in the scramble to recover from Covid-19.
A total of $1.1 billion has been set aside in this… Audio
Budget 2020: Parties look to secure wins from $20b ahead of election
A $50 billion Covid-19 rescue package poured out of the Crown coffers yesterday when the government revealed its rebuild plan - but it is the $20b blank cheque that has got the Opposition crying foul.
Budget spending on warmer homes not enough - advocate
Advocates for healthy homes say the government's budget its Warmer Kiwi Homes programme will leave thousands in the cold.
The scheme has been expanded to cover 90 percent of the costs of insulation… Audio
Budget: GPs want a slice of new health spending
The Government's big spending budget yesterday laid out how it would fight the impact of Covid-19 and steer New Zealand's economy back on track.
Fifty billion is a big war chest, but it appears… Audio
Covid-19: What happened on 14 May
It was the third day in a row NZ reported no new cases of the virus, the Budget plans unveiled more support for the pandemic response, and businesses had a bittersweet welcome to level 2. Video
Budget: Funding welcomed, but Māori business miss out
The government will spend $900 million on initiatives to support Māori to deal with the fall-out of Covid-19.
The package includes $400 million on Māori education, a $137 million boost to Whānau Ora… Audio
Budget: Employment, Manufacturing Association boss looking for govt economic strategy
Brett O'Riley is the chief executive of the Employers and Manufacturers Association.
He talks to Lisa Owen about the Budget and New Zealand's economic future. Video, Audio
Opposition leader Simon Bridges responds to Budget 2020
The 2020 Budget was turned on its head and the Covid-19 pandemic forced the Finance Minister to leave some things on the cutting room floor, among them was reducing the cost of going to the doctor and… Video, Audio
Disability advocates welcome $800m funding increase
Disability advocates are "really heartened" by a $832.5 million funding boost for disability support services in the 2020 Budget.
