Govt loosens purse-strings with $12b new infrastructure spending

Govt loosens purse-strings with $12b new infrastructure spending
Pattrick Smellie
The government will loosen the purse strings and fund $12 billion of new spending on roads, rail, schools, hospitals and other public infrastructure over the next five years.Yet the announcements in today’s Budget Policy Statement from Finance Minister Grant Robertson are forecast to be achieved without getting anywhere near the self-imposed upper limit for government debt levels.Precise detail of what those funds will be spent on is yet to be unveiled, with the government keeping that powder dry for announcements early next year, ahead of the...

More Economy

Government keeps AA+ credit rating, Fitch warns to keep ‘culture of fiscal responsibility
Economy

Government keeps AA+ credit rating, Fitch warns to keep ‘culture of fiscal responsibility

The Government has kept its AA+ credit rating from Fitch, one of the big three ratings agencies – but the agency warned that a slackening culture of fiscal responsibility, a more severe housing market correction, or an unemployment spike could see the rating reduced in future.The...

RBNZ seen cutting OCR by 25 bps, flagging easing bias
Economy

RBNZ seen cutting OCR by 25 bps, flagging easing bias

RBNZ is expected to cut its OCR rate to 3% on Wednesday.

Gas insider explains energy pain and solutions
Economy

Gas insider explains energy pain and solutions

Find more energy or face ongoing deindustrialisation, says GIC.

Liquidators looking for buyer for Wellington events company
Economy

Liquidators looking for buyer for Wellington events company

Hiremaster said it is one of Wellington's largest event equipment rental companies.

Gregor Thompson 15 Aug 2025