Robertson's new rules to have your fiscal cake and eat it too

Robertson's new rules to have your fiscal cake and eat it too
The new debt target is a defence against accusations of a spend-thrift govt (Image: Getty)
Rebecca Howard
Finance minister Grant Robertson has announced new fiscal rules for this month's budget targeting small fiscal surpluses and introducing a new debt ceiling.“What we are doing is more accurately representing New Zealand’s fiscal position and putting it in line with the rest of the world,” he told a pre-budget business audience in Wellington. Under the new rules, surpluses will be kept within a band of 0% and 2% of gross domestic product to ensure day-to-day spending is not adding to debt.First, however, the country has...

More Economy

Storms clouds are gathering for the economy
Economy

Storms clouds are gathering for the economy

March-quarter GDP lifted 0.8% on quarter.

Rebecca Howard 19 Jun 2025
Treasury expects growth in 2025 despite weak May data
Economy

Treasury expects growth in 2025 despite weak May data

Treasury is forecasting the GDP will grow 0.4% in 1Q with upside risk.

Rebecca Howard 18 Jun 2025
Modest rise in consumer confidence
Economy

Modest rise in consumer confidence

Consumer confidence continues to tread water, but households could soon receive a back-pocket boost of hundreds of dollars, says a Westpac economist.The Westpac McDermott Miller Consumer Confidence index rose two points to 91.2 in the June quarter.Westpac senior economist Satish...

Staff reporters 18 Jun 2025
Stats NZ to ditch paper-based Census from 2030
Economy

Stats NZ to ditch paper-based Census from 2030

Successive Censuses have been beset with issues, says minister.

Rebecca Howard 18 Jun 2025