Spin and spend – a verdict on the 2023 budget

Some have described the 2023 budget as a blowout. It was not. A blowout implies a unique event. The 2023 budget was an extension of a trend: more spending, bigger government, a delayed return to surpluses, and higher debt.It has become such a trend I wonder if the forecasts beyond two years contain any relevance.New Zealand is fortunate in that we have come from a position of fiscal strength and remain in one.But that strength is being eroded with a direction of travel that is becoming more concerning.  The government is spending more...