Strong jobs market keeps govt books healthy

Strong jobs market keeps govt books healthy
Finance minister Grant Robertson. (Image: Getty)
Staff reporters
The New Zealand government delivered a smaller deficit than expected in the nine months through March, as record-low unemployment and ongoing wage growth underpinned an 11% increase in intake from income taxes.The operating balance before gains and losses was a deficit of $8.11 billion in the nine months ended March 31, about $4.1b less than Treasury officials predicted in their December forecast. Still, it was wider than the $4.27b deficit a year earlier due to the mid-year lockdown, which led to the government reopening the purse strings...

More Economy

Business confidence nixes July RBNZ cut
Economy

Business confidence nixes July RBNZ cut

Economists say July is a pause, not the end point.

Monthly CPI tech takes Stats NZ into the future
Economy

Monthly CPI tech takes Stats NZ into the future

Budget funding for new inflation-reporting tech is a giant leap forward, agency says.

Maria Slade 27 Jun 2025
Corporates think NZ 's on the up: Forsyth Barr
Primary Sector

Corporates think NZ 's on the up: Forsyth Barr

The Pulse of NZ Business survey found construction and retail continue to lag.

Gregor Thompson 25 Jun 2025