Five things to look for in the budget

Five things to look for in the budget
Every year, journalists are locked en masse into the Beehive banquet hall with the budget. (Image: BusinessDesk)
Pattrick Smellie
Unless the government has done a fantastic job of lower expectations ahead of the budget on Thursday, there will be no big surprises.We already know a lot of the detail on infrastructure spending to deal with cyclone damage and one or two other announcements have dribbled out, for example, on defence pay and equipment, and the expansion of the subsidy scheme for electric vehicles.We know that there won’t be tax cuts, the argument being variously that even shifting the personal income tax bands would be inflationary; and that we need to sp...

More Opinion

NZ's success? There will be signs
Opinion

Simon Robertson: NZ's success? There will be signs

NZ should be thinking about new technologies and leaning into space, AI and FSD.

Simon Robertson 31 May 2025
AI reaches the Employment Court
Law & Regulation

Rachael Judge: AI reaches the Employment Court

Litigants should take care to ensure that AI is used appropriately.

Rachael Judge 30 May 2025
AI in Government: A shortcut to cuts?
Opinion

Peter Griffin: AI in Government: A shortcut to cuts?

Upskilling senior public servants to lead the charge on AI uptake is crucial.

Peter Griffin 28 May 2025
Budget opens cracks in KiwiSaver
Opinion

David Chaplin: Budget opens cracks in KiwiSaver

Not everything will be hunky-dory for Kiwisaver members after last week's Budget.

David Chaplin 27 May 2025