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

Business confidence nixes July RBNZ cut
Economy

Business confidence nixes July RBNZ cut

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

Rebecca Howard 02 Jul 2025
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