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New funding of $9.6 million in Budget 2017 will see New Zealand’s presence in Antarctica continue while cementing the Government’s commitment to the continent, Foreign Affairs Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

$2.1 million operating funding over the next two years and $4 million capital will be allocated to the future redevelopment of Scott Base.

Budget 2017 invests $1.24 billion of new operating funding over four years and $785.6 million of capital funding in law and order initiatives to help make our communities safer, Police Minister Paula Bennett, Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams, and Corrections Minister Louise Upston say.

“The extra investment in Budget 2017 includes the $503.8 million Safer Communities Package which was announced earlier this year and will deliver an additional 1,125 police staff,” Mrs Bennett says.

Budget 2017 invests $4 million of new operating funding over four years to progress New Zealand’s climate change work programme, Climate Change Minister Paula Bennett says.

“The Government is moving to the next stage of its work programme to meet our ambitious Paris Agreement 2030 emissions targets,” Mrs Bennett says.

“This funding will mandate work across government to provide costed, tested and modelled policy options to meet our international emissions reductions targets under the Paris Agreement.

Earthquake Commission (EQC) levies will increase from 1 November to help rebuild its Natural Disaster Fund (NDF), which has been depleted following the Christchurch and Kaikōura earthquakes.

“EQC has provided huge support to New Zealanders following the Christchurch, Seddon, and Kaikōura earthquakes, but in the process it has exhausted its reserves,” Finance Minister Steven Joyce says.

The Government’s $2 billion per year Family Incomes Package will make changes to tax thresholds, Working for Families and the Accommodation Supplement to help Kiwi families get ahead, Finance Minister Steven Joyce says.

“It is important that Kiwi families directly share in the benefits of New Zealand’s economic growth,” Mr Joyce says. “The Family Incomes Package is carefully designed to especially assist low and middle income earners with young families and higher housing costs.”

The Government is allocating $4 billion in new capital spending as part of Budget 2017 as it builds the infrastructure for a growing economy, Finance Minister Steven Joyce says.

“This $4 billion investment is the single biggest investment of new capital in one Budget by any government in decades,” Mr Joyce says. “And it’s just the beginning. We have reserved a further $7 billion in new capital for the following three Budgets.”

The new capital spending in Budget 2017 includes:

The Government is allocating $7 billion over four years in Budget 2017 to sustain and expand public services in health, education, law and order and social development, as part of our commitment to deliver better public services for a growing country, Finance Minister Steven Joyce says.

“This investment reflects our commitment to meet the requirements of a growing population while also investing prudently in the core services Kiwis rely on in order to live successful independent lives,” Mr Joyce says.

The Government’s programme of responsible fiscal management is delivering for New Zealanders, with rising surpluses and falling debt improving our resilience and giving us more opportunities to invest in our future, Finance Minister Steven Joyce says.

“New Zealand’s steadily strengthening economy is allowing us to provide the public services and infrastructure needed for a growing country,” Mr Joyce says.

Mr Speaker

I move that the Appropriation (2017/18 Estimates) Bill be now read a second time.

It is an honour and a privilege to present my first budget to the public of New Zealand – the ninth of this National-led Government.

In doing so I acknowledge my predecessor and our new Prime Minister Bill English for his hard work and leadership in facing down the decade of deficits, bringing New Zealand successfully through the Global Financial Crisis, and responding to the impacts of the Canterbury earthquakes.

Budget 2017 is a Budget that will deliver for New Zealanders

(All figures for four years to 2020/21 unless otherwise stated)

Economic Outlook

Budget 2017 is delivering for New Zealanders with significant investments in public services and infrastructure, and a Family Incomes Package that will help them get ahead, Finance Minister Steven Joyce says.

“Our economy is performing well and that’s a tribute to the hard work of New Zealanders,” Mr Joyce says. “We have experienced positive growth in all but one quarter over the last six years.

Budget 2017 shares the benefits of growth by improving public services, investing in the infrastructure needed for a growing country, reducing debt and lifting incomes, Prime Minister Bill English says.

“This is a budget that delivers for New Zealanders from a government that cares about people and knows how to get things done,” Mr English says.

“Our ninth Budget shows continuing improvement in the Government’s books and solid economic growth expected to average 3.1 per cent over the next five years.

On Thursday 25 May, Finance Minister Steven Joyce delivered the National-led Government’s ninth Budget. The following is a list of all Budget 2017 announcements.
 

Additional grant funding of $26.7 million over the next three years plus a capital boost of $63 million towards irrigation investments in Budget 2017 will deliver economic and environmental benefits through better use of water, says Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.

“A reliable water supply for growers and farmers has major potential to boost economic growth, creating jobs and exports in the regions. At the same time these schemes can deliver real environmental benefits by maintaining river flows and recharging groundwater aquifers,” says Mr Guy.

Delivered to executive members of the Auckland Secondary Principals Association and Auckland Primary Principals Association - not delivered word for word

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to meet with me. It has been a busy first three weeks, but getting out to schools and eaerly childhood centres and meeting principals and leaders like yourselves is so important to me.

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says DOC will fight this year’s beech forest mast year increase in rat and stoat numbers with a $21.3 million war chest from Budget 2017 for the Battle for our Birds control campaign.

“I can confirm there will be a widespread forest seeding, or mast, once again this year that will trigger a big increase in vermin,” Ms Barry says. “The mast event will affect much of the North Island, the northern South Island and parts of western Otago.

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne today announced funding of $8 million of operating funding over the next two years and $2.1 million of capital funding in the next year in Budget 2017 to safeguard New Zealand’s heritage collections and record of Government.

Budget 2017 invests an additional $59.2 million over four years to ensure all road ambulance call outs are double crewed, Health Minister Jonathan Coleman, Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne and ACC Minister Michael Woodhouse say.

“The Government is focused on getting patients the care they need when they need it, and our ambulance services have a key role to play in this,” Dr Coleman says.

Budget 2017 will see $303.9 million allocated to support the continuation of the New Zealand screen industry production grants, both globally and domestically, say Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges and Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry.

This includes $222 million over four years and $18 million in 2016/17 for the International Screen Production Grant to bring international productions to New Zealand.

Up to $63.9 million over four years remains available to ensure the domestic component of the grant continues.

The Government will invest $76 million through Budget 2017 on new and upgraded tourism infrastructure for the Department of Conservation as part of a $178 million tourism infrastructure package, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says.

“The new funding will allow DOC to better manage the impact of visitor growth, while also protecting our biodiversity and threatened species,” Ms Barry says.

Tourism Minister Paula Bennett has today announced a new $102 million Tourism Infrastructure Fund which has been launched alongside $76 million in new funding for our most important tourism asset, the DOC Estate.

“Tourism is hugely important to New Zealand. It creates jobs and brings in billions of dollars to the economy. That’s why it’s important that we keep investing so we continue to attract high-value tourists and give them an amazing visitor experience,” Mrs Bennett says.

Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith has today announced an additional $74.6 million in funding through the Innovative New Zealand programme in Budget 2017 to meet the growing demand for Callaghan Innovation’s research and development (R&D) Growth Grants.

“Encouraging business R&D helps high-tech, innovative Kiwi companies to bring products and ideas to the market sooner, which has significant benefit for export revenues,” says Mr Goldsmith.

The special significance of marae to Māori and communities is being acknowledged in this year’s Budget with $10 million over four years allocated to help repair and restore whare and revitalise the paepae, building resilience of those charged with maintaining the protocols of marae, says Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell.

The funding for Marae Ora - Sustaining the Marae, Sustaining the Pae, is part of a broad-based $27 million package that will also help more whānau live in safe, secure and healthy homes.

Budget 2017 invests an extra $60 million over four years to enable Pharmac to provide more New Zealanders with access to new medicines, Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says.

“Pharmac’s model for increasing subsidised medicines and treatments for New Zealanders is world class,” Dr Coleman says.

“This funding boost in Budget 2017 will provide Pharmac with an extra $20 million in the 2017/2018 year to increase access to new medicines, and benefit more New Zealanders.