Budget 2026 – Trades Training Positive Feature of Budget 2026 – EMA

Source: EMA The EMA says the emphasis on Trades Training and channelling high school students into skills and trades, as well as university, is a positive from today’s Budget announcement. “The confirmed re-prioritisation of funding from the previous Fees Free scheme into trades training could go some way to filling future gaps in the trades, and … Read more

Budget 2026: A real-world look at the road to recovery – BusinessNZ

Source: BusinessNZ Given the political, economic, and fiscal constraints facing the New Zealand economy, Budget 2026 is fiscally responsible, BusinessNZ says. Chief Executive Katherine Rich says the Government has approached this year’s Budget with a restrained, real-world lens. “BusinessNZ wanted to see a Budget which delivered a credible, long-term economic plan to return New Zealand’s accounts … Read more

Pasifika left behind by Budget 2026

Source: Green Party Today Nicola Willis delivered a third Budget in a row which prioritises the super-rich and powerful over Pasifika peoples, says the Green Party. “This is a heartless Budget that continues to punish Pasifika peoples,” says Green Party Spokesperson for Pacific Peoples, Teanau Tuiono.   “At a time when Aotearoa has more kids in poverty, more people are homeless, and more people without work, it is Pasifika people who are suffering the most.   “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples, which the Coalition parties…

Budget 2026 – ProCare welcomes Government’s cyber security investment

Source: ProCare ProCare welcomes the Government’s $153.6m investment in strengthening cyber security across New Zealand’s health system, recognising its importance in protecting patient information and maintaining continuity of care. “Cyber security is fundamental to trust in primary care from both a practice and patient perspective,” says Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive at ProCare. “General practice teams … Read more

Budget 2026 robs Pita to pay Paul: NZNO

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation Budget 26 fails to address unmet health needs or nursing workforce shortages and leaves Māori worse off, NZNO says. Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says Budget 26 is a “money go-round” which requires the health sector to do even more with even less. “This Budget robs Pita … Read more

HRC’s Conversion Therapy Unit Finds… Nothing

Source: Family First MEDIA RELEASE – 28 May 2026 HRC’s Conversion Therapy Unit Finds… Nothing The 2.25 million dollar taxpayer-funded complaints centre set up by the then-Labour government via the Human Rights Commission for generating complaints about ‘conversion therapy’ has struggled to obtain any formal complaints about the use of ‘conversion therapy’ in the four…

Budget 2026 – Govt failure to properly tax major banks leaves much needed revenue on the table

Source: Better Taxes for a Better Future The Government has chosen to make cuts to public services that ordinary working households rely upon, rather than tackling the real challenges of filling the gaps in how we tax excessive corporate profits and wealth. In particular, the failure to adopt a banking levy, supported by a majority … Read more

Budget 2026 – Transporting New Zealand welcomes infrastructure and energy-focused Budget

Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand Road freight association Transporting New Zealand says additional transport and infrastructure spending announced in today’s Budget will support economic growth and jobs at a time of significant economic uncertainty. Transporting New Zealand Chief Executive Dom Kalasih said investments in the Cambridge to Piarere Expressway, state highway resilience, additional strategic … Read more

AECOM celebrates the successful delivery of Terminal 2 at Hong Kong International Airport

Source: Media Outreach HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 May 2026 – AECOM, the trusted global infrastructure leader, has contributed to the successful delivery of Terminal 2 (T2) at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), a cornerstone of Airport Authority Hong Kong’s (AAHK) Three‑runway System (3RS). The project marks a significant milestone in … Read more

Budget 2026 – A Cautious Budget That Leaves Room for Bigger Thinking – Business Canterbury

Source: Business Canterbury Business Canterbury says today’s Budget largely met expectations, delivering a fiscally responsible approach. Chief Executive Leeann Watson says, “The Minister aptly described this as a ‘Responsible Budget’, and that’s broadly what we’ve seen. Given the signals leading in, we expected a disciplined and relatively conservative package, with limited direct support for business. … Read more

Save the Children: Budget 2026 offers little relief for children and families living in poverty

Source: Save the Children Save the Children is concerned for the welfare of New Zealand’s lowest income families, with Budget 2026 offering little additional financial support for those struggling most. Save the Children New Zealand’s Advocacy Director Jacqui Southey welcomed the investment in education and health infrastructure that supports children, but noted the Budget provides little … Read more

Budget 2026 – “Misery Budget” 2026: a crumbling house with a fresh coat of paint – Workers First Union

Source: Workers First Union Today’s Budget 2026 is a “misery Budget”, according to Workers First Union, with students, women, public servants, people with disabilities and our natural environment paying for the Government’s election-year desperation just to maintain the status quo. “This is an austerity Budget from an austerity Government, and it does not meaningfully address any … Read more

Budget 2026 – Federated Farmers welcomes investment in provincial highway resilience

Source: Federated Farmers Government investment in roading resilience in the face of an increase in severe weather events is sound thinking, Federated Farmers infrastructure spokesperson Mark Hooper says. “Federated Farmers has been calling for more funding for rural roads and key regional freight and access routes. “It’s very pleasing that in a tight Budget the Government … Read more

Budget 2026 leaves New Zealand with no plan

Source: Green Party The Green Party says Budget 2026 leaves New Zealanders fending for themselves with no vision or plan for the country. “Everyday, New Zealanders feel the reality that Luxon’s Government has no hope, no plan, no ambition and no vision for our country. Today’s Budget is yet more proof,” says Green Party Co-leader…

Government miss child poverty targets

Source: Green Party The Green Party says this year’s Budget show the Government is failing to meet child poverty targets. “This budget does nothing to lift the 100,000’s of children now living in poverty, even as the Government’s own child poverty report confirms it is not on track to meet the targets it is legally bound to hit.” …

Budget 2026 fails Māori

Source: Green Party The Green Party says Budget 2026 makes clear who this Government cares about, and it’s not Māori.  “Budget 2026 neglects its Tiriti obligations to make way for the super-rich and powerful,” says Green Party Co-leader, Marama Davidson.    “Despite the desperate need in our Māori communities, Willis has seen fit to again turn away while delivering billions of dollars for landlords, fossil fuel dependency,…

Budget 2026 confirms Luxon’s climate ‘plan’ is a trashfire

Source: Green Party Budget 2026 confirms the Government has no plan to meet our commitment under the Paris Climate Agreement, at a cost that previously Treasury calculated as up to $23 billion due by 2030.  “New Zealanders have experienced 21 States of Emergency this year, which even the Prime Minister has acknowledged are inflamed by climate change. Yet, his Government continues to pour fossil fuels on the fire,” says Green…

Auckland’s emergency response space ‘stronger together’ after successful AEM-led preparedness forum

Source: Auckland Council Following on from last year’s successful event, Auckland Emergency Management hosted a second Community Civil Defence and Emergency Management Forum on 23 May at Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau. Around 200 people attended the forum from across the region, including representatives from marae, community-led emergency hubs and resilience groups, elected members,…

Government Super Fund contributions increase

Source: New Zealand Government Government contributions to the New Zealand Superannuation Fund are forecast to total $3.1 billion over the next four years, $2.2 billion more than expected at the Half Year Update in December, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “The Government’s Super Fund contributions are set by a legislated formula and rise from $562…

Breakdown lands offender in Police hands

Source: New Zealand Police A motorcyclist snapped speeding before failing to stop for Police is now facing more breakdowns than one following an early morning ride. Just before 3am the Police Eagle helicopter was in Te Atatū for an unrelated job when the crew spotted a rider travelling at nearly double the posted speed along…

Budget 2026 – A black Budget built on human misery – PSA

Source: PSA Today’s Budget makes clear the heavy price public services, and all New Zealanders will pay to make Nicola Willis’s numbers add up as she unveils deep cuts across government departments. Nearly 9000 public service workers – one in seven – face losing their jobs over the next three years as $2.4 billion is ripped … Read more

Guns, prisons, and roads Budget is another disaster for working Kiwis

Source: NZCTU Budget 2026 steals from low-income families and slashes public services, making working people and their families worse off in a cost-of-living crisis. Nicola Willis’s final Budget is a visionless one that does nothing to help working people and their families. “The Budget does nothing to secure New Zealand’s future. The government is pouring…

ECE funding to provide sector instant relief

Source: New Zealand Government Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that financial relief for early childhood education (ECE) services will come in July 2026, instead of January 2027.  “There are few things as important to Kiwi parents as affordable and quality ECE for their children,” Mr Seymour says.  Most ECE services will receive…

Budget 2026: Securing New Zealand’s Future

Source: New Zealand Government Mr Speaker,   I move that the Appropriation (2026/27 Estimates) Bill be now read a second time.   E ngā iwi o Te Ūpoko o te Ika.   E te Māngai, ngā Mema Pāremata o ngā rohe pōti me ngā Mema o ngā Rōpū Tōrangapū.   E te motu whānui.    Nei rā te mihi.   Anei te Tahua Rua Mano Rua Tekau mā Ono.    Kia ora e te Iwi!   To the home tribes of Wellington.    To the Speaker, electorate and party list MPs.    To the whole country.   I salute you.    Here is Budget…

Surplus forecast reduces debt burden

Source: New Zealand Government The earlier return to surplus forecast in this year’s Budget shows the benefits of disciplined economic management and a government taking its responsibilities seriously, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “Treasury forecasts released today show the government’s books returning to surplus in 2028/29, a year earlier than previously expected. This means less…

A responsible Budget to secure NZ’s future

Source: New Zealand Government Budget 2026 is a responsible Budget that boosts funding for essential services and invests in the infrastructure New Zealand needs for the future without breaking the bank, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “At a time when many New Zealand families and businesses are still under pressure from higher living costs and…

Financial industry to bear the cost for regulation

Source: New Zealand Government Budget 2026 introduces a new prudential levy on banks, non‑bank deposit takers, insurers, and other financial market participants to help cover the costs of services provided by the Reserve Bank, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “This mirrors the approach taken by the Financial Markets Authority and the Commerce Commission which fund…