* Zero new spending. Last year's budget provided $1.1 billion. This budget takes $5.2b from existing government spending over five years allowing $1.2b a year over the next four years for new operating spending.
Savings come from across government agencies and from changes to KiwiSaver, Working for Families and student loans.
Most of the money, almost $4b, goes to new initiatives in areas like health and education. The rest goes on reducing the deficit. Within departments, $1.5b is being reprioritised to fund different priorities.
* The operating deficit will hit $16.7b this year - nearly double what was estimated in last year's budget - but it will then reduce substantially, down to $9.7b next year, $4.1b in 2013, and 0.7b the following year before going achieving a surplus of $1.3b in 2015.