Budget 2010: Index of coverage

File photos / NZ Herald

Today nzherald.co.nz has brought you comprehensive coverage of the 2010 Budget.

All the announcements, news, comment and analysis are indexed here for easy reference.

Early childhood educators 'devastated'
The early childhood education sector is "devastated" by the Government's decision to remove recognition for fully qualified centres, saying it would "dumb down" early childhood education.

Labour Party finance spokesman David Cunliffe:
Budget 2010 is a tax swindle
"The Government is borrowing to favour its mates, once again. It is a tax swindle, a lost opportunity and a massive broken promise."

Business columnist Fran O'Sullivan:
Tax changes will keep Kiwis home
"NZ has stolen a march on Australia with the announcement that the company tax rate will be cut to 28 cents - two years ahead of our transtasman neighbour."

Less incentives for registerered ECE teachers
Currently, ECE providers are encouraged to have up to 100 per cent registered teachers with higher funding for registered teachers. That will be cut with this Budget.

Chief political commentator John Armstrong:
Budget politically safe but economically timid
"The finance minister has delivered a package of tax cuts of some magnitude which should be fairly easy to sell - at least to those voters currently leaning National's way."

Economics editor Brian Fallow:
Decent stimulus in today's Budget
"Bill English has delivered more of a Budget than the signs and portents led us to expect."

Business reacts
Reaction from the world of business and economics to today's Budget.

Business Roundtable rates it 6.5 out of 10
The budget delivers sound steps but no step changes and rates about a 6.5 out of 10, according to Business Roundtable executive director Roger Kerr.

No depreciation on commercial, rental property
Owners of both commercial buildings and rental houses will no longer be able to claim depreciation on their investments.

Political editor Audrey Young:
Up to $400m hidden costs for parents
"Bill English has delivered a Budget in which he can have a bob each way."

Govt puts health on life support
The Government has put health on life support with an additional $500 million a year for the next four years to keep the sector afloat.

NZ still 'financially vulnerable'
New Zealand remains financially vulnerable, but there are positive signs emerging and the economy is on track to grow about 3 per cent per annum over the next four years following two years of contractions.

Biggest tax overhaul in 25 years
The Government is unveiling what it says is the biggest overhaul to the New Zealand tax system in 25 years, and it's promising the "vast majority" of New Zealanders will be better off as a result.

Average earner $15 per week better off
The average earner will be $15 a week better off, under the biggest shake-up of New Zealand's tax system in nearly a quarter of a century, today's budget shows.

The full text of Bill English's Budget speech