This year's budget to be announced on Thursday is one that Finance Minister Steven Joyce has promised will build on the strengthening performance of the New Zealand economy over the last several years.
Although weighted towards social investment, some business investment has been flagged including $178 million for tourism infrastructure, $74.6 million for R&D, $91.3 million over four years for trade negotiations and $11 billion over four years for infrastructure, including $812 million targeted this year to rebuild the earthquake-damaged link around Kaikoura.
New Zealand businesses have generated 328,000 new jobs since 2008, and average weekly wages have grown 26.1 per cent - more than double the rate of inflation, Mr Joyce said.
"Budget 2017 will seek to give businesses the confidence to keep investing and keep growing, to provide more opportunities for New Zealand families."
Xero chief executive Rod Drury is set to open a new office at Ahuriri in June and hopes to build up to 40 staff in Hawke's Bay by the end of the year.