The Northern Advocate asked community leaders, advocates and individuals what they might want from Budget 2015.
During the Northland byelection in March, a grim picture was painted from the hustings and in the nation's media of a region staggering under poverty, unemployment, poor roading, housing and health, and a lack of economic growth opportunities.
Here are some of the responses we received:
Moea Anderson (social services advocate and co-ordinator for Citizens Advice Bureau Whangarei): "CAB just made a submission to the Whangarei District Council long-term plan along the lines of our priorities. Emergency housing - for the past three months or so it has been really unusual to be able to find emergency housing for people in Whangarei. All full. This has got to be the priority.
"Shelter first, food second. If kids can get a feed at school, much better. Related to these two urgent needs, the in-work payment for children should be expanded to cover children of beneficiaries."