KEY POINTS:
New Zealand First
Leader Winston Peters said there was much that was commendable in the Budget, and many of those praiseworthy initiatives came courtesy of his party.
"While New Zealand First would go further towards compulsory savings and would have introduced adjustments to tax thresholds, there are nonetheless
many pleasing developments and New Zealand First's mark is unmistakable."
Greens
Co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said the Budget would make New Zealand only slightly more sustainable in a few years, and was very far from reaching Prime Minister Helen Clark's goal of a carbon-neutral country.
"If the Prime Minister's aspiration is serious we might have expected a price on carbon this year, linked to the world price, and a fairly rapid transition to polluters taking responsibility for their carbon emissions. But that is not there."
Maori Party
Co-leader Pita Sharples called the Budget tokenistic, saying of $3.3 billion in new funding just $19.9 million was allocated to Maori.
"That equates to a grand total of 0.6 per cent of funding. Wow."
Increased support for iwi radio, Maori TV, the Waitangi Tribunal, Maori wardens and violence prevention programmes were silver linings, but overall the Budget contained nothing but trinkets for Maori, he said. "An offering of peanuts will not do much to address the pervasive assault of poverty that afflicts so many of our whanau."
Progressive
Leader Jim Anderton said the Budget completed a decisive step away from the "disastrous" policies of the 80s and 90s.
Mr Anderton said the Budget was strongly pro-business, and the Government was future-proofing business for challenges to come.
United Future
Leader Peter Dunne said he and Labour had worked together on a Budget which would promote a more innovative, forward-looking, job-rich, family-friendly country.
"The $3.4 billion business tax reform package cuts the company tax rate to 30 per cent. This will promote investment, help create more jobs, and help our businesses to compete globally. The new 15 per cent research and development tax credit will encourage businesses to invest more in R&D." ACT Leader Rodney Hide said there was no plan or direction in the Budget to give anyone confidence in the economy.
"The only thing this Budget guarantees is increased government spending, high interest rates and paltry economic growth."
Mr Hide said the way to encourage more saving and investment was to put more money into people's pockets and achieve higher economic growth.
