Budget summary

3:00 PM

The following is a summary of the major points of this afternoon's budget delivered by Finance Minister Michael Cullen.

Health

$412 million more to health in coming year. Additional funding of $257.4 million over four years for mental health. Additional $74 million each year for next four years for elective surgery. $18.6 million for Maori anti-smoking initiatives over four years. $4 million for anti-smoking programmes for low-income people over four years.

Housing

$257.6 million over three years for a return to income- related rents as announced prior to budget. $357.7 million in capital costs over three years to maintain housing stock and increase in high demand areas. $28.7 million in coming year to buy and upgrade 120 properties.

Social Welfare

$36 million in 2000/01, increasing to approximately $40 million by 2003/04, for Department of Child, Youth and Family Services.

Law and Order

$156 million extra over three years for police but only to maintain police numbers at current levels (excluding Highway Traffic Patrol initiative). As already announced, the provision of $76.5 million for a 225-strong Highway Traffic Patrol to be up to full strength in two years. As already announced, $14 million boost to fight burglary.

Education

Education Minister Steve Maharey has a deal before Universities to freeze tertiary fees from next year. $300 million increase in education over coming year including $60 million extra to run secondary and primary schools this coming year. Total of $664 million to spend on tertiary education over four years. As already announced, $42.2 million over four years for apprenticeship scheme.

Economic Development

New funding of $331.9 million over four years for economic development. Investment of $43 million in research, science and technology for the coming year. New Research and Development grants fund of $11.8 million, replacing election promise of tax break for R&D.

Closing the Gaps

Te Puni Kokiri gets an extra $12 million over the next four years to monitor social policy programmes for Maori. $114 million over next four years to build the capacity for Maori and Pacific peoples for their own economic development.

Environment

As already announced, $187 million for biodiversity strategy.

Arts and Culture

As already announced, an extra $86 million this year for Arts and Culture for a total this year of $146 million for coming year.

Defence

No allocation at this stage for capital equipment programme increases as these were not required for Budget 2000 however there will be future capital injections anticipated.

Superannuation

Assumption by Treasury that a total of $3.6 billion dollars would be set aside out of general funds over the next three years for a dedicated Superanuation Fund. Government is still discussing methods of funding this.

- IRN

Budget 2000 feature

Minister's budget statement

Budget speech