There was a strong police presence holding back protestors at the Langham hotel in Auckland where Prime Minister John Key was giving his post-Budget speech to a business audience.
Among the 100 or so protesters was former Green MP Sue Bradford and her husband Bill Bradford. The placards are protesting against austerity.
"Our austerity is their prosperity," one of the banners reads.
Mr Key told members of the Trans Tasman Business Circles that the Budget was "a very sensible Budget for very volatile times."
If he had been asked a month ago if there had been a chance that Greece would exit the Euro, he said he would have dismissed it and thought common sense would prevail.