KPMG partner Paul McPadden gives his instant opinion and analysis of Budget 2013 to nzherald.co.nz Business editor Chris Daniels.

Bill English has stayed on the track set in previous years, with today's Budget reconfirming the return to surplus in two years.

The 2013 Budget includes $900 million in new spending, but is that enough? Have your say here.

Finance Minister Bill English has stayed on the track set in previous years in today's Budget, reconfirming the return to surplus in two years while taking steps to reduce the risk of a housing bubble. Social housing is a big element of the Budget. Watch his speech in full.

See a live stream of Finance Minister Bill English delivering his 2013 Budget here.

Finance Minister Bill English will loosen the purse strings today in his fifth Budget, which he says will be about getting back to surplus and building economic momentum.

Some of New Zealand's leading charities are keen to attract private investors for social programmes such as cutting crime and addictions.

Budget Day is often the time for the Government support partners to cash in on the promises National made to them in return for their support.

John Key is under absolutely no illusions about the difficulty he faces in securing a third victory at next year's election, writes John Armstrong.

Editorial: It was the Government's idea to put MMP to a referendum at the last election and it was the Government's idea to load the odds in favour of retention.

Local government is where a lot of the governing people care about goes on.

A South Auckland school has started a foodbank for families who can't feed their children - and hopes today's Budget will help other schools with hungry pupils.

In the 1980s Australian show The Comedy Club, the naughty schoolgirl Jophesine had a standard defence to accusations of wrongdoing.

Changes to Government research and development funding policy are expected to be unveiled in today's Budget.

New Zealand's small and medium sized enterprises are hoping today's Budget will deliver a boost for innovation and place more emphasis on developing the workforce.