In his Budget speech, Bill English proudly says that government expenditure is down to less than 30 per cent of GDP, and that's the way that it's going to stay.

Child poverty advocates say the Budget provides no relief for families struggling to cope with high rents and low incomes.

Jury's out over how successful new Government housing measures announced in the Budget will go to solving social housing issues.

WATCH: Inside our special Budget episode we discuss what the Budget means for you.

Tristram talks to our panel of NZ Herald experts about what the budget means for you.

Bill English has unveiled his eighth budget today. Here are the key points

Children's Commissioner Dr Russell Wills says the Budget will help to reduce child abuse - but he can't see a clear plan to tackle homelessness and poverty.

Prime Minister John Key was full of praise for the 2016 Budget. But New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said there was only one way to describe today's measures.

Liam Dann writes the 2016 Budget is the greens before the treats, but Bill English has delivered his promise of boring and stable.

COMMENT: Bill English's eighth budget is a strong investment in New Zealand's future economic capability.

Labour leader Andrew Little said the Government had no long-term strategy to the real problems being faced by New Zealanders, after eight years.

Emissions Trading Scheme is to be scrapped.

Community law centres and legal aid will get $76 million in new funding over four years to ensure more people unable to afford regular lawyers' fees will get support.

New spending in transport bypasses Auckland and goes regional.

Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell has secured $17.8 million to get a new Maori land service up and running.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce announced an extra $410.5 million to fund science projects.

Selected regular transtasman travellers who provide detailed information before they reach the border will have a smoother path through security.

Electricity producers, transport fuel providers and industries with high carbon emissions will lose access to the subsidy that requires them to offset only half their emissions.

A pack of 20 cigarettes will increase from about $20 now to around $30 in 2020 after hefty new excise increases were announced as part of the Budget.

Health, education and social services are the winners in a Budget which contains few surprises but also few contentious moves.

COMMENT: When Bill English described the Budget as "predictable" nobody believed him. This time he was not bluffing, writes Claire Trevett.

How the Government is spending your money.

Corrections will get an extra $355 million over four years to help cope with a growing prison population while Police will close to $300 million in new operating funding.

Society's most vulnerable will receive a $650 million funding boost spanning health, welfare and education services aimed at helping those at-risk "lead better lives".

An extra $2.2 billion will be pumped into health over four years to help cope with an ageing population and record immigration.

IRD restructure, a change to trasntasman travellers and the Netflix tax all feature.

Teachers say the $2 per week extra funding for disadvantaged kids announced in the budget is not enough to make a difference.

The housing initiatives in the Budget are firmly targeted at pressure points in Auckland.

Bill English has unveiled the Budget. Here are the key points.

Finance Minister Bill English has delivered his eighth Budget. Join our live coverage for the latest news updates and analysis.