Latest from Government Spending

Growth in research spending slows

Radical rethink for Budget

The economic forecasts underpinning Thursday's Budget will need to differ substantially from those the Treasury offered in its half-year update six months ago.

PSA: Government squeezing public service too hard

Govt's coffers grow as spending is kept in check

Three-quarters of the way through the Government's financial year its revenue continues to grow steadily while spending has hardly increased at all.

Government deficit smaller than forecast

The government kept a smaller operating deficit than forecast in the first nine months of the financial year, even as the cost of the Canterbury earthquakes grew.

NZ benefit numbers drop

The Government says there are 29,000 fewer Kiwis receiving benefits since the last quarter - including hundreds who had theirs cut after being caught claiming them unfairly.

Brian Fallow: 50 year forecast likely to be scary

We can expect some scary numbers when the Treasury updates its statement on the long-term fiscal position this year, writes Brian Fallow.

Crown deficit smaller than forecast

The New Zealand government had a smaller operating deficit than expected in the first eight months of the financial year as it took in more income tax than it had forecast.

Kiwi R&D spending on the rise

New Zealand's research and development spend rose to $2.6b last year but remains far below many other OECD countries as a proportion of GDP.

Editorial: Remedies for child poverty step in the right direction

Editorial: When the Children's Commissioner set up an "expert advisory group on solutions to child poverty" this year, many New Zealanders will have cheered.

Vital abuse helpline secures govt support

Deficit $169m wider than predictions

Stephen Diver: Germany showing way ahead

For the past two years a gleeful band of Eurosceptics in the Anglo-US political establishment have been arguing that the euro cannot survive.

Deborah Hill Cone: It's hard to balance books and life

Bratty middle-class me got my knickers in a twist when I had my resident's carpark taken away - boo hoo.

Questions over privacy breach links with job cuts

Govt books on track for surplus

Deficit cut, but still higher than forecast

The Government ended the last financial year with a deficit that was about half of what it was last year, but more than the billion shortfall signalled in the May Budget.

Should we act on the high NZ dollar?

Most agree that the kiwi is overvalued and some say the solution is for the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates. But two differing perspectives argue it's not that simple. Add your comment to the debate.