Convictions in Rotorua for cannabis possession have fallen more than 66 per cent in the last six years - adding fuel to nationwide

The business case for the proposed national bowel screening programme was "poorly developed" according to a Treasury email.

A pre-Budget report released by the Treasury today shows that the target for social housing places has been cut from 65,000 to 64,100, apparently for fiscal reasons.

The Treasury warned that record levels of immigration could push New Zealanders out of low-skilled jobs, depress wages and increase housing pressures.

Treasury expecting a deficit, but the Govt's tax take was up.

Treasury secretary says he's seen no evidence that the policy framework between Reserve Bank and Finance Minister needs to be "radically different."

Finance Minister Bill English says it will be a challenge to maintain and grow surpluses.

Migrant arrivals climbed 15 percent to 115,700 in the year, while departures fell 8.1 percent to 57,400.

A spend of more than $360,000 on pay television subscriptions by Government departments has been criticised by Labour.

The Government has released its financial position ahead of next week's budget.

A new coin is being minted in New Zealand to commemorate the birth of the royal princess.

The government's books are back in their accustomed red, the Treasury yesterday reporting a deficit of $269 million two-thirds of the way through the fiscal year.

The Government posted a small operating surplus in the seven months through January as tax revenue beat expectations, while costs were smaller than expected.

PM’s regular ‘disappointment’ with racheting salaries hits crunch time, John Armstrong writes.

It is too easy for the leader of a ruling party to agree and dispense with independent, careful and sensible criteria for setting their remuneration.

The four years since the Christchurch earthquake is more than enough time for a discussion about New Zealand's system of disaster insurance.

Can Bill English continue to keep all of National's fiscal balls in the air? And for how long before he drops one?

The Treasury delivered a cheerful set of economic forecasts in its half-year update yesterday, revising up its forecasts for the next two years.

The Government's widely touted return to surplus is likely to take a further 12 months and is largely reliant on cuts to spending.

Opposition parties say new Treasury forecasts that the Crown's books will not return to surplus this year as promised by the Government are an embarrassment.

The Treasury is looking to "crowd source" policy ideas about how to improve the effectiveness of welfare spending.

The "missing witness" in the South Canterbury Finance trial said questions about why he wasn't approached to give evidence can only be answered by the SFO.

Two-thirds or so of the way through the Government's financial year the tax take is $1.1 billion below forecast.