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.

The Government's operating deficit was smaller than expected in the first five months of the financial year as a clampdown on expenditure managed to offset a shortfall in the tax-take from last....

Dairy farmers and the Treasury will be looking to 2015 and beyond with some trepidation after a 52 per cent decline in wholemilk powder prices over the past 12 months.

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

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.

Treasury is questioning the way the Crown manages its assets, suggesting state ownership of social assets may not be the most efficient use of government money.

A former chief executive of Bluechip and director Viaduct Capital Nick Wevers has died and criminal charges filed against him have now been withdrawn.

The Government books are on track to deliver the promised surplus in 2014 - 15 but at $86 million, still a very small one, despite improvements in the economy.

An new interactive tool developed by a Victoria University professor in conjunction with Treasury lets people address the Government's long-term financial pressures.

Political correspondent John Armstrong spoke to Treasury's head about how he is changing the department's culture ahead of the release of its long-term fiscal projections.

The New Zealand government posted a smaller operating deficit than forecast in the 11 months ended May 31.

Well-connected lobbyists Saunders Unsworth worked with Solid Energy, Treasury and Cabinet Ministers to thwart questions about the company's problems.