19 May 2021
The government is dampening down expectations of any major new housing measures in tomorrow s Budget, saying it announced most of its plan in March.Budget 2021 has not much room for housing
19 May 2021
Explainer - The Budget is approaching, but what actually is it, and does it even matter? RNZ is here to clear it all up.The Budget and why it matters: What you need to know
19 May 2021
Politics
Thursday, 20 May 2021, 3:09 pm
Well done to the Government on funding its housing
initiatives, but for most first-home buyers Budget 2021 will
make little difference, says one real estate
boss.
“It brings to life measures the Government has
already announced in recent months. However, it does little
to help young Kiwis pull together a deposit or secure a
mortgage – both of which are increasingly difficult,”
says Derryn Mayne, Owner of Century 21 New
Zealand.
Her comments follow Finance Minister Grant
Robertson confirming today that Budget 2021 will help
deliver more housing supply, with a strong focus on lifting
Maori homeownership rates announced.
“Homeownership
rates for Maori have always been much lower than the rest of
By Praveen Menon
WELLINGTON, May 20 (Reuters) - New Zealand on Thursday significantly lifted welfare benefit rates and promised billions of dollars towards addressing long-term challenges in its 2021 budget, while forecasting a stronger than expected economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The budget for the 2021 fiscal year allocated funds towards housing, healthcare, education and infrastructure, while also targeting issues like child poverty, climate change and welfare of the indigenous Maori.
The highlight, however, was a hike in the weekly benefit rates by up to NZ$55 per adult, which the government said was the largest income increase in a generation. Not only will this give a sense of dignity and hope to those who receive that boost in income, it will also help reduce inequality and provide ongoing stimulus to the economy, New Zealand Finance Minister Grant Robertson said.
Thursday, 20 May 2021, 2:35 pm
“The Budget’s establishment funding to enable
significant health reforms is positive news for those
wanting a more centralised, concerted national health effort
to achieve the likes of Smokefree Aotearoa,” says a
leading tobacco harm reduction advocate.
Her comments
follow Finance Minister Grant Robertson today announcing
that Budget 2021 includes funding to begin the transition
from 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to one Health New
Zealand organisation. The reforms will also establish a new
Māori Health Authority.
“All our DHBs run
successful ‘vape to quit’ smoking cessation programmes
but the commitment and resourcing varies quite a bit. As a
Finance Minister Grant Robertson is now announcing the government's 2021 Budget. Follow RNZ's blog for the announcements, analysis and all you need to know.