The New Zealand budget for fiscal year 2018/19 was presented to the New Zealand House of Representatives by Finance Minister Grant Robertson on 17 May 2018.
This was the first budget by the Sixth Labour Government of New Zealand, and the first presented by Grant Robertson as Minister of Finance.
Background.
In mid-May 2018, the Government allocated NZ$2.8 billion in operational funding and NZ$3.8 billion in capital funding to the 2018 New Zealand Budget. According to a "New Zealand Herald" report, 38% of the Budget's funding was generated from adopting a slower debt track than the previous National Government; 23% from extra revenue from economic growth; 6% from cutting previous programmes and greater tax collection compliance.
Major announcements.
Employment and immigration.
Investing NZ$88 million into increasing the number of labour inspectors, funding compliance and border activities to combat migrant exploitation, and training programmes for unemployed youths.
Reaction.
As is tradition, the Leader of the Opposition, Simon Bridges, moved a motion of no confidence in reply to the Budget speech. Bridges claimed the Budget showed "a Government that is borrowing more, taxing more and spending more — but has no plans for how we as a country can earn more." In response, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern claimed the Opposition was "a lot of shouty shouty, and not a lot of planny planny."