Politics
Luxon talks giving farmers tools for emissions reduction at Fieldays, but key target 'difficult' to hit
A series of announcements have been made at the agricultural event.
Latest from Nicola Willis
Stories and analysis from The Northern Express Herald.
Editorial: How long can NZ afford NZ Super at 65?
OPINION: NZ Super’s annual cost has jumped from under $20b in 2023 to $30b by 2030.
Luxon: Willis' tax attacks on Australia won't sour transtasman relationship
The Prime Minister is set to meet with his Australian counterpart on Saturday.
Richard Prebble: Why every Finance Minister's surplus always seems just out of reach
OPINION: Treasury moved the surplus forecast a year closer but will we ever get there?
Fran O'Sullivan: Why Willis’ spending cuts may only delay the hard choices ahead
OPINION: NZ Super Fund withdrawals are now delayed until 2054, 26 years later.
Thomas Coughlan: Nicola Willis gives herself some breathing space and puts the squeeze on Labour
OPINION: Forecasts assume operating allowances of $2.4b in the next three Budgets.
Watch: PM says he is 'really, really pleased' with Budget
The Government is spending $7b on new hospitals, roads and schools.
House price growth revised down: Is era of 6% annual house price growth over?
Treasury slashes forecast house growth for the third time in a row.
Live Budget Q&A: Audrey Young, Liam Dann and Jenée Tibshraeny answer your questions
Got questions about yesterday's Budget? Ask our senior politics and business journos.
Budget 2026: Nicola Willis reveals what this Budget means for you | Ryan Bridge TODAY
The Finance Minister joins the show live from the post-Budget breakfast in Wellington. Video/Ryan Bridge TODAY
Report of war-ending deal fuels market rally; S&P, Moody’s on Budget 2026 | Ryan Bridge TODAY
Herald NOW Business host Garth Bray talks about reports of a war-ending deal fuelling a market rally, as well as S&P and Moody’s reaction to Budget 2026. Video / Ryan Bridge TODAY
'Feel free to boo': Greens slam Luxon for 'flawed' Budget 2026
Public agencies must trim spending by 12% over the next three years.
Matthew Hooton: Willis’ heroic savings efforts overwhelmed by superannuation and debt
OPINION: No real improvement to NZ’s debt crisis is possible until NZ Super is resolved.
'We loved our postnatal stay': Mum backs Budget move on birth care
New mothers will be entitled to a minimum 72-hour stay after giving birth.
The most uninspiring election-year Budget in at least a decade
OPINION: This is a boring Budget – but its boringness is deliberate.
Liam Dann: No lolly scramble, just healthy snacks dressed up as treats in Budget
OPINION: It funds worthy projects: classrooms, hospital wards and the Waikato Expressway.
Budget 2026 highlights: Key spending on health, infrastructure and education
The Government is spending $7b on new hospitals, roads and schools in this year's Budget.
'Missed opportunity': Budget criticised for failing on child poverty targets
The Children's Commissioner is 'deeply disappointed' for children in hardship.
Cash for houses: Govt offers $400m to councils to give planning approval to more homes
Councils have long battled high infrastructure costs, can $400m fund change that?
Fair trade? Fees-free scrapped to make way for trade school opportunities
Trades Academy places will double to 20,000 over the next four years.
Defence spending surges in Budget as Willis warns of unsafe world
Intelligence agencies received a 20% boost.
'Unfair to other New Zealanders': Watts defends new shareholder loan tax
Simon Watts says unpaid shareholder loans are effectively personal income.
Govt injects $1.77b to extend Waikato Expressway, but Labour cites 'alarming' cost jump
The four-lane 16km expressway will connect the Waikato Expressway to SH29 at Piarere.
Willis directs banks not to pass levy costs on to Kiwis, Seymour says customers will pay
Prime Minister has 'zero expectation that there’ll be any pass-through whatsoever'.
Nicola Willis directs banks not to pass levy costs onto customers
She told the Herald the banks do well for themselves. Video / Mark Mitchell
'It seems sensible': Consumer NZ backs Govt levy on profitable banks
The prudential levy is expected to raise $209m over the next four years.
Watch: The personal side of Nicola Willis’ Budget 2026 delivery
The Finance Minister paused her Budget 2026 speech for a moving tribute to her family.
'Previous Governments let it rot': Peters trumpets $1b Budget funding for rail
Winston Peters says it's about putting rail assets to work once again.
Change for new mums revealed in Budget - what extra funding means for young families
The initiative is expected to cost about $34m over four years; the start date is unknown.
Will you be better or worse off over next five years? Explore our financial forecasts calculator
Check the prospects for your pay, house, or future dream home.