Budget 2022

The Government has announced $1.2 billion for Māori as part of this year's budget, with a large chunk going towards health, and a boost for Māori economic ...

The package also includes $36 million to strengthen mātauranga-based approaches to reducing biological emissions, $16.3 million for an Equitable Transitions Programme, $30.5 million for Māori Climate Action and $11.6 for the Takutai Moana – Implementation of Engagement Strategy. Māori education has been allocated over $200 million with $47 million for the Māori Language Programme funding at its highest level of immersion (Level 1). Also included is $13 million for initiatives in the construction sector, $3 million for marae connectivity, $5 million for an iwi/Māori teacher workforce support package, $25 million cadetships to improve and extend Māori employment outcomes in the Cadetships Programmes, and $10 million for the Te Ringa Hāpai Whenua Fund. $168 million to the Māori Health Authority for direct commissioning of services and $20.1 million to support Iwi-Māori Partnership Boards There will be $155 million invested into the Māori economy and employment, following the Government’s $66 million funding boost last week to continue the Māori Trades and Training Fund. Of the money, $579.9 million is being invested into various health initiatives, including $188.1 million to the Māori Health Authority over four years.

There was a lot riding on the year's Budget: Cost-of-living challenges, health, climate, education - so did the spending match sectors' hopes?

Minister Chris Hipkins is heading overseas to promote New Zealand as a study destination, some education agents warned it would take time to recover, and immigration changes would hit the India market especially hard. But more would inevitably be needed to complete the shift and bring the health system's infrastructure up to scratch. The government is seeking feedback on how this can be tackled so don't expect much action until that's complete, but already the Insurance Council has warned funds should be set aside for mitigating increasing floods. Expectations Expectations Another $3.6m will help scale up a voluntary carbon market. Expectations were high the popular public transport move would be extended. Expectations Robertson's Budget has needed to walk a fine line between reining in inflationary spending and keeping infrastructure promises, however. Expectations Expectations Expectations

Billions of dollars will go into the reformed, centralised health system over the next four years, but Māori will see just a little of it, Marc Daalder ...

Alongside money for the new health system, a bevy of services have received specific funding. This year also marks the start of a new funding model for the health system, which will receive multi-year allocations rather than one-off bumps to its budget. A portion will wipe off the $550 million in debt that the DHBs have managed to accrue over more than a decade of poor financial management. Reader donations are critical to what we do. Robertson said the reforms would address “the long-standing inequities we have in our health system” but conceded “it is just the beginning”. He also pointed to other Māori health funding in the Budget, like $30m for Māori care providers and $39m for development of the hauora Māori workforce. But the funding for the new Māori Health Authority to commission health services dwindles in comparison to the Health NZ’s multibillion dollar operating budget, at just $168 million over the next four years.

New 'cost of living payment' for people earning up to $70K. This is a temporary payment for people not entitled to the Winter energy payment.

- The rule will be scraped that denies sole parents on benefits their child support payment. The new rules will stop supermarkets from blocking competition from accessing land to open new stores, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. Ongoing half price public transport for community service card holders.

Budget 2022 provides an extra $374m of operating funding and $26m of capital funding to DOC to significantly progress implementation of the Aotearoa New Zealand ...

The increases in departmental and non-departmental appropriations since 2019/20 have been driven by the Covid Recovery and Relief Funds received at Budget 2020. Predator control ($81.3m) Predator control ($81.3m) Tourism infrastructure - maintenance ($33.1m) Visitor management ($5.5m) The decrease in concessions revenue and recreation revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is still having an impact on DOC’s baseline and will continue to do so until revenue recovers to pre-COVID levels. Budget 2019 was more modest, but allowed for DOC’s security, health and safety systems to be strengthened. The most significant funding uplifts secured were: Jobs for Nature: Kaimahi for nature ($200.0m) - Electric vehicles ($10m) - Visitor asset management ($60m) - Deer management and goat control ($30m)

Initiatives from Budget 2022 that affect businesses: 1. Supermarket regulation. The Government will introduce legislation to Parliament on Budget night, ...

The payment would be available for a set time period, after which the claimant would need to go into the regular welfare system if they're still unemployed. The value of the payout would be equivalent to a certain portion of the claimant's previous income – up to a certain level. The proposal is that employees and employers pay levies to the scheme, which would pay a claimant out in the event of job loss due to redundancy or illness. "The Fund would always be a minority investor with a seat on the board, offering guidance and expertise, but always leaving owners in control. The Crown will have a minority shareholding in the Fund, which will be "privately operated" and "independently managed". Robertson said the Government would provide a formal response to the Commerce Commission's market study in the coming days.