Nigel Tutt, Priority One chief executive
''The package of social initiatives is great and will help the overall prosperity of our region. However, at first glance, the budget does not appear to contain any new spend for the Western Bay of Plenty sub-region on infrastructure, which is desperately needed in a high-growth region.
Central government is a large benefactor of our growth and is, therefore, best placed to invest in key local assets. We expect that the package around "Innovative New Zealand" will be good for the region's businesses in the long term, for whom research and development are important.''
Garry Webber, Western Bay Mayor
''I'm pleased to see the Government is addressing social issues through a $321m social investment package.
There are some vulnerable people in our communities, and it's pleasing to see investments to aid and develop new initiatives to help the most at-risk members of our community."
The Western Bay Council also has a role to play as a public service provider.
The council is already working on a number of projects which aim to give at-risk communities a hand up - such as the Project Wai Ora clean water programme, installing modern wastewater systems across the district, and a healthy homes initiative.
Things that address inequality and access to education are very important, and I'm pleased to see the Government also sees the value in this."
Tommy Wilson, Te Tuinga Whanau executive director
''For me, this is a paying-it-forward budget and not a paying-it-back budget. Finally, we are moving forward past grievances, and this has to be good for all of us.
From a Social Services perspective, the family package put into this budget is to be applauded.
The increase in accommodation supplements and an increase in family tax rates means a warmer safer whare with a little more putea in the purse, to pay for better quality kai for up to 310,000 families.
Ninety-three million dollars toward Maori Economic development, especially in Maori Tourism, has a huge rainbow of opportunity for Tauranga Moana given we are the gateway for cruise ship passengers into the Bay.
All in all, we are seeing the fruits in having a Maori voice at the table of decision-making in Parliament, and Minister Flavell is to be congratulated for the influence he has had on this future-focused budget.''
Greg Brownless, Tauranga Mayor
I am really pleased to see they have allocated $2 billion a year as part of the Family Incomes Package which will help look after lower-income families.
Of course, I would have liked to see Tauranga benefit more from the funding allocated to infrastructure for a growing economy.
But I realise the Government is facing huge problems in other parts of the country such as Kaikoura which is probably taking first place at the moment.
Education was another major beneficiary which I think will pay off and be good for our society in the future. They have put $767 million for funding roll growth and demand which will hopefully benefit Tauranga.
The economic growth forecast means you can continue to invest in things like health and education because if you don't have that growth where is the money going to come from.