Latest fromBudget 2015

Not only will the benefit boost do little to alleviate poverty, but it is accompanied by cuts to other associated benefits and payments, writes Dita De Boni

The Government recognised in last week's Budget that the gap between market and benefit incomes has become too wide.

The managing director of one the newest KiwiSaver schemes, Amanah KiwiSaver Plan, said the Government's decision to remove the $1000 kickstart incentive to join a scheme has disadvantaged many members of the Islamic community.

Parents would be financially better off paying down their mortgage or other debts than signing their children up to KiwiSaver.

Prime Minister John Key says axing the $1000 kickstart grant to new KiwiSaver members in the Budget "will not make a blind bit of difference to the number of people who join".

IrrigationNZ said the $25 million in extra funding for irrigation projects announced in the Budget would help boost development of water storage and infrastructure.

Bill English just couldn't resist killing the $1000 KiwiSaver kickstarter - it was just lying there looking vulnerable.

In some respects, the Budget's introduction of a border clearance levy seemed like a step back in time.

The announcement of plans to impose an "Anti-Travel Tax" came at an unfortunate time for Transport Minister Simon Bridges, writes Grant Bradley.

National has denied it misled voters before last year's election, when it vowed not to introduce any new taxes, by announcing two new taxes in this week's Budget.

New research by IRD says KiwiSaver's cost $6b in taxpayer money - but success has been 'marginal, at best.'

Police are going through video footage of protesters at Auckland's Convention Centre after peaceful chanting turned aggressive.

The Budget was a rock of certainty and continuity in a sea of almost surreal politics played out most visibly and vividly by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, John Armstrong.

It was pleasing to see the Government didn't have any major surprises for small business in the Budget. We know small businesses hate surprises, Victoria Crone.

As a picture of New Zealand's forecast financial performance and the Government's fiscal plans, Finance Minister Bill English's seventh Budget impresses, Alex Malley writes.

The days of big Budget handouts are long gone and New Zealanders need to get used to the "new normal".

The actions of protesters who tried to force their way into the SkyCity events centre today were disappointing, police say.

Labour leader Andrew Little appears to have been forced into the first dramatic u-turn of his leadership, backing down on preivous comments.

National's move to increase benefits and address child poverty in the 2015 Budget has left opposition politicians and political commentators scrambling, writes Bryce Edwards.

Labour leader Andrew Little says the party will consider means testing superannuation but he did not agree with increasing the age of eligibility despite concern about the rising costs. Speaking at a post Budget business breakfast, Mr Little accused the Government of recklessness for failing to address superannuation in the Budget, the rising cost of which he said was "terrifying."

Standard & Poor's says growth at Auckland Airport could be hit by the new passenger tax.