Opinion
Modest changes prove there is no magic wand
Bill English's seventh budget brings home the reality of a hard economic grind, a far cry from the historic rock star sentiments. It's a slow evolution from historic budgets, certainly no revolution, which is neither good nor bad - it just is.
Relative to many of our trading partners we are still ahead of the curve, but we are in no way insulated or thrusting forward.
Evolutionary budgets are not a bad thing. They provide a degree of stability and predictability that businesses like and recognise that no one holds a magic wand that gives rise to instantaneous gratification.
Video: Economics editor Brian Fallow - This is a tight-fisted budget