Budget 2014: What local politicians think

Todd McClay

The Government's plans to extend paid parental leave and provide children with free healthcare are being welcomed by some local political leaders - but others aren't convinced.

Yesterday Finance Minister Bill English released the annual Budget, which outlined a $500m package that would see free GP visits and free prescriptions for children aged under 13, an additional $156m put towards helping early childhood centres remain affordable and $33m allocated to helping vulnerable children.

The Budget also included promises of a gradual extension of paid parental leave to 18
weeks, and an easing of criteria, among other things.

Rotorua MP Todd McClay said the Budget was good news for Rotorua families.

``Rotorua's young families and children are the winners of Budget 2014, with $500 million to help families as well as boosts for education, health and job support,'' he said.

Mr McClay said the National Government was prioritising spending so families and children were among the first to benefit from the growing economy.

Mr McClay said the Budget showed signs of a recovering economy.

``This is a confident budget for a confident nation. It's a budget for an economy heading in the right direction,'' he said.

His view was shared by Waiariki MP and Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell.

``I think what this Budget shows is that we are heading into better times. It shows we are
turning away from the depression we've had for about the last five years,'' he said.

However Labour Party candidate for Rotorua Tamati Coffey said he was unimpressed by the Budget.

``Overall it seems National has stolen all Labour's big policies, they've stolen our thunder,'' he said.

Mr Coffey said extensions to paid parental leave, increasing parental tax credit and providing children with free healthcare had all been policies Labour had been pushing for.

``Basically they've made themselves look like heroes with Labour Party policies. It looks as though they're trying to get voters on side using our policies,'' he said.

Mr Coffey said he didn't think the Budget did enough to help the people of Rotorua.