Rotorua Daily Post
  • Rotorua Daily Post home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Residential property listings
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Rural
  • Sport

Locations

  • Tauranga
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales

Weather

  • Rotorua
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Todd McClay: Budget to put us on better footing

By Todd McClay
Rotorua Daily Post·
12 May, 2013 11:41 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Thursday, May 16, is Budget Day when Deputy Prime Minister Bill English will announce the Government's plan to get New Zealand back to surplus in 2014-15. While this might not seem important when one considers the day-to-day challenges of everyday life, getting back to surplus is vital if we want to boost the economy and create jobs.

Budget 2013 will show the steps the Government is taking to help the New Zealand economy grow, by supporting Kiwi businesses to innovate, expand, and hire more staff.

We will build on the momentum achieved over the last four years which in the face of continuing global uncertainty is more important than ever.

Currently, New Zealand is in pretty good shape compared with almost every other developed country in the world. The economy is continuing to grow, real jobs are being created, and confidence is increasing. The Government's responsible economic management since the start of the global financial crisis means that by 2014/15, New Zealand will be one of the few developed countries running surpluses and able to start repaying debt.

Latest statistics show the economy grew 3 per cent in calendar year 2012, comparable to Australia's 3.1 per cent growth. Homeowners will be pleased that under this Government, New Zealand has the lowest mortgage rates since 1965. Further, after-tax wages are up 22 per cent over the past five years - more than twice the rate of inflation - and over the past two years 54,000 new jobs have been created.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

We've also removed unnecessary regulation and red tape which has restrained growth and have put in place investment in important infrastructure, including road networks, and connecting New Zealand with the world through ultra-fast broadband. There's also better support for families and good results being delivered from the health system. We're ensuring every child gets the skills they need at school, and we've supported our justice system to keep you safe at home and in your community.

Recently, the International Monetary Fund even gave its tick of approval to our responsible management of the Government's finances. The IMF says we're getting it right with our balanced approach to supporting growth and reducing public debt. This is because we're working hard to put the economy on a more competitive footing.

In particular, we have embarked on more than 300 initiatives to build export markets, innovation, skills, capital markets, infrastructure, and better access to our natural resources, as part of our Business Growth Agenda.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

This is helping give businesses the confidence to invest, grow and hire new staff. Our sensible fiscal and monetary policy is helping to keep interest rates and inflation low, which is benefiting businesses and households across New Zealand.

Operating in surplus is important for our future. It will help keep interest rates lower for longer, which is the single biggest cost to most households, and it helps take the pressure off New Zealand's exchange rate, which is good for the country's exporters. Getting the books in order means we will owe less to overseas lenders, which will help ensure the economy is stronger and in a better position to handle economic shocks.

Budget 2013 will show the Government is busy, focused, and taking action across the many areas needed to boost growth, investment, and jobs. As your elected member of Parliament, I'll continue to work hard for Rotorua businesses and households to ensure we get access to the resources we need to boost the local economy, support families and create jobs here.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

Rotorua Daily Post

'Stop this madness': Police promise crackdown on illegal dirt bikers

10 Jul 03:52 AM
Rotorua Daily Post

Midweek windfall: Winning Lotto ticket sold in Rotorua

10 Jul 02:37 AM
Rotorua Daily Post

Heavy rain warning likely for BoP – MetService

10 Jul 12:40 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

'Stop this madness': Police promise crackdown on illegal dirt bikers

'Stop this madness': Police promise crackdown on illegal dirt bikers

10 Jul 03:52 AM

Several parks and reserves have been vandalised in recent weeks.

Midweek windfall: Winning Lotto ticket sold in Rotorua

Midweek windfall: Winning Lotto ticket sold in Rotorua

10 Jul 02:37 AM
Heavy rain warning likely for BoP – MetService

Heavy rain warning likely for BoP – MetService

10 Jul 12:40 AM
Rotorua council takes back control of parking services

Rotorua council takes back control of parking services

09 Jul 09:40 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Rotorua Daily Post e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Rotorua Daily Post
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP