Budget 2012 app cost $6.90 per download

A smartphone and tablet application developed for Budget 2012 cost Government nearly $6.90 per download, new figures show.

The NZ Budget app, developed in less than four weeks by Treasury and Wellington company PaperKite, allowed users to read documents including the Budget speech and watch video coverage.

Government today revealed the app cost $59,000 to develop.

It was downloaded 8600 times, at a cost of $6.86 for every download.

Finance Minister Bill English said the development costs would be funded from $100,000 or more in expected savings in Budget printing.

The app would be updated each year and Government would look at using the technology to relay other information, he said.

"I'm pleased the new app was a popular addition to our Budget communications. It confirms that New Zealanders have an appetite for receiving information in new, innovative ways.

"It's also a good example of the Government's focus on delivering better, more innovative, public services."