As anticipated, there were no big surprises in this year's budget with the main winners being:

 

Health

The biggest winner in this year's budget is the health sector. 

A $3.2 billion increase in operating funding over the next 4 years and $850 million in new capital spending.  This includes $2.2 billion over the next 4 years to go to District Health Boards so that they can maintain standards of care, mental health services and support of New Zealanders. 

Community mid-wives, elective surgery and the national bowl screening programme are all set to get extra funding. 

Free GP visits have been extended to include 13-year olds and under.  

Community Services Card holders should also see a decrease in GP visit costs of $20 to $30. 

 

Education

The education sector will receive some $1.6 billion to be spent on 1,500 extra teachers and 200 new classrooms. 

Learning support will receive an additional $133.5 million over the next 4 years to go towards speech language therapists and psychologists.  As well as $30.4 million over 4 years for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. 

Early Childhood education is to receive $590.2 million over the next 4 years. 

 

Housing

6,400 extra state houses are to be built by 2022.

$170 million is also earmarked for emergency housing. 

$142 million of funding is to go to low income families in insulation subsidies. 

 

Police/Corrections

920 more police officers and 240 support staff to be funded with nearly $300 million of new spending. 

$200 million is to go towards building pop-up jail cells by the end of 2019, to be able to hold an additional 600 inmates. 

 

Conservation

DOC is to receive $181.6 million in funding over four years, the largest boost to its funding since 2002. 

$100 million Green Investment fund to be set up to stimulate investment from the private sector into low-emission projects. 

 

 

Other Points

The Government have confirmed their commitment to the ring-fencing of tax losses on rental properties.  This will have a significant impact on many property investors.

No fundamental changes have been made to tax rates. 

An additional $31 million is to go to the IRD to ensure that company tax returns are filed to combat tax avoidance, resulting in an estimated $183 million in additional taxes collected over four years.