Budget Responsibility Rules

National commits to ‘Budget Responsibility Rules’ including prioritising a return to surplus, reducing debt below 40% of GDP and keeping taxes low. Labour agrees 'fiscal responsibility is crucial, but this is much ado about nothing'

National commits to ‘Budget Responsibility Rules’ including prioritising a return to surplus, reducing debt below 40% of GDP and keeping taxes low. Labour agrees 'fiscal responsibility is crucial, but this is much ado about nothing'

Green Party officially withdraws support for set point debt targets, saying they've 'limited the Government's scope for change'; Party's new policy says 'current approach to fiscal management embeds neoliberalism'

Green Party officially withdraws support for set point debt targets, saying they've 'limited the Government's scope for change'; Party's new policy says 'current approach to fiscal management embeds neoliberalism'

Government gives itself more spending wriggle room sooner than expected, having met goal of reducing net debt to 20% of GDP

Government gives itself more spending wriggle room sooner than expected, having met goal of reducing net debt to 20% of GDP

Finance Minister Grant Robertson's presided over another strong financial year for the Crown - but he's still not expected as yet to provide the fiscal kick many are seeking for the economy

Finance Minister Grant Robertson's presided over another strong financial year for the Crown - but he's still not expected as yet to provide the fiscal kick many are seeking for the economy

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the Government appears to have the balance right given mixed responses to planned changes to its debt target 

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the Government appears to have the balance right given mixed responses to planned changes to its debt target 

Government to give itself more wriggle room to spend, as Finance Minister announces 20% debt/GDP target will be replaced by a broader target of 15%-25% from 2021/22; National says it's thrown in the towel

Government to give itself more wriggle room to spend, as Finance Minister announces 20% debt/GDP target will be replaced by a broader target of 15%-25% from 2021/22; National says it's thrown in the towel

Chris Trotter looks at how Sepuloni's welfare reform agenda bumps up against Robertson's spending control framework, and assesses how this will be resolved

Chris Trotter looks at how Sepuloni's welfare reform agenda bumps up against Robertson's spending control framework, and assesses how this will be resolved

Pressure on Robertson to borrow more to stimulate the economy mounts, as debt gets cheaper, the effectiveness of interest rate cuts diminishes, and credit rating agencies remain happy

Pressure on Robertson to borrow more to stimulate the economy mounts, as debt gets cheaper, the effectiveness of interest rate cuts diminishes, and credit rating agencies remain happy

Capacity constraints, prudence and wellbeing set to feature in the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update and Budget Policy Statement on Thursday

Capacity constraints, prudence and wellbeing set to feature in the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update and Budget Policy Statement on Thursday

The Minister of Housing says there is no limit to what Government entities, such as NZTA, can borrow – none of this extra borrowing shows up on the Government’s core Crown debt ledger

The Minister of Housing says there is no limit to what Government entities, such as NZTA, can borrow – none of this extra borrowing shows up on the Government’s core Crown debt ledger

Before the 2020 election, Finance Minister Grant Robertson must decide if Labour will stick with the Budget Responsibility Rules, or ditch them. Jason Walls says this will be a hugely significant decision

Before the 2020 election, Finance Minister Grant Robertson must decide if Labour will stick with the Budget Responsibility Rules, or ditch them. Jason Walls says this will be a hugely significant decision

Winston Peters has joined Greens’ co-leader James Shaw in saying the Government might want to look at loosening its budgetary rules before the next election

Winston Peters has joined Greens’ co-leader James Shaw in saying the Government might want to look at loosening its budgetary rules before the next election

The Government has a $3 billion surplus, it is $1.6 billion under its spending cap and has almost met its debt target – so why are we being told there is no money left for nurses?

The Government has a $3 billion surplus, it is $1.6 billion under its spending cap and has almost met its debt target – so why are we being told there is no money left for nurses?

Finance Minister Grant Robertson says ahead of next week's Budget announcement that the Govt will be spending $10 bln more over the next five years than the previous Govt promised; Is that it? asks National's Amy Adams

Finance Minister Grant Robertson says ahead of next week's Budget announcement that the Govt will be spending $10 bln more over the next five years than the previous Govt promised; Is that it? asks National's Amy Adams

Finance Minister Grant Robertson reveals the Government has freed up $1.4 billion of funding over 4 years through tax changes and reprioritising spending

Finance Minister Grant Robertson reveals the Government has freed up $1.4 billion of funding over 4 years through tax changes and reprioritising spending