2017 New Zealand budget

Major announcements

Economic Development and Infrastructure

• $812 million for repairs to State Highway 1 and the Main North rail line between Picton and Christchurch following the November 2016 Kaikoura earthquake.
• $102 million over four years to help develop tourism-related infrastructure such as car parks, toilets and waste facilities.

  Education

Environment

• $76 million over four years for Department of Conservation tourism-related infrastructure.

  External

Finance and Government Administration

• Personal income tax thresholds adjusted to give tax cuts from 1 April 2018. New rates are 10.5% on the first $22,000 of income, 17.5% on income between $22,001 and $52,000, 30% from $52,001 to $70,000, and 33% from $70,001 and up.

  Health

• $60 million over four years to increase Pharmac's pharmaceutical subsidy budget.
• $59.2 million over four years to enable double-crewing of all emergency ambulances.

  Justice

Māori, Other Populations and Cultural

• $10.1 million to upgrade Archives New Zealand's and the National Library of New Zealand's long-term storage facilities.

  Primary Industries

Social Development and Housing

• Investing NZ$194 million for Social Development initiatives including $64 million to put people into employment and $38 million for the development of a new Social Investment Agency.
• NZ$185 million for social housing including expanding the Housing First programme and a housing pathway for newly-released inmates.

  Reaction