Environmental and climate change initiatives have not been slashed and burned, instead the money has been shifted around to reflect different priorities.
Migration and international travel are recovering. But the shifted dynamics, and the balance between long-term departures and arrivals, pose a challenge.
Budget 2023, shaped by competing dynamics, lived up to its name – the “no frills” budget. It also revealed that we are playing catch-up with our largest neighbour.
The Ministry of Education will replace the decile system with the new Equity Index. Will this new Equity Index lead to more equitable allocation of funding to schools?
Unemployment has fallen to very low levels during the time of COVID-19. Which groups in the population have benefitted the most? And can low unemployment last?
New Zealand released its first Emissions Reduction Plan, which sets out how we will meet our first emissions budget. The plan seems ambitious and not entirely convincing.
Despite a small improvement in 2021, the average household in the lowest income group paid a staggering 41 percent of its disposable income on housing.