NZ Finance Minister introduces 2006 budget
{{date|May 18, 2006}}
{{New Zealand}} 

Today the [[w:New Zealand|New Zealand]] [[w:Finance Minister (New Zealand)|Finance Minister]], [[w:Michael Cullen|Hon. Dr Michael Cullen]],  presented the [[w:2006 New Zealand Budget|2006 New Zealand Budget]] to the  [[w:New Zealand Parliament|House of Representatives]]. There is a [[w:NZD|NZ$]]8.5 billion [[w:OBERAC|OBERAC]] surplus and a [[w:NZD|NZ$]]1.5 billion cash surplus.

It has been labelled as the "Bondi Budget"  by [[w:National Party of New Zealand|National]] leader [[w:Don Brash|Don Brash]], "[[Helen Clark]] and Michael Cullen believe there is a place for tax cuts - it's called [[w:Australia|Australia]]" he said. 

The budget allocates new operating spending of $9.6 billion and capital of $2.7 billion over the next four years.

Key issues in the budget includes:
*The [[W:Telecom New Zealand|Telecom New Zealand]] [[w:local loop|local loop]] unbundling (released earlier due to leak).
*[[W:NZD|$]]1.3 billion extra for transport.
*[[W:NZD|$3]] billion  extra for health care, over the next four years.
*[[W:NZD|$]]361 million extra for schooling
*[[W:NZD|$]]166 million extra for tertiary education and skill training
*[[W:NZD|$]]162 million extra for early childhood education

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.nbr.co.nz/home/column_article.asp?id=15244&cid=15&cname=Politics
|title=Full text of 2006 Budget Speech
|author=National Business Review (NBR)
|pub=http://www.nbr.co.nz
|date=May 18, 2006}}

{{publish}}
{{Archive-unreviewed}}

[[Category:New Zealand]]
[[Category:Oceania]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Economy and business]]
[[Category:Helen Clark]]
Today the New Zealand Finance Minister, Hon. Dr Michael Cullen,  presented the 2006 New Zealand Budget to the  House of Representatives. There is a NZ$8.5 billion OBERAC surplus and a NZ$1.5 billion cash surplus.

It has been labelled as the "Bondi Budget"  by National leader Don Brash, "Helen Clark and Michael Cullen believe there is a place for tax cuts - it's called Australia" he said. 

The budget allocates new operating spending of $9.6 billion and capital of $2.7 billion over the next four years.

Key issues in the budget includes:
*The Telecom New Zealand local loop unbundling (released earlier due to leak).
*$1.3 billion extra for transport.
*$3 billion  extra for health care, over the next four years.
*$361 million extra for schooling
*$166 million extra for tertiary education and skill training
*$162 million extra for early childhood education
New Zealand Oceania Politics and conflicts Economy and business Helen Clark