New Zealand Finance Minister Grant Robertson has delivered the 2021 budget in Parliament.
The budget gives the people of New Zealand an idea of how money is going to be spent over the next year. As usual a large proportion of our taxes will go on health, education and welfare.
The main announcement in the budget was an increase to those receiving help from the government. Robinson announced that the government will lift all benefit rates by between $32 and $55.
The government will implement the increase in two stages, with the first being a $20-a-week increase from 1 July this year. A second increase will occur on 1 April next year.
It is projected the changes will lift between 19,000 and 33,000 children out of poverty.
Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni said 109,000 families with children would be, on average, better off by $40 a week and 263,000 individuals and couples without children would be better off by $42 a week.
