New Zealand’s finance minister Grant Robertson has delivered the 2018 budget.
In the budget that he gave today in parliament he outlined how New Zealand will spend its money over the next year.
The key points from the 2018 Budget are outlined below. The focus seems to be on health and education.
HEALTH
Very low-cost GP visits will be extended to all Community Services Card holders. Eligibility for the card will be extended to all Housing NZ tenants, and those receiving an income related rent subsidy or accommodation supplement.
Free doctor visits and prescriptions are extended to all under-14s.
EDUCATION
The education sector gets nearly $2 billion. That’ll go on 1500 new teachers, 200 new classrooms, and a big boost to learning support.
Learning support gets an extra $133.5 million over four years. That’ll go toward the likes of speech language therapists and psychologists. There will be an extra $30.4 million over four years for students who are deaf and hard of hearing.
HOUSING
The Government has provided funding for an additional 6400 state houses over four years – or 1600 a year. It’ll come at a cost of $234 million over four years.
REFUGEES
The Government will fund two additional accommodation blocks at the Māngere Refugee Resettlement Centre. The Government says this will support increasing the Refugee Quota to 1500 places per year.There’s also a funding boost of $3.8 million over four years for the Refugee and Protection unit.
