On Thursday, our Government delivered a Budget focused on securing New Zealand’s future.
Budget 2026 sets a clear path for stronger economic growth, more jobs and lower borrowing, while continuing to invest in the frontline services New Zealanders rely on. It is a Budget focused on fixing the basics and building for the future.
✅ Solid economic growth averaging 2.7%
✅ 220,000 more jobs across New Zealand
✅ Wages growing faster than inflation, helping households get ahead
✅ Borrowing reduced by $6 billion with a return to surplus a year earlier
Responsible economic management is how we reduce debt, keep your taxes low and continue investing in health, education, law and order and other essential services.
A standout health announcement in Budget 2026 for our region is investment in the future redevelopment of Palmerston North Hospital.
We have committed funding for the design work, site planning and early enabling works needed to progress the redevelopment. This is an important step toward easing infrastructure pressures and improving facilities for patients, families and hardworking frontline staff across our region. Funding has also been set aside for a new temporary intensive care unit to help ease immediate pressure.
This sits alongside record investment in health, with Budget 2026 committing more than $5.8 billion in new funding to improve access to care and strengthen frontline services across New Zealand.
This investment will support:
- 24,000 additional planned care treatments
- 24,000 additional cancer treatments
- 42,000 more people receiving inpatient care
- 26,000 additional emergency department events
- 53,000 additional GP enrolments
- 272,000 additional aged care bed nights
Budget 2026 takes another important step toward improving early cancer detection, with the age for free bowel screening lowered from 58 to 56 from September this year.
More than 200,000 additional New Zealanders are expected to become eligible as part of this next stage. The investment will fund more than 800,000 additional screening kits, increased workforce capacity, new diagnostic equipment and more than 6,200 additional colonoscopies for people requiring follow-up care after screening.
This is another practical step toward aligning New Zealand’s bowel screening programme with Australia and helping save more lives through earlier detection.
Budget 2026 continues strong investment in law and order, with $1.3 billion across policing, corrections and the justice system.
A key part of this investment is $391 million for frontline policing, helping ensure Police have the people, resources and technology needed to respond to crime and support local communities.
The Budget also provides additional support for community safety initiatives, including Neighbourhood Support and Community Patrols, recognising the important role local volunteers play alongside Police in preventing crime and helping keep communities safe.
Budget 2026 delivers a major boost for trade training, doubling the number of Trades Academy places from 10,000 to 20,000 over the next four years.
For Rangitīkei and Horowhenua families, this is an important investment in practical pathways for young people. Trades Academies give secondary school students the opportunity to learn hands-on skills in areas such as agriculture, engineering, construction and mechanical trades while still at school, helping connect learning with real career opportunities.
In a region like ours, where skilled trades and primary industries are vital, creating more pathways into apprenticeships and practical training matters. Budget 2026 also supports an additional 1,000 Youth Guarantee places, helping young people with low or no qualifications re-engage with learning and move into jobs, training or further study.
Budget 2026 includes significant investment in education, with a key focus on strengthening teaching and learning in secondary schools. This includes $61 million to develop resources for the refreshed New Zealand Curriculum and $20 million for professional learning and development to support 32,000 secondary teachers as new curriculum and qualifications are introduced.
For schools across Rangitīkei and Horowhenua, the Budget also includes practical investment to help manage day-to-day pressures and improve learning environments. This includes a 2 per cent increase in school operating grants worth $160 million nationally, alongside $559 million to grow and maintain school property. There is also additional cost pressure funding for learning support, helping schools better meet the needs of students.
Budget 2026 includes a major commitment to strengthening New Zealand’s rail network, with more than $1 billion committed to KiwiRail’s planned network investments between 2027 and 2030.
For our region, rail remains an important part of moving freight, supporting local industry and connecting provincial communities. Reliable rail infrastructure helps keep goods moving efficiently, supporting sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing which are vital to our local economy.
This Budget investment complements our previous announcement of new trains connecting Manawatū and Wellington. Eighteen state-of-the-art battery-electric trains are on the way to replace the ageing diesel fleet on the Wairarapa and Manawatū lines, delivering faster, more frequent, reliable and comfortable journeys for commuters.
Budget 2026 includes a practical upgrade for New Zealander seniors, with the SuperGold Card set to become an accepted form of official identification.
For many seniors across Rangitīkei and Horowhenua, particularly those without a driver licence or passport, proving identity can make accessing banking, legal services and other essential support more difficult.
The upgraded SuperGold Card will include a photograph and enhanced security features, meeting standards required by banks and other service providers. Available in both physical and digital versions, rollout is expected from October 2028.
Having the photographic ID will be optional and the SuperGold Card will remain free of charge to anyone over 65.
Budget 2026 includes further investment in social housing, helping more New Zealanders access warm, dry and secure homes while taking a more targeted approach to local need.
The Government is investing an additional $69.2 million into the Flexible Fund, supporting the delivery of between 1,800 and 2,250 additional social homes over three years. Importantly, this approach allows housing providers to respond to the needs of different communities, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model.
Budget 2026 includes a welcome boost for ambulance services, with investment to strengthen emergency care and better support frontline crews.
Alongside a $35 million investment to improve ambulance systems and technology, increased funding from Health New Zealand and ACC will support more frontline ambulance crews and 111 call handlers, with stronger support for volunteers, particularly in rural communities.
For Rangitīkei and Horowhenua, this matters. Our rural and provincial communities rely on timely emergency care, and local ambulance volunteers play an essential role. This investment will help services keep pace with growing demand and continue delivering reliable care close to home.
Budget 2026 includes increased support for mothers and babies, helping ensure families have more time and care during the important first days after birth.
The Government is investing $34.4 million over four years to increase maternity bed capacity and support additional staffing, allowing mothers to stay in hospital or a primary maternity unit for up to three days after giving birth.
For families across Rangitīkei and Horowhenua, this means greater support during a time which can feel both exciting and overwhelming. More time in maternity care can help mothers recover, build confidence and access extra support with feeding and newborn care before heading home.