It was exciting to be in Parliament this week to deliver our first Budget and deliver on our campaign promises for tax relief for hardworking New Zealanders, more investment in frontline services, including health, education and police and a significant investment in infrastructure.

This budget will strengthen our economy, reduce the cost of living and get New Zealand back on track.

TAX RELIEF

We want New Zealand to be a place where if you work hard, you can get ahead.

Tax brackets have not been adjusted since 2010. This has meant the average full-time worker is paying five percent more of their earnings in tax than they were 14 years ago.

Budget 2024 delivers responsible tax relief for the squeezed middle - 3.5 million New Zealanders will keep more of what they earn.

Average income households with young children will get up to $102 per fortnight, plus FamilyBoost childcare payments of up to $150 per fortnight.

Our tax package is funded through savings and new revenue measures meaning it will not add to Government debt.

Visit Budget.govt.nz/taxcalculator to find out how much you could benefit.

Budget 2024 delivers for Hawke's Bay

The Coalition Government is committed to supporting the rebuild and recovery of the regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary floods.

Budget 2024 supports this commitment and also invests in New Zealand’s emergency preparedness including:

• $1 billion for NZTA to accelerate the delivery of the Roads of National significance, including four laning of the HB Expressway, and other transport projects.

• $609.3 million over three years to complete state highway recovery works in areas affected by the North Island weather events, ensuring that roads are restored to their previous condition.

• $1.2 billion over three years, will be invested in new and existing infrastructure across regional New Zealand, focusing on resilience and enabling infrastructure.

• $330 million over two years to continue the response and recovery work on local roads that were affected by the North Island weather events.

EDUCATION

The coalition Government is boosting education spending by $2.93 billion over the next four years to improve student outcomes.

Key investments made in the Budget include an additional:

• $1.48 billion for education property

• $516.4 million to support schools and ECE

• $153.3 million to establish Charter Schools

• $477.6 million to continue the school lunch programme

• $57 million for structured literacy

LAW AND ORDER

Budget 2024 is also investing in our police and restoring law and order.

This includes:

• Providing $651 million extra over four years in critical support for frontline policing, including the reinvestment of $55.1 million in savings.

• $191 million over four years to deliver 500 extra police officers

• $34.6 million in capital funding over two years to pay for equipment such as body armour and vehicles

• $424.9 million to support frontline policing including a $242.2 million boost to police pay

• $62.7 million for frontline police vehicles and maritime capability.

HEALTHCARE

New health investments in Budget 2024 over four years include (operating and capital):

• $3.44 billion for hospital and specialist services through Health New Zealand

• $2.12 billion for primary, community and public health through Health New Zealand

• $24 million for Gumboot Friday to deliver mental health services to young Kiwis through

• $31.2 million to gradually extend free breast screening to an additional 60,000 women each year

• We are investing an additional $1.1 billion over five years to support disabled people and address demand and cost pressures. This additional funding is on top of maintaining the Government’s more than 2.2 billion per annum investment in disability support services.

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I look forward to seeing you out in our Tukituki community soon.

Regards, Catherine

Catherine Wedd | MP for Tukituki

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