Articles tagged with Households
FamilyBoost Scheme Expands, Thousands of Households Benefit with $150+ Payments - Finance Minister Nicola Willis
1 month ago | 214 viewsThe FamilyBoost scheme has expanded, with over 11,500 households now receiving at least $150 a fortnight in payments. Families can claim larger rebates on early childhood education fees, leading to over 78,000 households benefiting from the program. The average payment for the September quarter is nearly $100 per fortnight, encouraging eligible households to apply through the IRD website.
Tags: FamilyBoost payments households scheme Finance Minister Nicola Willis rebates early childhood education New Zealanders young familiesFinance Minister Pleased with Inflation Remaining in Reserve Bank's Target Range
2 months ago | 240 viewsActing Finance Minister Chris Bishop welcomes latest figures showing inflation within Reserve Bank's target range, with annual CPI inflation rising from 2.7% to 3% in the year to September 2025. Expectations are for inflation to decline towards 2% in the first half of next year, easing pressure on households and businesses. Top contributors to the annual increase were electricity (up 11.3%) and local authority rates and payments (up 8.8%), emphasizing the need for increased electricity supply and competition and the impact of local government rates on New Zealanders' finances.
Tags: Chris Bishop Stats NZ Reserve Bank inflation CPI government households businesses electricity local authorityFinance Minister Hails OCR Cut, Easing Pressure on Kiwi Households and Businesses
2 months ago | 226 viewsFinance Minister Nicola Willis highlights the positive impact of the 50 basis point Official Cash Rate reduction on Kiwi households and businesses, easing financial pressure. The reduction in OCR will lead to lower interest rates for mortgage-holders and businesses, stimulating growth and investment. The Government's focus on responsible economic management, along with lower interest rates, aims to support recovery and drive policies for job and income growth to benefit all New Zealanders.
Tags: Official Cash Rate Kiwi households Finance Minister Nicola Willis monetary policy interest rates growth jobs investment inflationNew FamilyBoost Scheme Expands Eligibility and Refunds for Kiwi Families
2 months ago | 288 viewsThe Government has expanded the FamilyBoost scheme to provide more help with early childhood education (ECE) costs for Kiwi families, allowing households with incomes up to just under $230,000 to claim back 40% of their ECE costs, up to $300 a week. Finance Minister Nicola Willis encourages eligible families to check their eligibility on the Inland Revenue website and apply for the increased refunds. The Income Tax (FamilyBoost) Amendment Act increased the proportion of ECE fees families can claim, with an increase in the maximum amount families can claim per week and an expanded household income limit for eligibility.
Tags: Nicola Willis FamilyBoost ECE early childhood education Government Finance Minister households eligibility refunds Inland RevenueEnhanced FamilyBoost Program to Benefit Thousands of Households with Early Childhood Education Costs
3 months ago | 304 viewsStarting next month, tens of thousands of households will receive increased support for early childhood education through the expanded FamilyBoost scheme, as announced by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. The legislation for the expanded ECE support scheme has passed through Parliament, with Labour reversing its position to support the enhanced FamilyBoost. Changes include increasing the proportion of ECE fees families can claim from 25 to 40 percent, raising the household income limit for FamilyBoost, and making about 21,000 more households eligible for assistance.
Tags: Nicola Willis FamilyBoost ECE households Labour scheme entitlement Income Tax Act Inland RevenueKiwi Electricity Bill Savings Boosted by New Energy Market Changes
5 months ago | 921 viewsThe Electricity Authority announced changes aimed at reducing electricity bills for Kiwi households and businesses, with a focus on fair pricing for rooftop solar and battery exports and introducing time of use plans. The government is also working on a review of the electricity sector to ensure fair prices and address energy shortages. These changes are expected to incentivize uptake of solar and battery systems, reduce power prices over the long term, and enable small-scale systems to meet peak demand.
Tags: Kiwi households businesses electricity bills Energy Minister Simon Watts Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones solar electricity generation power bills electricity sector electricity marketFamilyBoost Program Enhancements Bring Financial Relief to Thousands of Households
5 months ago | 948 viewsTens of thousands of households will be better off thanks to changes being made to FamilyBoost to help families with the cost of living, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “From the start of this month, families will get larger FamilyBoost rebates on the early childhood education fees they pay, with rebates increasing from 25 per cent to 40 per cent of weekly fees, and those with household incomes of up to $229,000 now eligible to apply. “This means for example that a family with early childhood fees of $100 a week could have their weekly FamilyBoost payment increased from $25 a week to $40 a week, meaning their annual payments would increase from $1,300 to $2,080 over the course of a year, making them hundreds of dollars better off.
Tags: Finance Minister Nicola Willis FamilyBoost households families cost of living early childhood education rebates scheme Inland Revenue