Articles tagged with Treasury

Unlocking Capital: Government to Sell Chorus Securities for Infrastructure Investment

1 month ago | 133 views

The Government is considering selling its investment in Chorus to free up capital for more beneficial projects in New Zealand, following the completion of the Ultra-Fast Broadband initiative in 2022. Minister of Finance Nicola Willis highlights the need to redirect the capital into investments that will benefit New Zealanders, with Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop aiming to expedite the sale to private investors by early 2026 to allocate the proceeds towards hospitals, schools, and roads in Budget 2026. NIFFCo will conduct due diligence on the securities, evaluate market interest, and provide recommendations on the optimal sales process, with a decision on the sale expected by the end of 2025 to ensure value-for-money expectations are met.

Tags: Government Chorus NIFFCo Nicola Willis Chris Bishop Treasury fiscal strategy economic growth New Zealanders

Treasury Report: Pitfalls of Excessive Government Spending Exposed

3 months ago | 500 views

Finance Minister Nicola Willis highlights Treasury's report on the dangers of excessive government spending, emphasizing the challenges of using large spending measures in response to one-off shocks like the Covid-19 pandemic. The report criticizes the fiscal response to Covid, pointing out significant errors made and urging policymakers to avoid repeating those mistakes. It emphasizes the importance of restoring fiscal guardrails promptly after increased spending during crises, praising the current Government's commitment to responsible fiscal and economic management.

Tags: Treasury report government spending Finance Minister Nicola Willis fiscal policy economic shocks Labour government fiscal response

Finance Minister Nicola Willis Reacts to Lower Than Forecast Unemployment Rates

3 months ago | 492 views

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has acknowledged the latest labour market data, revealing a lower-than-expected unemployment rate of 5.2% for the June quarter, below the Treasury's forecast of 5.4%. Despite challenges like inflation and rising interest rates, the government's efforts have led to 8,000 fewer unemployed individuals than initially projected, with a focus on economic recovery and job creation through initiatives like government-funded construction projects and investment incentives. Additionally, there has been a notable increase in average hourly earnings by 4.5% in the past year, surpassing the inflation rate of 2.7%.

Tags: labour market unemployment Finance Minister Nicola Willis Stats NZ Treasury forecast economic management inflation interest rates job creation

Government's Initiative to Reduce Excise on Heated Tobacco Products for Smoking Cessation

3 months ago | 904 views

Associate Health Minister Casey Costello highlighted that the Government's reduction in excise on Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) aims to help more people quit smoking. The focus is on promoting public health by encouraging smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives like HTPs. The Ministry of Health is monitoring the impact of the excise change and has set up an expert advisory group to enhance regulations on all nicotine and tobacco products.

Tags: Government Heated Tobacco Products Smoking Casey Costello Ayesha Verrall Treasury Excise Duty Ministry of Health HTPs Vaping

Economic surprise great news for Kiwis

4 months ago | 1205 views

Today’s surprise economic result is great news for workers, families and businesses, Finance Minister Nicola Willis said today. “Stats NZ reported today that the economy grew 0. 8 per cent in the first three months of the year, twice the rate forecast by the Treasury and the Reserve Bank a short time ago.

Tags: New zealand Nicola willis Reserve bank Stats nz Treasury

Speech to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce: Saying yes to more housing

4 months ago | 1049 views

Good morning and thanks to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce for hosting us. I have spent most of my life in either the Hutt or Wellington and I love this city and I love our region. Some people like to paint this city as only a public service town.

Tags: New zealand Treasury Wellington Wellington chamber of commerce Zealand