- By Simeon Brown, Member of Parliament for Pakuranga
A couple of weeks ago, the coalition Government delivered Budget 2024, which includes a range of measures designed to rebuild our economy, make life easier for Kiwis, and invest in frontline services.
A key part of the Budget was our commitment to deliver tax relief from July 31 this year, with average-income households set to benefit by up to $102 more a fortnight in their back pocket.
Eligible families with children will also receive our FamilyBoost payments of up to $150 a fortnight, to ease the burden of childcare costs.
These tax relief measures are being delivered through adjustments to the bottom three tax thresholds to reflect the rising cost of living and is fully funded by cuts to wasteful spending and other revenue measures, so it won’t add to debt or inflation.
We know times are tough at present, but help is on the way for over 3.5 million Kiwis who will soon be able to keep more of what they earn.
To see exactly what you stand to gain, you can use our Budget 2024 Tax Calculator by visiting www.budget.govt.nz/taxcalculator.
When the coalition Government was first sworn in one of our earliest commitments was to fix our nation’s roads, with over 62,000 potholes in need of repair last year on our State Highways alone.
Last week, NZTA confirmed indicative funding levels to fix potholes on both our State Highway network and local roads.
Over the next three years, $2.07 billion will be allocated to the State Highway Pothole Prevention Fund, an increase of 91 per cent over the previous three-year period.
Across the same time period, $1.9b will be invested into Local Road Pothole Prevention, representing a 50 per cent increase in its total funding.
The Government has ring-fenced this record investment to be used only for resealing, rehabilitation, and drainage maintenance works to ensure NZTA and councils get our roads up to the safe and reliable standard that Kiwis expect.
This funding commitment provides councils with much needed certainty as they finalise their Long-Term Plans and will enable roading contractors to have a clear pipeline of work, giving them the ability to invest in people and equipment.
Our Government is delivering on its promises to ease cost-of-living pressures for Kiwis and invest in infrastructure for the future.
