An updating collection of insightful and interesting tweets about the 2014 National Government Budget. As usual, most recent tweets are first. [Read more below]
Nationals worked out what it takes to get re-elected, Labours policies.
One could collect the gems from the left's incoherent response to the budget. But one won't. One is depressed enough. pic.twitter.com/rTTPCLzqhy
The obvious omission in the #Budget was not creating/launching something with the 'Kiwi' prefix. #missedopportunity
Budget 2014: Beneficiaries left out. This is an area where, if Labour gave a toss, they could pull away from National http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11255335 …
So David Cunliffe says it's a crap budget then says all the ideas came from David Parker Hope Parker tells Cunliffe off.
I guess the thing for me is: With a budget like this, in these circumstances, why are the left parties so sad? They should be cheering.
No other NZ Budget since Richardson's sacking has been as deeply imbued with the spirit of a Finance Minister as this one is.
Want to moan about paying too much tax? Or feel proud that you make NZ tick? See this cool thing: http://www.yourtaxtracker.co.nz/
Congratulations to the Muldoon government on their 15th budget.
Matthew Hooton @MatthewHootonNZ
Hi @LouiseUpston. Will @simonjbridges say why @NZNationalParty govt is promoting a more left-wing PPL policy than @lailaharre in 2002?
Matthew Hooton @MatthewHootonNZ
Surely @DavidCunliffeMP isn't planning a future more nannyish and left-wing than announced by @honbillenglish today? #nzpol
Fudge it Budget, nice line from Cunliffe, only it was used by Rodney Hide in 2002 to describe Cullen's effort. Hide added sweet, sickly!
Morgan Godfery @MorganGodfery
Wait, Labour says they'll spend more while taking on less debt, but still run a surplus and a bigger one than National. I'm confuzed.
Funniest line in Budget chat "John: Excellent Budget Bill, Can we expect you around for the your 7th?" Bill: "Yes. Which John is that?"
If this budget, (and the PMs progressive talk), doesn't get ACT up over 5%, then nothing ever will.
John key says Bill English has produced as many budgets as children.. Begs the question who he has f&%d to produce it. #nzbudget
If the hard rights are pissed, and the hard lefts are pissed, you'd have to assume a pretty good #nzbudget
As a middle class white man with a job and no dependants I fully support todays budget. #Budget2014
Anyway, I think it was nice of National to bring Michael Cullen back for one last job.
Jessica Williams @mizjwilliams
#budget2014 TL;DR. Winston Peters: Cake! Crumbs! Sharks! Gerry Brownlee! Some other stuff!
The Budget is kinda like a street parade: All bright and noisy, then the main players bugger off and then it's just an empty street again.
Has John Key before trumpeted National govt as "progressive"? https://twitter.com/johnkeypm/status/466782681691209729 …
Free doctors visits for under 13s? What sort of socialist bullshit is that? The market determines whether you live or die.
Morgan Godfery @MorganGodfery
National: the GFC meant the recovery was slow. National: look how fast we recovered from the GFC.
Geoffrey Miller @GeoffMillerNZ
"The most cynical vote-buying budget" -@johnkeypm, 15 June 2004 http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/debates/debates/47HansD_20040615_00000788/budget-debate … #Budget2014 #nzbudget
Garner: The baby budget. Gower: The baby bribe budget. Cunliffe: The you stole my ideas you f---ing bastards budget.
Budgets will get weirder as politicians' voter databases get better #DanylsFourthLaw
Imperator Fish @ImperatorFish
Don't forget I'm live-blogging #nzbudget http://imperatorfish.com/2014/05/15/budget-2014-live-updates/ … Or forget. Suit yourselves.
Loser in #nzbudget Health vote seems to be primary care and public health services, including disability, again.
Things I hate: alliterative names for budgets. They're childish and pathetic. Grow up.
Geoffrey Miller @GeoffMillerNZ
How many times has @RusselNorman said "cabinet club" in his speech? #Budget2014 #nzbudget
I reckon that's the election well and truly in the bag.
Jessica Williams @mizjwilliams
#Budget2014 TL;DR. John Key: hahaha lolcopter lollity lol lol lol. Money! It's a good thing! Labour are bad at it! hahahaha (cont)
Why don't they just turn the microphones up, and not talk as loud? #Budget2014
Graeme Edgeler @GraemeEdgeler
I'm pretty sure the PM's speech is disorderly. Bringing the speaker into debate. Calling MPs only by their first names.
Morgan Godfery @MorganGodfery
National: we do what Labour does, but half it and call it responsible Labour: we do what National does but double it and call it equitable
According to my twitter feed this is a) a terrible budget and b) Labours.
Jessica Williams @mizjwilliams
#budget2014 TL;DR. Cunliffe: "You guys are lame. And you nicked my ideas. We'd be better at this, honest"
Cheese-on-toast. Nicely grilled, with a little marmite, thinly spread for maximum effect - tasty but critics will say it lacks vitamins.
Budget day reminds me being a blogger is funner than being a journo. I don't have to read the budget. Just bitch in an misinformed way.
The big budget point is that spending more than $1.5 billion extra will push up interest rates. That's the agenda for the election I guess.
That Labour 4% unemployment target looks pretty gettable with the Budget's own estimate it would fall to 4.4% by 2018.
Wonder what the right of the national party thinks of this budget? Lots more sweet, sweet state intervention...
Govt shows zero tolerance for increasing police budget
Cunliffe makes me feel better about not going to Church - watching him speak gives me the sense i'm experiencing divine intervention
Cheque duty gone? Well, that's it: National have sown up the over-80s vote. #Budget2014
theres noting in the budget for Twitter. What about us peeps who tweet. Nothing. Pathetic #nzbudget
Geoffrey Miller @GeoffMillerNZ
The "no milk, two sugars" #nzbudget? #Budget2014 #oravida @JudithCollinsMP
Flaw in NZLP political strategy: condition us to believe the sky is going to fall every year, so modesty looks like generosity. #nzbudget
No sin tax hikes in #nz14, thankfully, but a reduction in duty-free cigarette limits.
Headline: Cheque mate, Baby. #nzbudget
Cunliffe should get into rapping #fudgeitbudget
Arts, heritage and public broadcasting have pretty much taken a shellacking in #nzbudget 2014
@publicaddress Yes, as opposed to those worthless parents, kids, Christchurch, innovative businesses and the rest.
Cunliffe's calling it the Fudge it budget #NZBudget2014
Pretty good budget. Kind of sad to hear Labour whimpering "It's all our idea, really."
Wait - what about housing? There's pretty much nothing to address housing, am I right?
The first cousin twice removed of all budgets.
Michele A'Court @MicheleACourt
Free doctors visits for kids under 13 is wonderful. Would've made a difference when mine was little. #onlygoodbitsofar #nzbudget
Catchy. Already seen three political editor references to Baby Budget/Baby Bribe Budget.
Just because National is playing in Labour's turf does not mean that they aren't doing other Nat-like things on the on the side. #nzbudget
Steady as she goes. Bill English is the quiet achiever of this gov't. History will remember him. #nzbudget
Geoffrey Miller @GeoffMillerNZ
Is this Michael Cullen's 10th budget? #Budget2014
No surprises here: Treasury's Fiscal Outlook says this year's surplus achieved by government spending being 'rephased to later years'.
In which Bill English tells the large right-wing of the Nat party to STFU.
I guess my take on this budget is that the left is winning the debate: we didn't see a massive shift to the left from Nats in 2011
'Bill's Baby' Budget - Articles - Duncan Garner - Shows - RadioLIVE: http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Duncan-Garner-Bills-Baby-Budget/tabid/674/articleID/45380/Default.aspx#.U3Qm6mF0kQY.twitter …
No way that increasing eligibility for KiwiSaver first home subsidies helps affordability unless they're successful in fixing supply. #nz14
Patrick Gower @patrickgowernz
Bill English has just pulled out a "Baby Bribe Budget". Blog:http://www.3news.co.nz/Opinion-Bill-Englishs-baby-bribe-Budget/tabid/1382/articleID/344330/Default.aspx … Bill's Baby Bribe Budget.
"Accelerate", "more", "growing", "boosts", "extra", "better" and "responsible" among popular words in #Budget PR email subject lines so far.
Matthew Beveridge @matthewjpb
Is it just me, or are the @NZNationalParty tweets coming out a few secs before Bill says them?
A $372M surplus?! If you discount the billions of debt, WE'RE RICH!
Graeme Edgeler @GraemeEdgeler
Frontpage headlines from the @nzherald: "Big surplus" and from @NZStuff "Small surplus".
So tariffs will save $3500 on building costs an 'average' house. In other words, just a letter box in Auckland. #nzbudget
RNZ says families are the winner in #nzbudget. But only if hte kids are under 13 and you have a low income. http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/budget-2014/244396/families-the-winner-in-budget-2014 …
Although the big problem with free GP visits for <5s was the instant increase in demand with nothing done on the supply side
Grant Robertson @grantrobertson1
Cheque duty is gone. That'll turbo charge the economy. I expect to hear a rebate for cassette players and fondue sets next. #Budget2014
The family friendly Budget - more details here via @NZStuffPolitics #Budget2014 http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/budget-2014/10048649/Budget-2014-Paid-parental-leave-boost-free-GP-visits-to-under-13s …
Max Rashbrooke @MaxRashbrooke
Spending on health to fall 15% in real terms by 2018, education by 8%, acc to Budget docs. Well that's one way to get surpluses
So Bill English delivers yet another breeders budget
@RuminatorNZ If the budget this year were a colour it would be beige. Or perhaps a soft off white.
Matthew Beveridge @matthewjpb
On going update of social media graphics and tweets about #nzbudget http://wp.me/p4jhfj-k3
Bill English has produced the ideal #insomniacure but when are these things ever exciting?
Good to see $ for freight on rail & more transport $ for Akld very good... But is $375m all on roads? Families pkge aims to keep women vote
Key sends smoke signals for the election to come ... http://wp.me/p30B3S budget2014
The AC/DC budget. http://www.stuff.co.nz/
If I were Bill English delivering the NZ budget speech today, at the end of every paragraph I'd cough "Joe Hockey".
Megan Campbell @MeganCampbellNZ
@danylmc basically all Labour & greens can say is "but we'd do more and faster" but with what money?
Vote Communications Security Intelligence is 4 pages. 1 page title, 1 page blank. The other two just tell us the whole figure. LOL.
"Paid parental leave extended and free doctors visits and prescriptions for children under 13." Communism by stealth!
"Looks like the real way to get value out of this budget would be to have a kid," remarks @rnzgallerycraig
Writing Labour's reply speech to this budget must have been a crappy job
Why does the ACC levy cut not come in for another year? ACC made a $5b surplus but Govt needs that income to make its wafer-thin surplus.
GCSB gets an extra $2 million. Guess that's what happens when you know who @johnkeypm has been calling
"Bill English has just pulled out a baby bribe Budget," writes @patrickgowernz http://ow.ly/wRukM #Budget2014
Great policy on up to 13 Drs' visits. But it's universal, so how does that square with Nats targetting argument?
Writing Labour's reply speech to this budget must have been a crappy job
Why does the ACC levy cut not come in for another year? ACC made a $5b surplus but Govt needs that income to make its wafer-thin surplus.
GCSB gets an extra $2 million. Guess that's what happens when you know who @johnkeypm has been calling
"Bill English has just pulled out a baby bribe Budget," writes @patrickgowernz http://ow.ly/wRukM #Budget2014
Great policy on up to 13 Drs' visits. But it's universal, so how does that square with Nats targetting argument?
Jessica Williams @mizjwilliams
Budget lockup freebies! NZ shaped ginger biscuits. Just like Bill English's lucky cuff links #Budget2014 pic.twitter.com/i7SvheUtrr
Joshua Hitchcock @jcphitchcock
Best budget announcement: free GP visits and prescriptions extended from under 6s to under 13s.
Has the government run out of ideas on housing? Still looks like its biggest weak spot. Bet @honbillenglish gritting his teeth over Kiwirail
Joshua Hitchcock @jcphitchcock
No need to listen to Bill speak, Everyone has pressed send at 2 pm :)
Simon Bradwell @simonbradwellnz
Is [APPLAUSE] written in to copies of the Budget given to backbench Govt MPs so they can clap at appropriate moments? Seems staged
It really is the labour-lite budget. Which is actually pretty good for a party in opposition.
@norightturnnz Arguably good for keeping them there :-)
(I regard getting other parties to adopt your policies as a victory, not a loss)
If you do have old chequebooks at home, from tomorrow you can bring them in and get 5c refund per unusued cheque!
First reaction to Budget - looks like @NZNationalParty is more focused on social policy, inequality of opportunity, than @nzlabour. #nz14
Sure is an election year budget - Nats spending on social policy tells you that. Clever? Lolly scramble?
More money for health including, at very rough first glance, $300m more for DHBs. #nzbudget
Great policy on up to 13 Drs' visits. But it's universal, so how does that square with Nats targetting argument?
Budget for Public Broadcasting Services down 3.8% in 2014/15. Sigh.
@publicaddress Better than the $40 million cut for ABC in Australia
Budget centrepiece is $500m package aimed at families. Includes free doctor visits & prescriptions for under 13s
budget surplus is $372 million. About a week's borrowing. #budget2014
It's a very political budget - but the policies it uses for political purposes are actually quite good. http://publicaddress.net/onpoint/budget-2014-yeah-okay/ …
18 weeks PPL. So Labour is pretty much cut off at the pass. #nzbudget
Visualisation of #Budget2014, right here: http://publicaddress.net/keith/budget2014/HotTree.html …
