Goals and priorities
The Government's overarching goals for its term of office are to:
- Build a stronger, more productive economy that lifts real incomes and increases opportunities for New Zealanders.
- Deliver more efficient, effective and responsive public services to all who need and use them - in particular, to restore law and order and improve health outcomes and educational achievement.
- Get the government's books back in order and restore discipline to public spending.
These goals will guide the Government's Budget decisions. They are also the Government's wellbeing objectives, as achieving them is the most important contribution the Government can make to the long-term social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of New Zealanders.
In Budget 2026, the Government will focus on:
- Supporting the delivery of core public services such as health care, education and law and order.
- Keeping tight control of discretionary government spending while funding a limited number of priority Government policy commitments.
- Addressing New Zealand's longer-term productivity challenges.
- Developing a sustainable pipeline of infrastructure investments.