In the shadow of Cyclone Gabrielle, this year's budget focuses on cost of living and cyclone and flooding recovery, with the sights being shifted and narrowed down on skills, science and infrastructure to help grow the economy and make it more productive and secure.

Good news for community pharmacies, as Budget 2023 removes $5 co-payment.

It could be said that the Wellbeing Budget 2022: A Secure Future announced on May 20, was a B budget – balanced, backwards, big spending, being some of the words used to describe it.

This time last year, the Budget dealt mainly with the Government’s economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic with support for business very much to the fore. In 2021, that focus has shifted to improving the wellbeing of New Zealanders and, in particular, those on the lowest incomes.

Touted as a once in a generation Budget, yesterday the Government announced a $50 billion COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, $20 billion of which remains uncommitted and will be allocated in the months to come. This fund builds on top of the initial $12.1 billion package, and the $12 billion New Zealand Upgrade Programme announced in January.