ISSUE
Friday, August 22, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 73
The National-led Government is backing New Zealand families to get ahead.
We’re gaining momentum in our plan to build a more productive and competitive economy and we want all Kiwis to reap the benefits.
Budget 2014 included half a billion dollars of support for families and a number of these initiatives are about to come into effect.
On 1 April, a number of changes will kick in that will benefit New Zealand families.
Paid parental leave will increase by two weeks – and then by another two weeks from April next year. Parental tax credits jump from $150 a week to $220 a week on 1 April, and the entitlement will increase from eight weeks to ten.
The Government is also boosting support for first home buyers. Our KiwiSaver HomeStart scheme will help 90,000 Kiwis put together a deposit on their first home. Support for buying a new home is doubling and the house price limits are increasing.
First home buyers will soon be able to withdraw all their KiwiSaver savings except the $1,000 kick-start – this includes their tax credit. More people will be able to access Welcome Home Loans, as we’re aligning house price caps with the new KiwiSaver HomeStart Grant.
ACC levies, paid by employers and self-employed people, will fall to 90 cents per $100 of liable earnings, down from 95 cents. This reduces costs for hard-working small businesses around the country.
From 1 July, New Zealand families with a standard car will also be $135 a year better off, as ACC levies are reduced.
The adult minimum wage will rise to $14.75 an hour in April, along with the starting-out and training hourly wage which is set at 80 per cent of the adult minimum wage.
Benefits and superannuation payments will increase on 1 April. As well as benefit rates, this includes student allowances, student loan living costs, the foster care allowance and rates of supplementary assistance.
We legislated for benefits to increase each year in line with inflation, and National is committed to maintaining the married rate of superannuation at 66 per cent of the average wage.
Free doctors’ visits and prescriptions are being extended to children under 13 from 1 July too. This ensures cost is not a factor when parents consider taking their child to the doctor.
National is responsibly managing the Government’s finances so these measures to support Kiwi families are possible.
The National-led Government is backing New Zealand families to get ahead.
We’re gaining momentum in our plan to build a more productive and competitive economy and we want all Kiwis to reap the benefits.
Budget 2014 included half a billion dollars of support for families and a number of these...
The National-led Government is backing New Zealand families to get ahead.
We’re gaining momentum in our plan to build a more productive and competitive economy and we want all Kiwis to reap the benefits.
Budget 2014 included half a billion dollars of support for families and a number of these initiatives are about to come into effect.
On 1 April, a number of changes will kick in that will benefit New Zealand families.
Paid parental leave will increase by two weeks – and then by another two weeks from April next year. Parental tax credits jump from $150 a week to $220 a week on 1 April, and the entitlement will increase from eight weeks to ten.
The Government is also boosting support for first home buyers. Our KiwiSaver HomeStart scheme will help 90,000 Kiwis put together a deposit on their first home. Support for buying a new home is doubling and the house price limits are increasing.
First home buyers will soon be able to withdraw all their KiwiSaver savings except the $1,000 kick-start – this includes their tax credit. More people will be able to access Welcome Home Loans, as we’re aligning house price caps with the new KiwiSaver HomeStart Grant.
ACC levies, paid by employers and self-employed people, will fall to 90 cents per $100 of liable earnings, down from 95 cents. This reduces costs for hard-working small businesses around the country.
From 1 July, New Zealand families with a standard car will also be $135 a year better off, as ACC levies are reduced.
The adult minimum wage will rise to $14.75 an hour in April, along with the starting-out and training hourly wage which is set at 80 per cent of the adult minimum wage.
Benefits and superannuation payments will increase on 1 April. As well as benefit rates, this includes student allowances, student loan living costs, the foster care allowance and rates of supplementary assistance.
We legislated for benefits to increase each year in line with inflation, and National is committed to maintaining the married rate of superannuation at 66 per cent of the average wage.
Free doctors’ visits and prescriptions are being extended to children under 13 from 1 July too. This ensures cost is not a factor when parents consider taking their child to the doctor.
National is responsibly managing the Government’s finances so these measures to support Kiwi families are possible.
Leave a Comment