The New Zealand budget for fiscal year 2008-2009 was presented to the New Zealand House of Representatives by Finance Minister Dr Michael Cullen on 22 May 2008.
 | |
| Submitted by | Michael Cullen |
|---|---|
| Parliament | Parliament of New Zealand |
| Party | Labour |
| Total revenue |  $61.9 billion[1] |
| Total expenditures | $61.9b billion[1] |
| Surplus |  $3.1 billion[1] |
| Debt | $1.8 billion (Net)[2] 1% (Net debt of GDP)[2] |
| Website | http://www.treasury.govt.nz/budget/2008 |
| ǂNumbers in italics are projections.
‹ 2007 2009 › | |
This was the ninth budget Michael Cullen has presented as Minister of Finance, and his last before the Fifth Labour Government was defeated at the 2008 general election.
Outline edit
The New Zealand economy went into recession in the last quarter of 2007,[3] putting significant strain on the Government's accounts.
Tax changes edit
The 2008 budget reduced income tax on the first $9,500 earned from 15% to 12.5%,[4] and the company tax rate from 30% to 29%.[4]
References edit
- ^ a b c "Minister's Executive Summary" (PDF). New Zealand Treasury. 22 May 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ a b "Debt Gross Sovereign Issued Debt (GSID) Excluding Settlement Cash". New Zealand Treasury. 22 May 2008. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ "How bad is the Current Recession? Labour Market Downturns since the 1960s". Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Archived from the original on 15 December 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- ^ a b "Budget 2008 - Tax Changes". 22 May 2008. Archived from the original on 25 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.