The government kicks off initiatives which will benefit and disadvantage New Zealanders' finances but the government says the poorer will be better off.

The families package began yesterday which the Government says will see nearly four hundred thousand low to middle income households $75 a week better off.

This comes at the same time Auckland gets hit with the 11.5 cents a litre petrol tax.

But winter energy payments also come in and Gerry Brownlee had a dig in Parliament at pensioner Winston Peters who was unaware he had to opt out if he didn't want $20 a week help with his power bill.

Brownlee was questioning Social Development Minister, Carmel Sepuloni, and asked her whether the opt out provision was confusing or simple.

Sepuloni said it was absolutely simple, it's July the first and that means a number of Government measures kick in today.

The families package, replacing National's planned tax cuts, comes into effect and Sepuloni says this will see sixty four thousand being lifted out of poverty by 2021.

Along with this, a million households will receive the winter energy payment, says Sepuloni.

He says the $20 to $30 a week subsidy for electricity prices will have a widespread effect.