ZB ZB
Opinion
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

Govt faces challenging Budget decisions as war shakes economy

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Fri, 24 Apr 2026, 12:07pm
Photo / Getty
Photo / Getty

Govt faces challenging Budget decisions as war shakes economy

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Fri, 24 Apr 2026, 12:07pm

Some challenging Budget decisions ahead for the Government due to the ongoing war in Iran. 

Treasury officials are revisiting their economic forecasts for next month's Budget, just weeks before it's due to be delivered. 

International credit agency Moody's has downgraded New Zealand's economic outlook from stable to negative, noting the Government's later-than-expected return to surplus. 

Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Ryan Bridge the Government's finances weren't in great shape, even before the war. 

He says the Government wasn't projected to be back in surplus until the end of the decade. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you