Clive Bibby: Winners and losers from the 2024 budget

For me, TV One’s Chief Political Reporter Maiki Sherman said it best when she made the comment - “The Government had no choice but to do what it has done given its limited options”.

This from a lady who couldn’t wait to suggest the Government was doomed after the publication of the first Political poll of the year. 

But in this instance she is dead right and, by saying so, has to some degree restored her reputation for impartiality - a must have when reporting during these troubled times. I congratulate her for having the courage to point out the obvious when most of her colleagues were salivating at the prospect of putting the boot in. 

And also, by simply stating the obvious, Maiki Sherman has emphasised the difficulty the Finance Minister had when trying to honour promises made during the election campaign while putting a halt to the irresponsible “spendthrift”, attitude of the previous government that had contributed to our current parlours financial state. 

Although Minister Nicola Willis has used the opportunity well by beginning the process of returning the Nation’s finances to surplus, there is still much to be done before she is in a position to “splash the cash” in areas that some say are in desperate need of help. Eg. More funding for the health sector, especially desperately needed cancer drugs and the delivery of an additional training facility to reduce the doctor shortage. 

I am not the right person to identify the areas that have missed out this time that should be at the top of the list for next year’s budget but I am pleased to see the emphasis being placed on all sectors being asked to do more with what they have. 

This could be described as a siege mentality. I make no apologies for describing it as such.
Because, although this type of responsible stewardship doesn’t win votes, it does force those agitating for more to be spent on special interest projects, to focus on the real world that is obviously the main factor influencing the Government to set the spending priorities it has - at least for the immediate future. 

Time will tell whether they were right to do so but I reckon this is a good start. 

Unlike the previous Finance Minister, this one will be judged on whether the cuts were worth it.
Unfortunately, bravery is not something that will be rewarded on this battlefield. But my guess is that, for the moment at least, Nicola Willis is relying on the common sense of New Zealanders to recognise these are difficult times and that we are all in it together.

We are “our bothers keeper” and this budget has shown that the most vulnerable in society deserve the most attention when financial resources limit the options available to make it happen. 

In the situation we face, it is clear we must all tighten our belts and I believe the government has demonstrated it is prepared to get its own house in order before asking the rest of us to do the same thing. 

For that at least, we must be prepared to give credit where credit is due.

Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.