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National | Elections

Budget 2014 - Almost $500 million towards family support package

Bill English has announced the details of the 2014 Budget in which he says the Government will invest almost $500 million more into the well-being of New Zealand’s children and families.

Bill English says, "families will benefit from a growing economy offering more jobs and higher wages, and it is also appropriate that they are among the first to benefit from extra government spending as the economy picks up.”

The package includes an extension and expansion of paid parental leave and increasing the parental tax credit. Doctors’ visits and prescriptions will be free for children under 13.

$33 million of this package will go towards establishing eight new Children’s Teams to identify and work with at-risk children, screening people who work with children, and additional resources to support children in care.

The Māori Party says it is proud of the influence it has had in shaping Budget 2014 which they say looks after real families in everyday circumstances.