Budget: Reeves refusal to fix

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has accused the government of being in denial over the country's worsening economic budget.

Peters says the government is refusing to acknowledge the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the budget, and is instead blaming the opposition for the country's financial woes.

"They're in a state of denial, they just can't bring themselves to admit the truth," Peters said.

Peters pointed to a speech given by Finance Minister Grant Robertson last week, in which Robertson claimed the opposition were "cherry-picking" data to make the budget look worse than it is.

"That's just not true," Peters said. "The facts are the facts, and the facts are that this budget is in trouble."

“They’re in a state of denial, they just can’t bring themselves to admit the truth.” - Winston Peters

Peters said the government's refusal to acknowledge the impact of the pandemic was causing uncertainty and making it harder for businesses to plan for the future.

"The government needs to stop playing politics and start being honest with New Zealanders about the state of the economy," Peters said.

In a statement, the government said it was committed to delivering a budget that worked for all New Zealanders, and was providing support to those who needed it most.

"We understand that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the economy, and we are committed to supporting those who have been affected," the statement said.

However, Peters said the government's actions did not match its words, and that it was time for them to take responsibility for their decisions.

The budget is due to be delivered on Thursday.

Author's summary: The government is accused of being in denial about the country's worsening economic budget, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters calling for honesty and transparency.

Liberal Democrats — 2025-11-26

Budget: Reeves refusal to fix

More News