Opportunity and security: keys to a successful society
Health
- $535 million to extend the health funding path to 2005-06: $400 million in 2002-03; $800 million in 2003-04, $1.2
billion in 2004-05, $1.73 billion in 2005-06.
- Provision to cover anticipated demographic changes and accident costs of $229 million in 2003-04 and $356 million in
2004-05.
Social Services
- $152.8 million over four years to assist people into work, including $59 million to increase childcare subsidies and
to raise income thresholds for Family Support and the Child Tax Credit and $21.2 million to assist migrants to become
work-ready.
- $39.7 million over four years to support New Zealand families.
Superannuation
- Legislation announced to allow employers to reduce the tax on superannuation contributions for employees earning below
$38,000 a year.
- $1.9 billion to be paid into the New Zealand Superannuation Fund next year.
Housing
- Almost $100 million [$95.2 million capital, $2.8 million operating] over four years to buy around 318 state houses in
addition to the 2393 already planned and to alter 80 existing houses to better suit large families.
- $29.2 million [capital] over four years for an extra 77 community houses to the 263 already planned.
- $60 million [capital] over four years and $974,000 [operating] for the state house modernisation programme.
- $43.2 million [capital] and $26.7 million [operating] over four years to encourage closer partnerships with local
government and voluntary organisations involved in social housing.
Announced pre-budget
Health
- $165 million increase to the Primary Health Care Strategy, including $19.8 million to lower primary health care costs
for under 18s and frail elderly enrolled in Primary Health Organisations.
- $225.3 million over four years to implement the progressive removal of asset testing for older people in long term
residential care.
Youth at risk
- $620,000 operational each year and a $250,000 one-off capital injection for a residential centre to support the Youth
Drug Court pilot.
- $13.2 million over four years to combat youth suicide and drug abuse.
- $400,000 over four years for Youth Line.
- $4.6 million over four years for education and health assessments in Family Group Conferences for high-risk young
offenders.
- $600,000 over three years to expand to Auckland the successful Christchurch Project Early intervention pilot for
at-risk kids.
- Families Commission: $28.233 million over four years.
- $8.6 million over four years to boost excellence in social sciences.
- Special benefit/invalids benefit research: $400,000 over four years.
- Additional Household Labour Force Survey questions: $500,000 over four years.
- $1 million this year and $1.3 million in each of the next three years to establish a community and voluntary sector
office within the Ministry of Social Development.
- $1 million to improve the quality of care for older people and people with disabilities.
- $162,000 a year to establish a five-member National Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Committee.