National’s self-proclaimed ‘Building Momentum’ Budget is looking more like an out of control debt train wreck with the country’s overseas net debt topping $200 billion by 2017 and the current account deficit topping $17 billion a year, the Green Party said today.

Long term under-funding of tertiary education since 2009 is taking away opportunities to learn from students and future students, say TEU national secretary Sharn Riggs, upon hearing news that the tertiary education budget will stagnate more than $400 million below than 2009 funding levels.

Budget 2013 has confirmed $80 million in funding for regional irrigation projects, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy says.

"After the extreme drought that most of the country has struggled through this year, the need for better water storage is obvious," he says.

Budget 2013 provides an additional $134 million in contingency capital funding for new school property, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye says.

The Green Party is celebrating that its efforts have saved the home insulation programme but is disappointed that National has chosen to reduce funding for this hugely successful policy, Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said today.

Budget 2013 reinforces the Government’s commitment to schools with an extra $215 million over four years to further lift student achievement, Education Minister Hekia Parata says.

Budget 2013 will deliver $172.5 million over four years in new operating investment for early childhood education, Education Minister Hekia Parata says.

The Government’s total investment in early childhood education in 2013/14 will be $1.5 billion, up from $860 million in 2007/08.

Police funding in Budget 2013 will continue to be directed at preventing and reducing crime and rolling out new technology to help frontline officers work more effectively and keep communities safe, Police Minister Anne Tolley says.

KiwiRail will receive $94 million in 2013/14 as part of the Government’s investment in KiwiRail’s Turnaround Plan to help make the rail freight business self-sustaining, Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

Budget 2013 supports the Government’s target of further reducing reoffending, leading to fewer victims of crime, and the redesign of electronically monitored bail, Corrections Minister Anne Tolley says.

Budget 2013 will target overseas-based student loan borrowers with new initiatives to increase repayments and reduce defaulting, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Revenue Minister Peter Dunne say.

The Budget confirms a further $2.1 billion in funding for the Christchurch earthquake recovery, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

The Government has committed to a number of initiatives in Budget 2013 to improve the lives of those who live with disabilities, Disability Issues Minister Tariana Turia says.

Budget 2013 provides for new and increased funding for Maori language initiatives, Maori Affairs Minister and Associate of Education Minister Dr Pita Sharples says.

This lays the foundation for the Maori Language Strategy, which will be released later this year.

Budget 2013 delivers $901 million in the current year and over the next four years for operating initiatives to lift educational achievement at every level of the system - from early childhood, to primary, to secondary, and into training for work, Education Minister Hekia Parata says.

Government spending an essential catalyst to attracting and retaining private sector investment

Overall the Government is doing a world-class job of an extremely complex and costly disaster recovery process, according to Deloitte’s Christchurch Managing Partner Brett Chambers.

The Government will provide $92 million over four years to pay carers who look after their own disabled adult family members with high or very high needs, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.

All Housing New Zealand tenancies will be reviewed to ensure state housing is focused on people with the highest housing need, Housing Minister Nick Smith says.

Budget 2013 will deliver $4.3 million over four years to raise awareness of prostate cancer and ensure men have better access to quality information and care, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.

The Government is to develop a Housing Warrant of Fitness system and trial it on Housing New Zealand properties, Housing Minister Nick Smith says.