The usual Budget preparation and negotiation process was put aside when COVID-19 arrived in New Zealand and we began again. We began again knowing that we had to lead New Zealand’s people and economy through this crisis. No single set of indicators can capture all that matters for all New Zealanders, but the Dashboard provides one perspective on the difficult question of how we can measure a country’s wellbeing. There are four main things for businesses, in this budget, most of which flow from the first two Budget priorities listed above: Infrastructure – The Government will spend $51.3m to establish the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, which will develop a 30-year strategy for New Zealand’s infrastructure requirements and a pipeline of projects. We began again knowing that the … New Zealand’s first “well-being budget” has landed, prioritising well-being over economic growth. Source: New Zealand Customs Service, Stats NZ. The Dashboard provides a range of wellbeing indicators and analysis that informed Budget 2019 and are discussed in the New Zealand’s Wellbeing section of this document (see page 11). PO Box 3724, Wellington 6140, New Zealand. The Wellbeing Budget on 30 May is about tackling New Zealand’s long-term challenges. 1 The Terrace, Wellington 6011, New Zealand. It will do this by focussing on five priorities: Taking mental health seriously; Improving child wellbeing; Supporting Maori & Pasifika aspirations; Building a productive nation; and Transforming the economy. So how is it different to any budgets that we have seen in the past? Wellbeing Budget 2020: Rebuilding Together has been prepared and delivered under circumstances that were unimaginable just months ago. The COVID-19 pandemic will have a substantial impact on growth and unemployment. Phone: +64 4 472 2733 Fax: +64 4 473 0982