The New Zealand government will on Thursday hand down a budget guided by well-being priorities. Jacinda Ardern says it is important to look beyond traditional economic measures to gauge a society's success and to improve living standards, explaining that GDP growth isn’t translating into higher living standards for many citizens. The budget will focus on five priorities including mental health, child well-being, supporting aspirations, building a productive nation and transforming the economy. Among the pre-budget announcements is a $320 million package to tackle family and sexual violence, which Ms Ardern describes as ‘the largest investment ever to break the cycle’.
