-
John Key and Bill English walk into parliament before the Budget reading - Source: Getty Images -
Watch Video
-
Related
Fewer than 5% of New Zealanders feel better off after the Budget, according to the latest ONE News Colmar Brunton poll.
However while spending cuts weren't popular, voters felt they were necessary to help the economy.
Just 4% of the respondents feel better off while 62% said their circumstances haven't changed and 28% said they are worse off.
Unions are angry at public sector cuts and many middle income families had entitlements clipped back, prompting Labour leader Phil Goff to say it was the worst Budget he had seen in his 27 years in Parliament.
"I think the Budget was a failed Budget because it had no plan to get out of the hole we are in. Cut, sell, borrow and hope is not a plan," Goff said.
Cutting back KiwiSaver was a big part of the Budget spending cuts and wasn't popular with voters. While 42% said they supported the changes, 50% opposed them and the remainder were undecided.
However it seems that voters accept the idea that spending cuts were necessary for the health of the economy.
Of the respondents, 31% thought the Budget would improve the economy, 41% thought it would have no real impact and 20% thought it would have a negative impact.
"Largely people are very conscious of the times that we find ourselves in, they know that we need to pay for Christchurch. I think they do know that this is a time for the Government to be conservative and get its books back in order," Prime Minister John Key said.
It seems voters bought his message that the Budget was a bit like tough love - something that hurt a little but had to happen.
The ONE News Colmar Brunton poll of 1018 eligible voters was taken between May 21 and May 25 and has a margin of error of ( or -) 3.1%.
Latest NZ News Video
-
ONE News Minute 9am update: May 26 (1:00)
-
Kids cough up $14m for Government (1:50)
-
Education ministry 'barbaric' (1:55)
