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The article discusses the reforms in the local government sector in New Zealand by citing the reference of the booklet "Better Local Government" by the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs and also presents the views of several public sector people on the same. Topics discussed include emphasizing on debt and spending in selling the reforms, increasing the powers of city council, and formation of an independent task force for Better Local Government reform. INSET: Local government efficiency taskforce appointed.

The article focuses on New Zealand government policy on land transport which defines the priorities for expenditure from the National Land Transport Fund and provides the framework for allocating funds. Topics discussed include Waterview tunnel providing inter-regional connections between Auckland and New Zealand, extension of Auckland's SH1 motorway north, and opening of Rangiriri section of the Waikato Expressway.

Reveals that government support for New Zealand television is one of the lowest in the world, according to two surveys in English-speaking countries. Comparison of the per capita on television production; Lack of public funds to improve local content; Disadvantage of the low profits in the broadcasting industry.

Makes observations concerning the New Zealand government's spending policy. Increase in cost of annual spending; Alternative course for the coalition government; Effect of increased public spending on demand and supply potential of the economy; Implications on export earnings.

The article discusses how several nations fared after reducing government spending in an effort to spark economic growth. New Zealand enjoyed vigorous growth after slashing spending between 1984 and 1996, although unemployment remained high. Other situations discussed include those of Ireland in 1987, Canada in 1993, and Sweden in 1994.

The article talks about the policy of New Zealand under the new, National-led government in 2009. The decision of the government to delay politically unpopular moves has prompted the Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) to continue monitoring the efficiency of government spending and structural public policy arrangements. It also cites the report "Ending Number 8 Wire Welfare: Why New Zealand Is Lagging Behind."

The author reflects on the significant value of having different public spending programs in New Zealand. He argues that appropriates fiscal disciplines are necessary to ensure that taxpayers' money is spent wisely and delivers the greatest benefit to the country. He implies that there is no formal quality standard or threshold test that new government spending has to satisfy in order to provide assurance that is necessary and that New Zealanders will get value for money.

The article reports that Peter Neilson of the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development urged the government to use its purchasing power to buy sustainable products. In a speech, Neilson said that government departments should consider service life costs when buying, rather than initial price.

Focuses on military spending in New Zealand. Prime Minister Helen Clark's decision not to fund the upgrade of combat aircraft; How the air force is employed; New Zealand's involvement in peacekeeping missions; Concern for national sovereignty.

Contends that it is unlikely that New Zealand Prime Minister Jim Bolger will fire his unpopular finance minister, Ruth Richardson. How Richardson is identified with cuts in government spending, painful economic restructuring and recession; Cut in government spending; Parallels to Australian government; Voter revenge; Unemployment.

Presents the results of a survey conducted by Massey University academics on the free market agenda of New Zealand's Labour and National Governments. Demand for additional spending on education and health; Support for increased spending in the areas of job training.

The article compares the public spending policies of New Zealand and Great Britain. Britain should take a tip from New Zealand, the first country in the world to publish a rational set of government accounts. These include a balance sheet of public assets and liabilities and an "accrual-based" operating statement of income and expenses, just like those of a private-sector company. New Zealand's government is not just collecting better information, it is also carrying out one of the toughest attacks on public spending in the world. In 1991, its public spending amounted to 41% of gross domestic product, slightly less than in Britain.

The article offers information on the possible contents of the government report on defense in New Zealand. According to the author, the government report on defense, the Defence White Paper, will be published in 2010. The author highlighted Defence Minister Wayne Mapp's statement that the government would reduce its spending on defense. Mapp also criticized the extravagance of the previous administration by purchasing too many light armoured vehicles (LAV), but were not used in military missions. In addition, Associate Defence Minister Heather Roy also mentioned the possibility of a private-public partnership development by selling defense facilities. However, appointed army chief Major General Rhys Jones disagreed with the idea of marketing the country's defense bases.

The article focuses on the Regional Government Expenditure report, published in October 2013, which provides the first analysis of spending of the central government in New Zealand on a regional basis. It discusses the two different methods provided by the report for finding how government spending is spread regionally. It was found that dairying regions which produce 26% of export revenue and contribute strongly to the country's gross domestic product share little of the expenditure.

The article discusses the second National Infrastructure Plan that was published in New Zealand in July 2011. Based on the plan, the water infrastructure is divided into urban and productive sectors. According to Infrastructure minister Bill English, the government will spend over 17 billion dollars in infrastructure in 2012-2015. The opinion of Water New Zealand chief executive officer Murray Gibb on policy review is also cited.