Finance Minister Nicola Willis has used her election-year Budget to preach prudence and discipline, with the books now forecast to be back in black a year earlier than picked.
As heavily foreshadowed, the Budget contained no "sugar hits" for voters, with a focus instead on core health and infrastructure spending, as well as a near half billion-dollar rainy day fund tagged to the fuel crisis.
Willis arrived at the Budget's official release to address reporters and analysts slightly earlier than usual on Thursday.
"Just like the surplus," she quipped.
Later she said she refused to bribe New Zealanders with their own money, even if it might be "politically expedient".
