The Finance Minister Grant Roberston is warning next week's Budget will be "no frills" and have 4 billion dollars worth of savings over the next four years.
Speaking to a business audience on Thursday morning, Mr Robertson said the government had pushed to further prune spending and will focus on meeting people's basic needs in hard times.
Despite the savings, he said tax cuts remain off the table.
National Party finance spokesperson Nicola Willis spoke to Max Towle.
