Green Party co-leader Russel Norman criticised the Budget as one that bleeds social support and slashes services to pay for the Government's tax cuts.
The 2011 Budget contains cost-saving cuts to three significant Government schemes - KiwiSaver, Working for Families and student loans - and a plan for partial privatisation of state energy assets.
[image:2017:third:right]Dr Norman said the Government's earlier GST tax switch favoured the more well-off and workers have lost out.
"How is it that KiwiSaver and Working for Families, which support ordinary New Zealanders, get cut because they're deemed nice to have, but massive tax cuts for bank CEO's are essential and must stay in place."
[image:2016:third:right]Dr Norman said the Budget is fiscally irresponsible and the Government should be implementing a capital gains tax, which excludes the family home, to address Government debt.
Co-leader Metiria Turei said the Budget was generally hostile to Maori.
She told Waatea News that while there was some extra spending for te reo development, the Maori Party had failed to deliver on lowering the cost of living, job creation and income support.
Ms Turei said nothing in the Budget solved problems faced by Maori - such as high unemployment among young people - but rather cuts housing and health spending in real terms.
