"We are protesting not for ourselves alone, but for our tūpuna, our mokopuna," say protesters among those gathering around the country for a Budget Day Hīkoi.

Budget Day ‘carkoi’ protests delayed traffic on Auckland and Tauranga motorways ahead of a hikoi on Parliament.

Protesters earlier took the roads to oppose government policies toward Māori, ‘activating’ for today’s National Māori Action Day - and caused traffic delays around the country.

It’s the second time Māori have mobilised on a national scale with the first hīkoi taking place last December.

The national protest coincides with today’s budget announcements.

    • absGeekNZEnglish
      5·
      5 months ago

      Thanks.

      I herd the same number on Bernard Hickeys podcast.

      • DaveOPMA
        3·
        5 months ago

        The government is claiming they aren’t borrowing to fund tax cuts, I guess because this borrowing was already planned? But it’s hard to argue that when they could have not had tax cuts and then not borrowed (and had $3B left over).

        • absGeekNZEnglish
          4·
          5 months ago

          Yea, and (according to the podcast) the $12B is on top of the planned borrowing, so it is extra borrowing.

          • DaveOPMA
            3·
            5 months ago

            How can they claim it’s not borrowing to fund tax cuts? This government really doesn’t care whether their claims are true.

            • absGeekNZEnglish
              4·
              5 months ago

              I guess they are using magical hollywood accounting