The New Zealand government's new budget will make

 

The New Zealand government's new budget will make  most prescription drugs free for Kiwis.  The budget will also subsidize up to 20 hours of childcare a week for parents with children under two years old. The Labour Party-led Kiwi government said that it was implementing these policies to address the cost-of-living crisis in New Zealand. The new budget would scrap the existing $5 fee for picking up medicine, helping ~3 million Kiwis per year to save money. The plan also introduces free public transit for children under 13 years old and half-fares for people under 25 years old. Fuel subsidies implemented earlier in the pandemic are set to expire in June. The hourly pay for bus drivers in New Zealand's cities is set to increase, and as much as $322M will be spent to boost pay for teachers in New Zealand's schools.