财政部长格兰特·罗伯森（Hon Grant Robertson）表示，由于民众在公共卫生方面杰出的努力，在经济复苏之前，政府的账目在4级封城期间的表现比预估强劲。
截至4月底的10个月的账目体现出政府应对疫情行动早强度大——为企业和家庭提供现金补助来缓解疫情冲击，保障就业稳定收入。
账目显示，在全球疫情的形势下，新西兰经济处于优势地位。封城前GST（商品及服务税）收入比预期高5.9％，表明截至3月31日的财政年结束之前的经济活动十分稳固。
“在全球疫情蔓延的形式下，我们强劲的经济以及和相对偏低的债务意味着我们有能力利用政府的资金来度过这百年一遇的全球冲击，为企业和家庭提供支持。”部长说。
“政府账目显示，政府税收收入比预期高将近$2亿，同时政府开销比预期少$4.26亿。这使得OBEGAL（损益前运营余额）比预估要高$6.29亿。”
“全球疫情对财务的影响是显而易见的。尽管OBEGAL比预期的要好，但仍显示有$127.8亿的赤字。这反映了封城期间政府为支持企业和工人投入的大量资金，包括工资补贴计划和退税在内的其它帮助措施。”
“净债务占GDP（国内生产总值）的25.3%，相比之下发达经济体在疫情之前的平均值约为80%。评级机构穆迪（Aaa）和标准普尔（AA +）维持了新西兰良好的信用等级，称2024年新西兰净债务的峰值会占GDP的53.6％，然而与其他发达国家相比仍然较低。还债成本同样估计比较低。”
“我们的经济恢复计划使我们能够支持企业和其员工度过难关，同时在经济开放和重建的时候进行投资，以创造更多就业机会。相对于世界其他地区，新西兰的经济复苏步伐也是先人一步，这得益于我们500万人齐心协力，团结一致地抵抗病毒。”
（以上为简译，仅供参考，具体内容请见原文）
英文原文
Govt books stronger than forecast ahead ofeconomy opening up
The Government’s accounts ran stronger than forecast during the Level 4 lockdown, ahead of the economy opening up off the back of New Zealanders’ amazing public health efforts, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says.
The Crown accounts for the ten months to April reflect the Government’s decision to go hard and early with its economic response to COVID-19 by getting cash to businesses and households to cushion the blow and protect jobs and incomes.
The accounts also show the strong position of the New Zealand economy heading into the global coronavirus pandemic, with pre-lockdown GST revenue 5.9% above forecast indicating solid underlying activity up to the end of the tax year on 31 March.
“Our strong economy heading into this global pandemic, and low debt compared to the rest of the world means we have the ability to use the Government’s balance sheet to support businesses and households through this 1-in-100 year global shock,” Grant Robertson said.
“The Crown accounts show core Crown tax revenue was running nearly $200 million stronger than expected, while core Crown expenses were $426 million lower. This contributed to the OBEGAL position coming in $629 million better than expected by the Treasury in the Budget.
“The impact of global COVID-19 pandemic is clear in the accounts. Even though the OBEGAL was better than expected, it showed a deficit of $12.78 billion.
This reflects the significant investments to support businesses and workers during lockdown through the wage subsidy scheme of cash grants and other cashflow measures, including tax refunds.
“Net debt was 25.3% of GDP, compared to the average for advanced economies before COVID of about 80%. Ratings agencies Moody’s (Aaa) and Standard and Poor’s (AA+) have maintained New Zealand’s strong credit ratings, saying the peak in net debt of 53.6% of GDP in 2024 is low compared to other advanced countries. Debt servicing costs are also forecast to remain low.
“Our economic plan means we are supporting businesses and workers through COVID-19, while investing to create jobs as we open up the economy and rebuild.
New Zealand is in a strong position to get a head start on our economic recovery relative to the rest of the world because we went hard and early against this virus as a team of five million.”
