It's a tradition to name the Budget. My God, would the Government love to name the Budget itself and have it stick. But that's just not how it works.
By almost all accounts, this Budget has been damned with tepid takes. Even Jacinda Ardern only gave it a "strong seven" out of ten.
Some of the strongest criticism came from the likes of the Maori Party, who say the lack of earmarked Maori funding is a backward step for Maori.
National's Judith Collins made a similar criticism, saying the Budget only helps two Maori - Winston Peters and Shane Jones, two senior New Zealand First ministers.
The "good start Budget"
Newshub's political editor Tova O'Brien reminds us this is only the first of three budgets, and says while there's a long way to go, it's a good start.
She says the big winner is health, "and it had to be".
However, "there are some huge omissions - a lack of cash for Mycoplasma bovis and other biosecurity risks, a lack of money for cybercrime and no commitment to pay rises for the public sector.
"But so far the Government's set the bar pretty high - possibly at the expense of the overall trilogy.
That's what makes this Budget - for better or worse - the 'But wait! There's more Budget'," she concluded.
The "National-lite Budget"
Stuff's political editor Tracy Watkins says Grant Robertson's focus on "fiscal responsibility" took on a shade of baby blue. She said schools will be disappointed (she wasn't wrong) and law and order's portion risks looking "miserly".
The "foundations for the future" but also "fiscally responsible" Budget
Critical public services are being "rebuilt", is the Government's line on the Budget.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson labelled the Budget "foundations for the future" in his press release.
"We are committed to being responsible not just fiscally but socially and environmentally. This Government is preparing our country for the future by making sure its foundations are strong and sustainable," Robertson said.
But then he would say that, wouldn't he?
The "borrow, tax and spend" Budget
"This is a hugely disappointing budget of little imagination from a Government that is borrowing more, taxing more and spending more but has no plans for how we as a country can earn more," National's Simon Bridges said.
But then he would say that, wouldn't he?
The "triumph of neoliberalism" Budget
Guyon Espiner from RNZ Morning Report calls it a "A triumph of neoliberalism" and likens it to a 10th National Party Budget
He writes that Government spending, at 28 percent of GDP is lower than almost all National's three terms.
"If there have been nine years of neglect and there are alarm bells ringing in health and housing how does that square with tight fiscal discipline and hefty surpluses?"
But Espiner concludes that by Robertson's third budget, it'll no doubt be red through and through.
The "no-pizzazz" Budget
The day started with a cheese roll, "and the Budget proved just as simple far", wrote Claire Trevett at NZME.
Increases in spending were "conservative and relatively thinly spread", Trevett writes.
The "Good start - Rough Reminder Budget for Maori"
The Budget is a "retrograde step for Maori", Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox told Newshub.
"Universality didn't work before. It's what we did in the past, and Maori fell through the gaps. Expect for more gaps!" she warned.
Newshub.
