Shot in the arm for Police, Customs, Commerce Commission, agencies

WELLINGTON: The 2020 police budget included more than $400 million in road safety programmes.

The sum represents 18% of the police budget, but the largest chunk of 31% — more than $684 million — has been set aside for investigations and case resolution.

The second largest amount, more than $546 million, or 24.7%, will be spent on primary response management.

Police also expect to collect $77 million of Crown revenue in 202021, largely from traffic infringement fees.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern earlier said there would be no cuts to essential services.

‘‘We believe when times are hard, you don’t cut, you invest,’’ she said.

‘‘The notion that at this time of need we would make cuts to the essential services so many New Zealanders need more than ever is not only immoral, it is economically wrong.’’

Highlights for the justice sector include. —

Justice property health and safety remediation has received $36.9 million to invest in upgrading court buildings to meet health and safety requirements and improve the experience of attending court, including for victims.

$47.8 million for replacing ageing communications capabilities for the police, New Zealand Fire and Emergency and ambulances

Maintaining a safe prison network has been set a $110.4 million operating total.

Money in the Budget for Customs included:

$103 million for services relating to goods crossing borders;

$84 million for services relating to travellers crossing borders;

$39 million for services to other Government agencies and to support ministers in work relating to Customs;

$27 million for investment in the department.

In the past, Customs had spent millions on disrupting drug smuggling, combating the sexual exploitation of children across our cyber border, SmartGate technology and modernising the Customs workforce.

The Commerce Commission, Financial Markets Authority and Serious Fraud Office were among agencies to get a funding boost in the Budget, addressing existing cost pressures as well as expanded missions.

The commission will get $30.4 million over four years, which Commerce Minister Kris Faafoi described as sharpening its teeth to tackle the potential effects on competition of the Covid19 pandemic, although the antitrust regulator has already taken on board a much bigger workload with the introduction of annual market studies.

‘‘We’re going to make sure this recovery is one that all New Zealanders share in, and have a chance to be a part of, whether they’re an entrepreneur with a new idea to take on a multinational or a consumer trying to get the best price,’’ he said. — Additional reporting BusinessDesk