The big news coming out New Zealand’s 2022-23 Wellbeing Budget, announced on Thursday 19 May, was the much anticipated funding injection for the new centralised health system, which will soar to a record $11.1 billon (NZD) in operating funding over four years, including over $500 million in new ICT funding.

The health portfolio will get an extra $1.8 billion in new funding in 2022-23, with another $1.3 billion the following year, a two year funding spike foreshadowed by Finance Minister Grant Robertson to provide the sector some certainty.

There is additional cash for cyber security, including a big boost for the country’s dedicated cyber alert and response service, and to lift skills and support industry transformation plans in the AgTech, advanced manufacturing, and digital industries.

Suppliers should also note that there is a significant allocation of new money across several different initiatives to support the ‘back end’ of the criminal justice system.

The Budget Papers also shows the impact of inflation is flowing through to digital infrastructure, including cyber security, with specific funding increases in order “to address contracted price increases.”