Hon Nicola Willis
Hon Nicola Willis is the Minister of Finance. He is responsible for managing the ledger of the New Zealand Government which includes budgeting and allocating funding to different government sectors.
Each year in May, the Treasury (under the Finance Minister) prepares a budget statement for the forthcoming financial year. The Treasury calls for pre-budget submissions at the end of each year. Any members of the public can give feedback on the budget for the forthcoming year. For example, the public can suggest an excise tax increase on alcohol beverages through amendments to the Customs and Excise Act 2018.
The Treasury also plays a key role in providing policy advice. This includes giving guidance to government sectors on how to prepare a regulatory impact statement for any new policy proposal. This consists of a cost and benefits analysis of the proposed policy to society.