Treasury report criticises previous government overspending during Covid-19 pandemic

Thursday 7 August 2025 · 5 outlets · 5 reports · updated Thu 7 Aug 2025, 8:45pm

In this story Treasury, Jacinda Ardern, Grant Robertson

A new Treasury briefing states the previous Labour government spent $66 billion responding to the pandemic. Officials say the government was warned to reduce non-urgent spending, but the prolonged expenditure had a lagged impact on the economy and contributed to rising debt.

How they headlined it

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1. The Press via The PostThu 7 Aug 2025, 2:33pm

   Treasury warned Ardern Labour Government about Covid-19 spending (opens in new tab)

2. NZ HeraldThu 7 Aug 2025, 3:28pm

   Government overcooked spending during pandemic, against official advice, harming economy – Treasury (opens in new tab)

3. StuffThu 7 Aug 2025, 6:20pm

   The $66 billion Covid spend up: Treasury asks if the Government went too far (opens in new tab)

4. RNZThu 7 Aug 2025, 7:47pm

   Treasury briefing points finger at government spending during Covid-19 pandemic (opens in new tab)

5. Otago Daily TimesThu 7 Aug 2025, 8:45pm

   Previous govt spent too much during Covid: Treasury (opens in new tab)