The Budget will be delivered on Thursday 19 May.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Finance Minister Grant Robertson said a key focus would be on planned health reforms and meeting climate change goals.
"It would be irresponsible to acknowledge that our health system needs improvement, based on the lessons from Covid, but then not doing anything about it.
"Just as it would be equally reckless to just say 'let's forget about climate change for a year or two'. These are investments that we need to make as a country. We can't afford not to make them," Robertson said.
In the December budget policy statement the government said it would commit an extra $6 billion one off allocation to pay for the major policies.
Robertson said "careful and pragmatic" approach was being taken with the Budget.
"This means we will not be able to fund all the projects that are proposed and we will have to prioritise within our objectives.
"We will strike a balance between the important projects that need to be done and the ongoing need for fiscal sustainability."