28037 (2025). Hon Marama Davidson to the Minister for Vocational Education

28037 (2025). Hon Marama Davidson to the Minister for Vocational Education: What is the total funding for tertiary education in Budget 25 as a % of GDP?

Hon Penny Simmonds: As at December 2024, gross domestic product (GDP) is $425 billion, as published on Statistics New Zealand’s website (https://www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/gross-domestic-product-gdp/). Budget 2025 invested an additional $398 million in Vote Tertiary Education over the forecast period, or approximately 0.09% of annual GDP. Please note student support funding is not included in the response because Treasury does not manage student loans and allowance expenditure against Budget allowances. Therefore, this funding was not captured in any overall figures for Tertiary Education spending through Budget 2025. Student support funding sits outside Vote Tertiary Education. It sits in Vote Social Development and Vote Revenue.