The Wellbeing Budget is a lie.

In considering the pros and cons of the budget – spare a thought for those who are paying the governments promises – it’s you and me.

So when the Finance Minister, Grant Robertson, is doling out the cash and seeking credit for those spending decisions – it’s worth reminding ourselves that it is the middle-income taxpayers that bear the bulk of the bill.

Naturally, there is always the question, “what’s in it for me?”. But that’s understandable, given the seemingly unending bracket creep resulting in more and more New Zealanders being relieved of more and more of their money in the form of income tax. Especially when the Budget seems to be all about spend, spend, spend, with scarcely a word of acknowledgement or appreciation of where the money is coming from.

So, onto the question of wellbeing. Ultimately, this Wellbeing Budget is, in my view, a lie – but in saying that, it is worth considering what the “wellbeing” of New Zealand is all about.

I think it is about aspiration, optimism and a sense of security for all New Zealanders.

Aspiration, in that opportunities, will continue to present themselves for those who seek it and are prepared to put in the hard yards. Optimism, in that maybe those endeavours be well rewarded and worth it; and security, that in the event that you fall on hard times, there’s a safety net to help you.

I can’t escape the feeling that while that there will always be a case to be made for those at the bottom of the heap, there seems to be a decreasing incentive to aspire when the Government’s coffers are sloshing around with more and more of our money.

Putting aside those considerations as myself and no doubt many others did, I have a considerable sense of optimism with the Government touting a Budget based on “wellbeing”.

That optimism centred on those of us facing the challenge of battling cancer and other serious illnesses. For quite some time now I have felt that the Government has a fantastic opportunity to make a transformational change to Pharmac’s funding.

Indeed, a change that could have sent a tidal wave of optimism and hope around the country. A change for New Zealanders from all walks of life, because cancer, along with other debilitating conditions, doesn't discriminate. With the increasing advances in treatment options, it must have been nigh on intolerable for cancer sufferers to see their pleading ignored, to say nothing of a growing disparity with our Australian neighbours.

Imagine their disappointment, and that of their families, to see such a minuscule slice of funding for Pharmac in this Budget, that it fails to even keep up with inflation.

In addressing this, I heard Grant Robertson say he understood it was a very difficult and emotional time for people. Come on! What a condescending, patronising and dismissive remark to make. Especially from someone who had the ability to save more lives and make a genuine transformational change. It was nothing more than lip service and offered little in the way of genuine empathy for those New Zealanders facing perhaps the ultimate challenge of their lives.

It was a golden opportunity to win us all over. Oh well, perhaps next time.