Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

English confident about economy

Updated at 11:45 am on 9 February 2012

Finance Minister Bill English is confident the New Zealand economy would weather any further economic disruption in Europe.

He says strong export prices and a boost from the rebuilding of Christchurch will help the economy keep growing.

Mr English says banks here are also in a strong position should the global financial system run into more problems.

He says the Government expects Europe to struggle on and avoid an economic collapse.

Mr English told Nine to Noon that New Zealand will return to a Budget surplus in 2014 - 2015, but it will be challenging and the public service will have to change.

He said more forecasts will be issued in the next few weeks, but they are likely to be consistent with $300 - $500 million surplus recently predicted by Prime Minister John Key.

Listen to more from Finance Minister Bill English on Nine to Noon

Copyright © 2012, Radio New Zealand