The Crown accounts showed the operating balance before gains and losses (obegal), the preferred measure of New Zealand's economic strength, was $1.1billion at December 31, $800million higher than expected. Net investment gains for the Government, mainly through the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, came in at $4.3billion, $1.8million higher than forecast. When the gains and losses were added to the obegal, the operating balance was $3.5billion, $900millon higher than forecast. The results flowed directly into net worth attributable to the crown which was $800millon higher than forecast at $114.1billion. Source tax deductions were $300million, or 1.7%, higher than forecast and was likely due to the higher employment growth compared to the PAYE forecast.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 13, 2018 16:30 UTC