As the Government begins signaling its direction for Budget 2025 this week, one thing is clear: the fiscal environment continues to tighten.

In response, both public and community sector organisations must sharpen their focus. The Government is placing renewed emphasis on making every dollar count—prioritising delivery that aligns with national priorities and demonstrates meaningful impact for New Zealanders.

We can expect to see more emphasis on:

🔹 Reprioritisation – ensuring effort and investment are aligned to areas of highest value, particularly in priority areas around education, health, welfare and the five ‘pillars’ of economic growth
🔹 Policy, regulatory and institutional change – solutions that don’t require immediate new spending
🔹 Cross-portfolio collaboration – particularly where long-term outcomes can’t be achieved in silos

For public servants, this means the advice you provide matters more than ever. Ministers are looking for clarity: what works, why it matters, and how it delivers—particularly in areas linked to economic growth and social investment. The ability to demonstrate alignment, use evidence and data effectively, and focus on tangible outcomes will be key.

Social investment 2.0 reinforces this. It’s not just about spending more—it’s about spending smarter, using data to inform decisions and ensure resources are going where they’ll have the most impact.

For NGOs and not-for-profits, this is an important moment to position yourselves as strategic partners. Funders are increasingly looking for initiatives that demonstrate measurable outcomes and align with government priorities. Those who can speak to shared goals, collaborate across boundaries, and show how they’re making a difference will be well placed.

In times of constraint, purpose and clarity become powerful tools. Staying grounded in evidence, aligned with priorities, and focused on real outcomes will help both sectors continue delivering what matters most.

At FrankGroup, we help organisations navigate uncertainty with confidence—translating complexity into clear decisions and effective action. Talk to us today.