Steven Joyce delivered his first budget, but the ninth in a row by a Finance Minister from the National Party.

Government spending is increasing, but as a share of the New Zealand's economy it continues to fall.

In the 12 months to June 30, it will be $77.5b, an increase of $3.5b on the previous year.

As a per cent of the country's GDP it is 28.8 per cent, down from 29.2 per cent in 2016. It has been falling since 2011 and is now below the 30 per cent level from before the global financial crisis of 2008.

The charts below show spending as a per cent of GDP and actual spending figures (click on the tabs to toggle between the two).

Looking at spending as a per cent of GDP accounts for population growth, economic growth and inflation in a way that the spending figures do not.

The spike between 2008 and 2009 shows the impact of global financial crisis. While a second spike in 2011 shows the impact of the Christchurch earthquakes.

Both the earthquakes and the GFC also had the effect of slowing economic growth (at least in the short-term) and the Government responded to both by increasing spending. Subsequently spending as a per cent of GDP increased, as did debt.

Reducing spending as a per cent of GDP has allowed the Government to reduce this debt burden. They say this approach safeguards New Zealand against the worst effects of another economic downturn or natural disaster.

Social security and welfare is the area that receives the most Government funds, accounting for about one third of spending.

It's forecast to get $25.4b in the 12 months to June 30, equivalent to 9.45 per cent of GDP.

The past decade has seen big increases to superannuation spending and a decrease in spending on other benefits.

In 2008 Super spending was 3.9 per cent of GDP. It's forecast to be 4.85 per cent in the next 12 months.

Meanwhile, other benefit spending has shrunk from 4.7 per cent of GDP to a forecast 3.9 per cent in 2017/18.

Ballooning Super costs are set to continue in coming years, with the Government announcing that the age of eligibility would rise gradually to 67, but would not start take effect until 2037.

Health funding received a boost in the Budget of $3.9b over the next four years.

As a per cent of GDP it fell between 2014 and 2017, but trend this is forecast to flatten out in 2017/18 and it will remain at about 6 per cent of GDP.

Health funding has been a topic of hot debate, with claims that funding increases mask a decrease of funding in real terms and that the increase in the 2017 Budget also includes the pay rise for aged care workers.

There was a freeze to operational funding to schools in the 2016 Budget, some of which was offset by some targeted funding.

This freeze was lifted in the 2017 Budget, but the increase of 1.3 per cent is less than the annual 2 per cent increase schools used to receive.