Budget 2019 was released this afternoon after a dramatic week of leaks, accusations of hacking and calls for resignations.

Mental health and child poverty have taken the lion's share of funding in the Wellbeing Budget as predicted - but there are some surprises.

Here are the main takeaways from Budget 2019:

$1.9 billion will go to improving mental health services , including $455 million for frontline services



, including $455 million for frontline services $1.1 billion will be invested in child poverty reduction



$320 million will be set aside over four years to index benefits to average wage increases , rather than benefits rising with inflation



, rather than benefits rising with inflation $256 million will go towards paying decile 1-7 state and state-integrated schools that don't ask for parental donations $150 per student



More than $1 billion will go to support KiwiRail's redevelopment , including $35 million to investigate purchasing new Cook Strait ferries



, including $35 million to investigate purchasing new Cook Strait ferries $50 million will go to boosting NZ's spy agencies



$80 million will go to Whanau Ora over four years as part of the Government's priority on lifting Māori opportunities



over four years as part of the Government's priority on lifting Māori opportunities The Rainbow Community gets a big boost, with support funding increasing from $60,000 to over $1 million

These live updates have now ended.

5:15pm - Students will see some significant changes from this Budget, including new schools and classrooms thanks to $268 million from the School Property Programme.

Another $913 million will be set aside for the Ministry of Education, schools and communities to plan future property investments.