New Zealand First says the Government is making managing the economy look like a Muppet show in meltdown.

It has accused the Government of ignoring advice from the Reserve Bank which says the economy is in a troubled state when compared to the unrealistic picture painted by National.

Rt Hon Winston Peters says Reserve Bank forecasts show Government debt will be $10 billion higher in 2014/15 than the Government said it would be in the Budget only one month ago.

“The economy is in such dire shape that Prime Minister John Key is latching on to any excuse for National’s poor mismanagement of the economy.

“His latest outburst sees him blame New Zealand’s economic woes on the outcome of the Greek election even though the winning pro-Euro Zone parties promise the best chance of stability.”

Mr Peters says Mr Key and Finance Minister Bill English are like a couple of Muppets from Sesame Street trying to manage our ailing economy.

“They are the Bert and Ernie of New Zealand politics.

“It wouldn’t be surprising to hear them get up and say, ‘today’s programme is brought to you by the letters B for Budget back-downs and F for fiscal failure.

“’And today’s number is 5 for the number of years National now guesses it will take to get the Government’s finances into surplus’,” says Mr Peters.