The New Zealand government's books remain in surplus as higher-than-expected tax revenue allow it to beat Treasury forecasts.
It posted an operating balance before gains and losses of $NZ167 million ($A154.60 million) for the nine months to the end of March - $NZ334m more than forecast at December's half-year economic and fiscal update.
Core Crown revenue was $NZ206m higher than predicted while its expenses were $NZ134m lower than forecast.
The current operating surplus compares to a deficit of $NZ358m at the same time last year and core tax revenue has grown by 4.3 per cent over that time.
Net losses were $NZ3.8 billion higher than forecast due to greater than expected actuarial losses on the ACC claims liability and when gains were combined the operating balance was a $NZ3.6b deficit - $NZ3.5b weaker than expected.
Finance Minister Bill English is scheduled to release his eighth budget on May 26 when the Treasury will also update its forecasts.
In the December Budget Policy Statement, the Treasury projected an deficit of $NZ400m in the year ending June 30, having previously forecast a surplus of $NZ200m.
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