A positive snapshot of government finances has just been released by Statistics New Zealand.

Data shows the government's net operating balance increased in the last financial year to a $2.5b surplus.

Rising individual income tax boosted total revenue, which was up 5.6%.

But expenses were also up, by 2.8%, due to higher superannuation payments.

As at the end of June last year the government's net worth totalled $80.6b.