About a third of Budget 2022's total spend-up went to health.
At $11 billion, it is New Zealand's biggest-ever investment in the sector and will be used to set up the country's new health system.
An election promise was also met, with a boost to dental grants.
Pharmac also got a cash injection of $191 million, although it's not as much as advocates wanted.
For years, they've been calling for more Pharmac funding - but they drew the short straw once again.
"Get on and fund it, because if you don't, people will die," said Patient Voice Aotearoa spokesperson Malcolm Mulholland.
What they wanted was $300 million more per year for Pharmac. What they got was $191 million over two years, so just $95 million a year.
And while it's the biggest boost Pharmac's seen, advocates are reeling.
"I'm just lost for words. It's a decision politicians are now making for people to die," Mulholland said.
But Health Minister Andrew Little has a different view.
"It gives yet another boost to Pharmac under this Government. Remember, under the previous Government, Pharmac funding was frozen for three years," he said.
Pharmac's crumbs play into the overall $13.2 billion Budget pie for New Zealand's health sector.
Over the next four years, $11 billion will be spent on New Zealand's new health system; so scrapping district health boards and clearing their debt. There's $1.3 billion to improve hospital infrastructure and $76 million to fund both workforce training and an extra 1800 jobs.
"This is going to make a massive difference to every New Zealander in terms of the healthcare they get," said Finance Minister Grant Robertson.
National Party leader Christopher Luxon said there was a "massive blowout" in spending.
"I don't think people are internalising what is happening here that it is not good for New Zealand."
There's a lot more coming for those on the ground. There's $100 million to boost community healthcare and GPs in high-need areas are getting $86 million to expand their services to get more people through their doors.
But, because of staff shortages, one doctor doubts that'll happen.
"We are now at least 15 years behind where we should be in terms of growing our workforce," said Auckland GP Tim Malloy.
The Government also finally delivered on an election promise by boosting dental grants for low-income families from $300 a year to $1000.
"I'd say there are hundreds of thousands of Kiwis that'll benefit from this initiative. It's certainly still an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff but it's an ambulance we haven't had," said Katie Ayers from the New Zealand Dental Association.
Health was always going to be the big winner this year but the Government had to balance the reform - which will take years - with giving Kiwis immediate changes, like extended GP hours. But the glaring gap here was the Pharmac spend, which, yet again, has fallen short.
