A rise in tax revenue drove the New Zealand government's operating deficit down below forecasts, the New Zealand Treasury announced in it financial statements Friday.

The operating deficit before gains and losses for the seven months to the end of January was 2.5 billion NZ dollars (2.07 billion U.S. dollars), or 571 million NZ dollars below the deficit of 3.1 billion NZ dollars forecast in the Half-Year Update in December.

The figures showed the government was on track for surplus in 2014-2015, Finance Minister Bill English said in a statement.

Core tax revenue was 486 million NZ dollars above forecast and 1.7 billion NZ dollars higher than in the seven months to January 2012.

"Overall, the results are encouraging, but the government will remain firmly focused on continuing to manage its finances responsibly so we can return to surplus and start repaying debt," English said.