Reserve Bank of NZ

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Reserve Bank of NZ

Reserve Bank of New Zealand Te Pūtea Matua. We're New Zealand's Central Bank. We manage monetary policy, regulate the financial system, and supply currency.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand Te Pūtea Matua is New Zealand’s central bank. We promote a sound and dynamic monetary and financial system. We work towards our purpose, vision and values by:

- Operating monetary policy to achieve and maintain price stability and support maximum sustainable employment
- Assisting the functioning of a sound and efficient financial system
- Meeting the currency need

s of the public
- Overseeing and operating effective payments systems
- Providing effective support services to the Bank.

03/06/2026

Most of us hope for the best but plan for the worst – and that’s what stress testing does.
If you have savings in the bank, or insurance for your house, car or contents, you might be wondering if banks and insurers are prepared for the “what if?” events - like a sharp fall in house prices, a major natural disaster, or a global conflict.
We keep a close eye on banks and insurers to see how they would cope in severe economic situations. Our stress tests check whether they are strong enough to get through tough or unexpected scenarios.
Stress testing ensures your everyday financial services remain reliable – so you know your insurance claims can be paid, banks can keep lending even in hard times, your deposits stay safe, and the wider financial system is stable. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3ShtWeF

02/06/2026

We’re inviting disabled people and their whānau and support persons to have their say on our proposal to make sure basic cash services are available for everyone to access.

Alternate formats are now available to help you access information about the proposal and survey questions in a way that best meets your needs.

Information is available in:
• Easy Read
• Large Print
• Audio
• Braille
• New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL).

We want to make sure the proposal works for everyone, so it’s important we hear from you. Public consultation is open until 31 July 2026. Find the alternate formats here: https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/money-and-cash/access-to-cash/information-in-alternate-formats

28/05/2026

Take a peek at the production process behind the new 10 cent coin featuring the image of King Charles III. New Zealanders can expect to see the new coin in their change around 2027 👛

The year 2024 is stamped on the coin being the year we placed the production order with the Royal Canadian Mint. All existing circulating coins and $20 banknotes bearing images of the Queen continue to be legal tender.

We will let everyone know when the new coins are due to enter circulation as the time nears. We will work with the cash industry to make sure there are no glitches with cash handling machines like self-service checkouts, vending and change machines accepting and issuing the new and old coins.

27/05/2026

The Monetary Policy Committee today voted to hold the Official Cash Rate (OCR) at 2.25%.

• Prior to The Middle East conflict, New Zealand was showing signs of economic recovery. The conflict is increasing near-term inflation and weakening economic activity.

• Inflation is expected to peak at 4.3% in the September quarter and return to the 2% target mid-point in mid-2027.

• The OCR will likely need to increase sooner, and by more than we expected in February to ensure inflation returns to target in the medium-term.

05/05/2026

We have just released our May Financial Stability Report. In the video Chris McDonald, Manager of System Monitoring & Analysis, explains the top things you should know about the state of financial stability in New Zealand right now.

24/04/2026

In 2015 we released a special edition coloured ANZAC fifty-cent coin to mark the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli. One million coins were produced. This number represented the size of the New Zealand population in 1914, of which 10% served in World War I.

It features a New Zealand and Australian soldier standing back-to-back with their heads bowed in remembrance. The mangopare (hammerhead shark) pattern symbolises strength and determination, and the silver fern reflects New Zealand’s national identity.

The coin was released into circulation as legal tender on 23 March 2015 and can circulate like any other coin.

23/04/2026

Did you know New Zealand dollars could have had a very different name?

Before the shift to decimal currency, “New Zeals” was an option on the table. This mock‑up gives us a glimpse of the NZ money that never was.

08/04/2026

The Monetary Policy Committee today agreed to hold the OCR at 2.25%.
• War in the Middle East has disrupted global supply chains, raising fuel prices.
• Inflation is expected to increase in the short term and the economic recovery to weaken. The extent to which inflation increases depends on how the conflict in the Middle East evolves.
• We are monitoring the situation closely. The Committee stands ready to act, to return inflation to the 2% mid-point of its medium-term target range.

01/04/2026

– let’s look back at some moments from our ‘History of Banking’ online exhibition 🕰️

• 1972: Staff working in the open‑plan office in the then‑new Reserve Bank of NZ building.

• 1955: An Addressograph Graphotype plate‑cutting machine in the Chief Accountant’s Department. The machine helped save time when addressing letters for large mail‑outs.

• 1879: The Union Bank of Australia on the corner of Featherston Street and Lambton Quay, Wellington. The bank first opened in Britannia (Pito‑One) around 1840–43 before moving to Port Nicholson, the original name for Wellington Harbour.

Explore the full timeline here 👇
https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/museum/history/banking-history-timeline

25/03/2026

Due to strong interest, we have extended the closing date for responses to our Keeping Cash Local consultation to 31 July 2026. The consultation proposes improvements to cash services across Aotearoa New Zealand.

🗓️ In addition to the extended consultation:

• Alternate formats of the consultation document – in NZSL, braille, easy read, audio and large print – will be made available in May to allow disabled people and their communities to have their say.

• We will also publish further material to support the consultation in early June.

Address

2 The Terrace
Wellington
6011

Website

https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/

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