Reserve Bank of New Zealand

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ, Māori: Te Pūtea Matua) is the central bank of New Zealand. It was established in 1934 and is currently constituted under the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 2021.[3] The governor of the Reserve Bank, currently Adrian Orr, is responsible for New Zealand's currency and operating monetary policy.

Reserve Bank of New Zealand
Te Pūtea Matua (Māori)
HeadquartersWellington, New Zealand
Coordinates41.278814°S 174.77503°E / -41.278814; 174.77503
Established1 August 1934
OwnershipState-owned and governed under the 2021 Act
GovernorAdrian Orr
Central bank ofNew Zealand
CurrencyNew Zealand dollar
NZD (ISO 4217)
ReservesNZ$14,899 million[1]
Reserve requirementsNone
Interest on reserves4.25% (OCR)[2]
Websitewww.rbnz.govt.nz

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand does not offer financial services to the public nor does it offer deposit insurance, and its website refers people to other financial institutions.

History

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand was established from 1 August 1934 by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 1933. The Reserve Bank first issued banknotes in 1934, see New Zealand pound.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 1989 (RBNZ Act) which came into effect in February 1990 introduce the regime of inflation targeting to the bank. New Zealand was the first country in the world to try this regime which was later adopted in other countries.[4]

The banks primary functions and responsibility have been modified several times over its history, with the latest being the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 2021.[5]

Ownership

The Reserve Bank has been wholly owned by the New Zealand Government since 1936. The Reserve Bank is established by an Act of Parliament (the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 2021) and it has statutory independence. The Reserve Bank is accountable to Parliament and provides an annual dividend to the Government.[6][3]

Monetary policy
RBNZ headquarters in Wellington

Primary Functions

The Reserve Bank's primary function, as defined by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 2021 is to provide "stability in the general level of prices" and "maximum sustainable employment".[7]

The Reserve Bank is responsible for independent management of monetary policy to maintain price stability. The degree of price stability is determined through a Policy Target Agreement with the Minister of Finance.[8] Policy Target Agreements are public documents and hence a government cannot secretly change the targets to gain a short term surge in economic growth.

The mechanism of this is the official cash rate which affects short-term interest rates. The Bank will provide cash overnight at 0.50% above the cash rate to banks against good security with no limit. Furthermore, the Bank will accept deposits from financial institutions with interest usually at the official cash rate.

Banks that offer loans at interest higher than the official cash rate will be undercut by banks that offer cheaper loans, and banks that loan out lower than the official cash rate will make less compared to other banks which can simply deposit their money in the Reserve Bank with a higher rate of return. The Reserve Bank borrows and offers loans with no limit on volumes in order to ensure that the interest rate in the market remains at the official cash rate level.

Through controlling this, the Reserve Bank can then influence short term demand in the New Zealand Economy and use this to control prices.

Adjustments to the official cash rate are made eight times a year. It can make unscheduled adjustments but does not usually do so.

Fractional-reserve banking

Like all modern monetary systems, the monetary system in New Zealand is based on fiat and fractional-reserve banking. In a fractional-reserve banking system, the largest portion of money created is not created by the Reserve Bank itself. Private sector commercial banks create 80% or more.

Issuing of currency

The Bank by virtue of the Reserve Bank Act has the sole right of issuing New Zealand legal tender notes and coins. The Reserve Bank controls the issuing of currency to banks and also replaces used and damaged money from circulation. In March 2005, the Bank decided to remove the 5 cent coin from circulation (the following year), as well as reducing the size of 10, 20 and 50 cent coins.[9]

The Reserve Bank accepts all New Zealand currency for payment at face value. This applies to all demonetised or withdrawn currency, however such currency need not be accepted by money changers as it is no longer legal tender. All decimal notes are legal tender except $1 and $2 notes as these have been withdrawn. Damaged notes are still worth something so long as they are recognisable. The Reserve Bank website notes that as a rule of thumb if there is more than half a bank note they will pay its full value. To receive payment people have to turn in the note to either the Reserve Bank in Wellington or any bank.

Collectors coins

The Reserve Bank from time to time produces limited runs of legal tender coins for collectors and have a New Zealand theme and design. These coins generally do not circulate, but are legal tender. The coins are sold for the Reserve Bank via New Zealand Post's business unit.[10]

Supervision of the banking system

The Reserve Bank also acts to supervise the New Zealand banking system to ensure that the system remains healthy, however it does not guarantee that a bank will not fail, or face problems.

As of April 2023 there are 27 registered banks.[11]

All registered banks operating in New Zealand must issue a quarterly disclosure statement, and the Reserve Bank supervises these.

The purpose of these disclosure statements is to:

  • Assist depositors to make sound decisions
  • Encourage banks to maintain sound banking practices

The summary comprises:

  • A key information summary that provides a brief overview of the bank's financial condition
  • General disclosure statement to provide comprehensive information on the bank
  • Supplemental disclosure statement

Proposed Deposit Takers Act

The parts of the 1989 RBNZ Act relating to the regulation and supervision of banks will eventually be replaced by a new Deposit Takers Act. It will create a single regulatory regime for all deposit takers and a deposit insurance scheme.[12]

Regulation of non-bank deposit takers (NBDTs)

Under Part 5D of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 1989 (the "Act"), the RBNZ is charged with the enforcement of the credit rating and prudential requirements applying to non-bank deposit takers (NBDTs) in New Zealand. These functions were introduced by the enactment of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Amendment Act 2008.

Under the Non-Bank Deposit Takers Act (2013)[13] the RBNZ acts as the prudential regulator and licensing authority for NBDTs. [14]

Prudential supervision of the insurance industry

Under section 12 of the Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2010,[15] the RBNZ is charged with the prudential supervision of the New Zealand insurance industry. This includes the licensing of persons to carry on insurance business in New Zealand.

Governors

The following have served as governors of the Reserve Bank:[16]

  • Leslie Lefeaux (1 January 1934 – 31 December 1940)
  • William Fox Longley Ward (Acting Governor: 1 May 1941 – 1 February 1944), (1 February 1944 – 8 July 1948)
  • Edward Coldham Fussell (21 July 1948 – 20 July 1962)
  • Gilbert Wilson (21 July 1962 – 20 July 1967)
  • Sir Alan Low (21 July 1967 – 11 February 1977)
  • Raymond W. R. White (12 February 1977 – 11 February 1982)
  • Dick L. Wilks (12 February 1982 – 17 May 1984)
  • Sir Spencer Russell (18 May 1984 – 31 August 1988)
  • Dr Donald Brash (1 September 1988 – 26 April 2002)
  • Dr Alan Bollard (23 September 2002 – 25 September 2012)
  • Graeme Wheeler (26 September 2012 – 27 September 2017)
  • Grant Spencer (Acting Governor: October 2017 - March 2018)
  • Adrian Orr (27 March 2018 – present)

Museum

The Reserve Bank Museum, based at the Bank's headquarters in Wellington Central, has been open to the public since 2006.[17][18]

Coat of arms
Coat of arms of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand
Notes
The Arms of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand was granted on 1 June 1965[19]
Crest
A wreath of the colours Out of a Mural Crown Sable charged with three Bezants a demi Griffin Or holding between the paws a Portcullis Sable
Escutcheon
Gules two Keys in saltire wards downwards and outward, Argent in chief a representation of the Head of King Tāwhiao couped proper and in base an ancient Ship sail furled pennon and flags flying oars in action and in fess a Bull's Head couped and a Fleece Or
Supporters
On either side a Lion Sable each gorged with a collar of Bezants pendant therefrom a Key wards downwards and inwards Or
Motto
Securitas et Vigilantia (Latin: security and vigilance)

See also

References
  1. "New Zealand's official overseas reserves – E1". Reserve Bank of New Zealand. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  2. "Higher interest rates necessary". Reserve Bank of New Zealand. 23 November 2022.
  3. "The Reserve Bank's Institutional Regime". www.treasury.govt.nz. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  4. McDermott, John; Williams, Rebecca (2018). "Inflation Targeting in New Zealand: An Experience in Evolution". Reserve Bank of Australia conference.
  5. "Government introduces new Reserve Bank board". Insurance Business. 5 July 2022.
  6. "Ownership of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand" (PDF). Reserve Bank of New Zealand. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  7. "Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 2021 No 31 (as at 01 September 2022), Public Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation". www.legislation.govt.nz. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  8. "Policy Targets Agreement". rbnz.govt.nz.
  9. "The History of New Zealand Coins". RBNZ. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. "New Zealand Post Coins". nzcoins.co.nz.
  11. "Registered banks in New Zealand". Reserve Bank of New Zealand - Te Pūtea Matua. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  12. "Proposed Deposit Takers Act". RBNZ. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. "Non-bank Deposit Takers Act 2013 No 104 (as at 01 July 2022), Public Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation". legislation.govt.nz. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  14. "Overview of NBDT regime". rbnz.govt.nz.
  15. "Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2010 No 111 (as at 27 October 2022), Public Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation". legislation.govt.nz. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  16. "Governors of the Reserve Bank – past and present". Reserve Bank. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  17. "The Reserve Bank of New Zealand Museum and Education Centre". Reserve Bank of New Zealand.
  18. "The Reserve Bank Of New Zealand Museum on NZ Museums". nzmuseums.co.nz. Te Papa.
  19. "Reserve Bank of New Zealand Coat of Arms Letters Patent, 1965". NZMuseums. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
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