DRAFT for COMMENTS

New Zealand History of Monetary and

Exchange Rate Regimes

Richard Sullivan

Reserve Bank of New Zealand

Abstract

This paper outlines the major features of New Zealand’s monetary and exchange rate
regimes since the break-up of the Bretton Woods system in the early 1970s. The focus
is on the real exchange rate and how varying regimes affected its performance over the
last 40 years. The paper covers how New Zealand’s monetary authorities reacted to
the post-Bretton Woods era, trade shocks, growth of current account deficits and the
high inflation with a variety of measures, including exchange rate adjustment, to
maintain export competitiveness. However, from the fixed exchange rate period,
through the crawling peg, the float of the NZD and even since the introduction of
inflation targeting it appears the real exchange rate displays little long term reaction to
which exchange rate regime is employed. The mean, range and variance of the real
exchange rate prior to and since inflation targeting are virtually identical. I find that
despite the exchange rate system employed, the effect on the real exchange rate is
more reliant on traditional economic drivers such as the terms of trade, relative
economic performance and inflation outcomes. Further, targeting lower volatility in the
nominal exchange rate has tended to mean volatility and problems appear elsewhere
in the economy, and ultimately have no lasting effect on the real exchange rate.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*I thank Anella Munro, Ozer Karagedikli, Michael Reddell and the members of the Issues and
International team at the RBNZ for helpful comments on earlier drafts.
This paper has been prepared for a joint Reserve Bank-Treasury Forum on the Exchange Rate,
Wellington, 26 March 2013. The views expressed in this paper are those of the author and are
not necessarily shared by, nor should they be attributed to the Reserve Bank.

Ref #5185500 v1.3

1. INTRODUCTION

Over the last 40 years New Zealand has employed nearly every form of exchange rate
regime possible, and while the macroeconomic performance over that period has
changed markedly, the real exchange rate has displayed surprisingly little difference.
New Zealand’s real exchange rate has fluctuated in large cycles over the last 40 years,
but the choice of exchange rate regime, or more correctly, the presence of inflation
targeting makes little difference to the behaviour of the real exchange rate.

Since the end of Bretton Woods there have been many exchange rate regimes that the
monetary authorities have used to either directly influence the nominal exchange rate,
maintain stability in either the real or nominal exchange rate, or let the exchange rate
float freely in order to pursue other objectives.

Meanwhile the average real exchange rate (REER) has displayed relatively small shifts
over this time (figure 1). After falling significantly in the lead up to the collapse of
Bretton Woods, the REER fell further around the time of the United Kingdom’s
accession to the European Economic Community (now European Union) and the first
oil price crisis. A relatively stable period for the REER ensued as exchange rate policy
targeted its stability, among other things (see Section 2), through to the Balance of
Payments crisis and subsequent float of the kiwi. After the initial shock the REER then
fluctuated around the same level as prior to the float through the achievement of price
stability and up until recently. In the last five to ten years the REER level is more akin
to that prior to the collapse of Bretton Woods. Over the same period monthly volatility
has been remarkably similar between regimes, aside from the period of the crawling
peg, where real exchange rate stability was explicitly targeted.

Figure 1 – New Zealand Real Exchange Rate

Fixed exchange rate Crawling Fixed Floating exchange rate →
120 peg
Inflation targetting →
OCR as monetary policy tool →

110

100
Index = 100 in 2010

90

80

70

NZD REER Average since 1961 7-year average

60
Jan-69 Jan-71 Jan-73 Jan-75 Jan-77 Jan-79 Jan-81 Jan-83 Jan-85 Jan-87 Jan-89 Jan-91 Jan-93 Jan-95 Jan-97 Jan-99 Jan-01 Jan-03 Jan-05 Jan-07 Jan-09 Jan-11

Bretton Crawling Inflation OCR

Fixed Fixed Float
Woods peg targetting period
Mean 103.2 92.9 89.2 83.0 91.7 90.4 93.9
Std dev 9.0 7.4 1.3 7.3 8.5 6.9 10.7
Source: BIS

2
While movements in the nominal exchange rate account for much of the REER
movement in recent years, this has not always been the case. In the first half of the
sample relative inflation would have been the main reason for REER movements
despite the occasional large devaluation or revaluation showing up as abrupt changes 1.
We look at REER movements as this is a better indication of long term changes in
relative competitiveness of the NZ economy.

This paper looks at the REER and the relevant policy focus at the time. We split the
post-Bretton Woods period into three parts, basically reflecting where New Zealand has
been on the monetary policy trilemma (see Box). That is:
• the fixed exchange rate period (1973-1984) where authorities tried to maintain a
level of the exchange rate and maintained some control over cross border
capital flows;

• the float, the environment and events that led to the float of the NZD plus the
period of structural reform that followed (1985-1991); and

• the price stability period (1992-present) where monetary policy has largely been
directed towards inflation targeting, without capital controls or exchange rate
intervention.

The embrace of one instrument and one target is a relatively recent phenomenon. This
is reflected in the shift from the Reserve Bank Act of the 1960s that directed the
government’s monetary policy at a number of, sometimes conflicting, objectives, to the
Reserve Bank Act of 1989 that focused monetary policy on price stability. Another
important distinction is that monetary policy shifted from being part of government’s
overall policy to being formulated by an agent, the Reserve Bank. The change could be
seen as a response to limitations of capacity, both human and institutional, in dealing
with the complex problems that arose from targeting many objectives.

Further, it is salutary to note that the idea of explicitly and directly setting the price of
money as a monetary policy instrument is relatively new for New Zealand. Despite
being the first officially inflation targeting central bank the RBNZ has only used an
official interest rate as a policy tool since 1999. During the early part of inflation
targeting regime the currency had the character of an instrument during the TWI
comfort zone or even as an intermediate target during the MCI days (see section 4).

1
These changes in the level of the nominal exchange rate were generally undertaken to realign
the real exchange rate with the movements (past and projected) of relative inflation.

3
BOX 1: New Zealand’s monetary policy framework and the Trilemma
The so-called monetary policy “trilemma” (Figure B1) is one lens through which we can
understand the role of monetary policy and the type of exchange rate regime. The
monetary policy trilemma states that only two of the following three policies can operate
at the same time: 2
• a fixed exchange rate (providing external price stability);
• an independent monetary policy (supporting internal price stability); and
• free capital movement (leading to efficiency gains).

Figure B1: The trilemma and New Zealand’s monetary policy framework

For decades prior to 1985, New Zealand’s economy was quite highly regulated and the
New Zealand dollar exchange rate was fixed (but adjustable from time to time).
Foreign reserves were held by the New Zealand Treasury (ministry of finance) and by
the Reserve Bank, and were actively used to maintain and manage the fixed exchange
rate. For most of the period, and until just three months prior to the float, private capital
flows were tightly restricted, and short-term private capital inflows were largely
prohibited. Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s inflation had been high, reflecting
monetary ease and a negative cycle of eroding competitiveness, exchange rate
devaluation and in turn inflation.
In principle, this combination of capital controls and a fixed nominal exchange rate
implied a good degree of control over both inflation and the exchange rate. In practice,
that control was exercised in a way that meant that inflation was high throughout the
1970s and early 1980s, And even during the fixed exchange rate period, the real
exchange rate tended to be quite variable (Figure 1) as a result of devaluations,
occasional revaluation and differences in home and foreign inflation.

Far-reaching public sector management and financial reforms, in the mid-1980s,

included the 1985 move to a freely floating exchange rate. The move to a floating
exchange rate was an integral part of securing domestic monetary control and ending

2
The idea, also known as the impossible trinity, goes back to at least the work of Mundell in the
1960s. Obstfeld, Shambaugh and Taylor 2005 find the constraints implied by the trilemma to be
largely borne out by history in the sense that floating rate countries have greater short term
interest rate independence.

4
New Zealand’s protracted period of high inflation (during a period when New Zealand’s
trading partners also typically had relatively high inflation). By the late 1980s, the
choices New Zealand had made in terms of the trilemma were fairly clear: control of the
nominal exchange rate had been given up; capital flows had been liberalised; the
Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act of 1989 established price stability as the objective of
monetary policy that was operationalised as domestic inflation targeting (Figure 1). In
turn, the primary role for reserves has been of ensuring that the exchange rate
adjustment mechanism is able to function well, and enabling the exchange rate to play
its adjustment, or buffering, role.

Since 1985 little weight has been put on intervening in the foreign exchange (FX)
market to influence the level of the exchange rate. Instead the level of the exchange
rate is assumed typically to provide an endogenous adjustment mechanism promoting
efficient adjustment in response to changing economic fundamentals (for example,
swings in commodity prices matter a lot for New Zealand ). In turn, the focus of
intervention policy has been on ensuring that the exchange rate adjustment
mechanism is able to function well (supporting market adjustment).

Among New Zealand policymakers in the late 1980s, there was a strong predisposition
to be sceptical of the ability of the authorities to reach a better judgement than the
market about appropriate financial market prices (interest rates or the exchange rate),
and a sense that most swings in the real exchange rate reflected changing real
economic factors, so played a valuable buffering role. Accordingly, little weight was put
on intervening in the foreign exchange market to influence the level of the exchange
rate.

Faced with the experience of large real exchange rate fluctuations - probably larger
than most had expected when the exchange rate was floated - there has been some
shift in views over the floating exchange rate period regarding the role of foreign
exchange market intervention.

In 2004, the Reserve Bank’s foreign exchange intervention mandate was broadened to
include the potential to lean against (on a modest scale) extreme cyclical peaks and
troughs in the exchange rate that are judged inconsistent with underlying economic
fundamentals (see Eckhold and Hunt 2005). The 2004 policy recognises that, even
when markets are liquid, market dynamics can result in deviations between the
exchange rate and medium-term fundamentals.

2. THE FIXED EXCHANGE RATE REGIME

2.1 A bit of exchange rate history

Following a series of currency crises and realignments around the world in the 1960s
and 1971, a temporary arrangement to restabilise currencies known as the
Smithsonian Agreement was established 3. New Zealand followed Australia’s example
and the dollar was initially pegged to the United States dollar at its par value. Despite
the arrangement, exchange rate pressures persisted and 19 currencies, including

3
Any IMF member country was permitted to maintain margins for its currency of 2.25 percent
around the cross rate of the par values of that country’s currency and its intervention currency.
The USD was New Zealand’s intervention currency and par was NZD1 = USD 1.1952

5
sterling, were floated in June 1972. The United States maintained its relationship to the
gold price with successive devaluations until March 1973 when it was also floated.

The link to the USD caused the NZD to depreciate against other currencies to an
unwarranted degree and in July 1973 New Zealand terminated the link to the USD and
shifted to a fixed, but occasionally adjustable 4, exchange rate against a basket of
currencies. Discretionary changes were made to the NZD on a number of occasions
initially to dampen foreign inflation, but increasingly in response to recurrent balance of
payments difficulties largely due to large increases in the current account deficit 5.
Changes to the NZD also reflected particular concern about poor profitability in the
agricultural sector. Further, they were often predictable and thus build-ups in
speculative activity often preceded an adjustment.

Generally, revaluations and devaluations were made in effort to maintain

competitiveness with Australia. However, a sharp fluctuations in the terms of trade and
relative inflation rates in the 1970s (see section 2.2) led to increasing concern about
the appropriateness of the discretionary nature of (often very large) changes in the
nominal exchange rate. For exporters the uncertainty created by sharp sudden
changes in the NZD was unhelpful and given the size of some changes (for example, a
devaluation of 15 percent in August 1975) the fear that inflation pressures were being
aggravated intensified. Further, New Zealand’s inflation rate average significantly
higher than that of its trading partners.

By 1979 it became apparent that a more flexible system was needed and a crawling
peg was introduced. Under this system the NZD was adjusted by small amounts,
sometimes daily, with relative inflation to main trading partners being the main criteria
for adjustment. For the duration of this regime the average nominal movement in the
currency was a depreciation of 0.5 percent per month 6.

The crawling peg lasted until June 1982 when the wage and price freeze was
introduced. The RBNZ, under direction from the Minister of Finance, reverted to fixing
the exchange rate against its basket with occasional discrete adjustment. The NZD
was devalued by 6 percent in March 1983 in response to an Australian devaluation and
20 percent in June 1984 as it became apparent that maintaining the level of the NZD
was unsustainable.

2.2 What was monetary policy responding to?

New Zealand entered the post-Bretton Woods era on the back of a commodities boom
(hence the first two changes in the fixed exchange rate were revaluations). However,
the high terms of trade were not to last long. The first oil price crisis and the accession
of the UK to the EEC meant import prices rose strongly and export markets became
closed off or faced significant tariff barriers and quota limits. The terms of trade
dropped sharply in 1975 and would remain at this low level until around 2005.

4
This differs from a crawling peg in that adjustments are not intended to be made but when they
are made they tend to be large discrete movements. A crawling peg assumes adjustments will
be made, and these will be regular and small en route to a target.
5
See Appendix for timeline of monetary policy actions
6
Unsurprisingly, the REER was a lot more stable during this period, as the adjustment to NEER
was made to offset inflation differentials.

6
In response to poor farmer incomes a variety of measures were introduced, including
exchange rate adjustment, minimum price guarantees and greater use of non-interest-
bearing producer board financing. Likewise, high fuel costs were tackled with an
extensive capital investment programme focussed on attaining self-sufficiency in
energy. At the same time unemployment was rising and social welfare, such as
superannuation, became more generous.

A deteriorating terms of trade and loss of main export markets, coupled with increased
overseas borrowing, generated increasing current account deficits. Successive
devaluations aimed at increasing export income and reducing demand for imports were
insufficient to stem the current account blowouts. Increasingly fiscal policy was directed
toward the current account deficit with many introduced measures that were designed
to reduce reliance on imported oil in particular, and requiring importers to lodge funds
with the RBNZ.

As well as exchange rate control to aid the export industry and/or address balance of
payments issues, monetary policy was attempting to control the flow of capital and
credit growth. At various times the RBNZ, as directed by the Minister of Finance,
implemented capital controls, set interest rate ceilings for lending and borrowing,
abolished interest rates for on-call deposits, set lending limits, set and altered reserve
ratio requirements and required banks and finance companies to hold certain levels of
government stock.

Overall, monetary policy was but one tool in an overflowing box of policies directed
towards desired industrial, social, income, redistribution and growth policies. Policy
solutions tended to favour more intervention and control, and ultimately required
government financing through overseas borrowing. Included in industrial promotion
policies were large import tariffs designed to maintain a domestic manufacturing
industry including a significant proportion of the consumer electronics and passenger
motor vehicle trade.

As the exchange rate regime became more flexible, more market-based initiatives were
introduced. For example, shortly after the crawling peg was introduced the RBNZ
allowed market participants other than trading banks to apply for foreign exchange
dealer licences.

2.3 Monetary policy implementation and outcomes

The main features of monetary policy preceding the float were:

• A variable reserve asset ratio applied to trading banks (other financial
institutions were required to hold a certain ratio of public sector securities).

• Determination of interest rates on government debt (though tendering for

government bonds started in 1983).

• Open discount policy where the RBNZ offered to buy (or sell) government paper
of any maturity on demand at a penal (to the counterparty) discount margin.

• Direct controls over domestic interest rates (such as 0% interest on call deposit
accounts at times).

• Guidelines for lending growth by financial institutions, including caps at some

stages.

7
 • Comprehensive exchange controls on outward capital movements, and short
term inward capital movements.

• A pegged exchange rate.

In addition, only trading banks were authorised to trade in foreign currency with some
small exceptions for travel funds and personal remittances (though this was relaxed
later in the period as mentioned above), inward capital flows were controlled and
foreign portfolio investment was largely prohibited. Forward exchange contracts were
allowed from June 1979.

Monetary control in this period developed around the Government’s low interest rate
policy and monetary conditions ebbed and flowed with fiscal policy. Interest rates on
government securities were often held below market rates and sales to institutions
outside those with required holding ratios were very small (aside from some very big
issues aimed at the retail market). Injections into an institution’s reserves needed to be
offset by increasing reserve requirements, effectively tightening monetary policy while
holding interest rates low. However, a government desire not to restrict lending for
housing meant limits on financial institutions from increasing their balance sheet were
implemented rarely.

At a time of high inflation and rapidly expanding credit monetary policy became
increasingly impotent, with attempts to tighten being subordinate to the Government’s
low interest rate policy. Direct controls were also becoming inadequate in the face of
increasing sophistication of the financial sector.

A significant feature of this period is highly volatile growth in money supply and credit,
with a high average. Further, there was close correlation between cycles in private
sector credit growth and the deficit in overseas exchange transactions. Periods of
buoyant economic activity would be associated with rapid credit expansion, increasing
imports and a deterioration in the current account.

2.4 Setting a fixed exchange rate

Determining the appropriate level of the nominal exchange rate under a fixed regime
required estimating the real exchange rate with occasional devaluations and
revaluations made when it was deemed the REER had moved too far from its
equilibrium level. Thus an estimate of the equilibrium level was vital, and knowledge of
relative costs of production and consumption needed to make sensible estimates for
where the NEER should be. Obviously this involved considerable lags on the
availability of suitable price data (comparable wage data that could be applied with any
confidence or timeliness was not really available). Using a fixed exchange rate meant
that changes to the NEER could be made once the REER was deemed to be
significantly away from equilibrium. Hence changes were generally infrequent and
large, especially given the high and variable rates of inflation at the time.

Implementation of the crawling peg meant these calculations had to be made with
some degree of preciseness. However, it did lead to less volatility as adjustment to
equilibrium could be made as a series of small steps (the RBNZ reset the price of the
NZD daily).

8
The RBNZ noted three methods of determining the value of the equilibrium REER
when setting the exchange rate: purchasing power parity, underlying external
payments imbalance and asset market disturbances (Deane 1981).

The PPP approach to estimating equilibrium required determination of New Zealand’s

price ratio with its trading partners. As then Chief Economist Deane noted in 1981 there
are several issues with this method. Namely, determining appropriate price indexes,
base period and the need to project several years ahead. Further, the choice of
appropriate price indexes was complicated by the difficulty in distinguishing traded and
non-traded prices (these were not reported as subgroups of price indices then) and
computing the hypothetical price/REER that would have existed in the absence of such
artificial impediments or incentives to trade such as import licensing, export taxes or
subsidies.

The external payments balance method concentrated on the country’s balance of

payments position and determining the exchange rate consistent with a sustainable
future level. Practical issues included determining an underlying balance free of
‘disturbances of a temporary nature’, and preparing projections of ‘normal’ current and
capital flows and modelling the required exchange rate moves that would be required
to reach the estimated equilibrium (with assumed trade elasticities). Dr Deane noted
“there are major theoretical and technical difficulties in its use.”

The asset market disturbances method was thought to be appropriate only for freely
floating exchange rates. It essentially assumed the exchange rate was market
determined and was attempts to explain and estimate short run disturbances to
develop an estimate of the long run value of the REER.

The New Zealand system rested heavily on the relative PPP approach but with some
importance placed on the balance of payments situation. Changes to the exchange
rate were made based on the extent that New Zealand’s inflation, particularly exporter
costs, diverged from the average inflation rate of its major trading partners. However,
the RBNZ’s concern over the current account deficit grew over the period and the focus
of exchange rate policy shifted toward maintaining external balance.

The RBNZ did state on introduction of the crawling peg that their attempts to move the
exchange rate were in line with PPP and long term shifts were considered to be also in
line with achieving a desired current account balance. However, they warned that there
needed to be co-ordination of monetary and fiscal policy to achieve long term aims.
Further, structural change and/or a long term shift in the terms of trade could shift the
equilibrium exchange rate and needed to be taken into account.

2.5 Macroeconomic performance

Poor is really the only way to describe it politely. Inflation was high and volatile apart
from short periods of wage and price freezes in the early 1980s. Per capita GDP
slipped from above the OECD average to below and unemployment ballooned (though
notably to levels still lower than today). These trends continued throughout the
structural adjustment phase described in section 3.

By 1985, New Zealand’s GDP per capita had fallen from an average of 110 percent of
OECD in 1972 to less than 95 percent, and continued on a downward trajectory
through the reform period. After negligible unemployment in the 1960s and first half of

9
the 1970s, the registered unemployment rate increased steadily after 1976 to reach 5.7
percent in 1984, and was to continue rising through the following period of economic
reform.

Figure 2 – New Zealand unemployment and inflation

20
Unemployment rate
18
CPI (annual change)

16

14

12
percent

10

0
Mar-70 Mar-72 Mar-74 Mar-76 Mar-78 Mar-80 Mar-82 Mar-84 Mar-86 Mar-88 Mar-90

Source: Statistics NZ

Figure 3 – New Zealand GDP/capita vs OECD

1.20

1.15

1.10

1.05

1.00

0.95

0.90

0.85

0.80
1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990

Source: OECD

Shortly after the break-up of Bretton Woods, New Zealand was hit by two large terms
of trade shocks (figure 6); a fall in world agricultural prices lowered export prices and
the strengthening of the OPEC oil cartel raised import prices. Further, with the United
Kingdom joining the European Economic Community a major export market was
capped. Therefore, in 1973, demand for New Zealand’s export goods was seriously
dampened while the price of imported fuel (on which New Zealand relied heavily) rose
strongly. The upshot was a 30 percent fall in the terms of trade and a current account
deficit that plummeted to 14 percent of GDP by 1975.

10
The government adopted the view that it needed to maintain economic growth and low
unemployment and undertook measures to support local industry. These measures
were increasingly expensive and the growing fiscal deficit and debt would contribute to
the conditions leading up to the float and the requirement for structural reform.

3. THE FLOAT AND STRUCTURAL REFORM

The New Zealand dollar was floated on March 4 1985, and has been allowed to freely
float for most of the time since, with only rare and modest intervention from the RBNZ
since 2007. A floating exchange rate was considered crucial to facilitate structural
adjustment to achieve a better competitive position and to preserve balance of
payments equilibrium.

Essentially the reasoning was that the floating exchange rate would allow the economy
to appropriately adjust to external shocks through market based mechanisms. The
example used at the time was that should the economy face a permanent fall in the
terms of trade (and in the absence of debt-funded government measures to shore up
demand!) domestic expenditure would fall in line with lower real income. This reduction
in expenditure would reduce demand for imports and moderate prices of non-traded
goods and services within New Zealand relative to the price of traded goods and
services. Increased relative tradable prices would incentivise resource to shift to traded
goods production and coupled with decreased imports would restore the current
account to equilibrium. According to the RBNZ (1986) “The process of structural
adjustment ... is likely to be more costly in terms of lost output and employment with a
fixed exchange rate than a float.” With a floating exchange rate the rise in the price of
traded goods is achieved through depreciation of the exchange rate.

In terms of New Zealand’s position on the trilemma (see Box) the coincident opening of
capital markets would aid the achievement of financial market efficiency. Further, the
development of domestic monetary policy independence would enable stabilisation of
domestic variables such as inflation and interest rates. Dr Deane noted in his speech to
a conference at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco in 1984:

“… the changes have been designed to introduce more competition into both the
domestic money market and the foreign exchange market, to broaden and
strengthen these markets … and generally enhancing the efficiency and efficacy of
monetary policy.”

3.1 Environment leading into the float

In the decade leading to the float successive New Zealand governments borrowed
overseas to support domestic demand at level higher than that compatible with external
balance. While this cushioned the country from its lower real incomes it inhibited
structural adjustment meaning the pressures on the external accounts grew
significantly. The experience of the fixed rate regime showed that when exchange rate
adjustment was made, it tended to be later than was required, and usually in large
disruptive steps. Given the difficulties in assessing appropriate changes (discussed
above) authorities were still uncertain after a change whether the appropriate change
had been made.

Speculative activity on the currency would often increase in the lead up to a change in
the exchange rate. Thes generally provided large windfall gains to the speculators, at

11
the expense of the taxpayer. Under a floating arrangement any speculative gains come
at the expense of other market participants.

In 1984 it became obvious that the exchange rate was well out of step with its
equilibrium, and devaluation was imminent. The incentive was therefore to sell NZD
prior to its devaluation (and likely buy back at its cheaper rate). The large outflow of
funds ran down the RBNZ’s foreign exchange reserves such that some unforeseen
changes in the timing of overseas payments, coupled with the Finance Minister’s
refusal to devalue close to an election, caused a foreign exchange “crisis”. The foreign
exchange market was closed the day after the election in July until shortly after the new
Government took office it devalued the currency by 20 percent 7.

The new government had decided that the fixed exchange rate system had become
inappropriate and when, in early 1985, there was renewed pressure on foreign
exchange outflows the decision was made to float the currency in March. The likelihood
of floating the currency was well known to Treasury and RBNZ officials well before it
became necessary and much of the preparation for floating was well underway.

Prior to floating, the RBNZ needed to prepare the financial sector for the new system.
From late 1983 measures were undertaken to prepare market participants. First, an
increase in the number of institutions that could apply for foreign exchange licences
was legislated for, allowing for sufficient depth and liquidity to develop. To help develop
expertise and capacity in the lead up to the float foreign owned institutions were
allowed to become foreign exchange dealers, and exchange controls were lifted in late
1984. In the 18 months prior to the float the NZD spot market grew by five times,
buy/sell margins narrowed significantly, and the market became able to transact large
parcels without difficulty. Once the new Government had decided that the currency
should be floated, the RBNZ was comfortable that sufficient policy and institutional
arrangements were in place to accommodate the float.

Floating the currency was also seen as beneficial to the conduct of monetary policy.
The previous process of buying and selling foreign exchange to support the fixed
exchange rate had significant impacts on domestic liquidity (as the RBNZ bought and
sold NZD). These injections and withdrawals were often at odds with monetary policy
objectives, i.e. the trilemma was binding. Further, the process “generated an enormous
amount of administrative work for the RBNZ.” (Deane 1986)

3.2 Perceived benefits of floating

The RBNZ gave the following reasons for floating the exchange rate (Deane 1986):
• Provide appropriate price signals for international traders and capital
movements.

• Facilitate removal of exchange controls and compulsory reserve ratios,

increasing flexibility of financial institutions.

7
The announcement of the snap election triggered a run on the NZD in the belief that there
would be a post-election devaluation (largely because the Opposition Finance spokesman said
there would be if they were elected). Despite RBNZ advice to devalue prior to election the
Government insisted the NZD be supported, which it did through issuance of forward contracts
that slowed the outflow. Once foreign exchange markets opened at the devalued rate the RBNZ
estimated the support of the currency cost the taxpayer around 2.3 percent of GDP.

12
 • Remove taxpayer exposure to speculative pressure on the currency.

• Provide a less costly adjustment in employment and output and make imported
inflationary pressure more apparent.

• Make domestic policy deficiencies more apparent, including through the fact
that the exchange rate can be an important indicator of monetary policy stance.

• Reduce administrative costs.

• Overshooting in the REER would be transparent, through nominal exchange

rate moves.

• Domestic monetary policy independence, especially with regard to interest

rates.

• Control of official debt, as under a fixed exchange rate any balance of payments
deficit needed to be financed by official borrowing.

The move to a floating currency was seen as a way to transform New Zealand’s
balance of payments difficulties, by turning it into a market phenomenon. Indeed, it did
move the problem into the open by making it harder to disguise through official
borrowing. The RBNZ saw floating the exchange rate, and the removal of exchange
and interest rate controls as part of a package of measures that could facilitate
structural adjustment.

3.3 Post-float structural reform

Following the float of the dollar, the second half of the 1980s and early 1990s saw wide
ranging policy reform, ending with the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1994. During the
process of reform economic performance continued to falter, though since the trough of
the early-90s recession New Zealand has arrested its slide against the OECD average
of GDP per capita.

Major reforms:
• Removal of export subsidies, reduction of import tariffs.

• Ending centralised bargaining, Employment Contracts Act.

• Corporatisation/privatisation of state-owned enterprises such as rail, forestry,

bank, post office, telecoms, energy.

• Deregulation of domestic financial markets.

3.4 Reserve Bank Act 1989

The passing of the Reserve Bank Act in 1989 did not alter the way the RBNZ was
running monetary policy at the time. Indeed the Act mostly legislated the practice the
RBNZ had been allowed to adopt since the float of the dollar. However it did enshrine
the idea of inflation targeting and the subsequent policy targets agreement defined
what price stability would be and how it would be measured and maintained.

Section 8 of the Act states “The primary function of the Bank is to formulate and and
implement monetary policy directed to the economic objective of achieving and

13
maintaining price stability.” The main features of the Act in relation to monetary policy
were;
• a statutory commitment to achieving price stability,

• that price stability became the sole objective of monetary policy,

• clarified roles of Minister and Governor, including operational independence of

monetary policy and requirement for public disclosure of monetary policy
actions, and

• formalised reporting and accountability for monetary policy (i.e Governor to

Board to Minister, and Governor to public and parliament e.g. the Monetary
Policy Statement)

Price stability was interpreted to be growth in annual consumer prices of 0 to 2 percent 8

and this was the target agreed to in the first Policy Targets Agreement (PTA) signed in
March 1990. Effectively this policy was being followed from before the introduction of
the Act, though it took a major recession to finally achieve price stability and provide
the inflation outcomes to lower inflation expectations 9.

Initially the RBNZ implemented monetary policy by controlling aggregate amounts of

settlement cash.

3.5 Effect of structural reforms on the REER

It is difficult to quantify the effect of the reforms on the REER at the time due to the low
and still falling terms of trade, the intertwined nature of the reforms and the ongoing
poor economic performance. New Zealand’s relative GDP continued to slide against
the OECD average and unemployment to rose further, reaching a peak of 11 percent in
1992.

However, once the reforms were in place and price stability achieved, the relative
economic performance improved (at least stopped sliding). The REER became more
volatile as movements increasingly reflected NEER movements rather than relative
inflation performance, especially once price stability became a key target for monetary
policy.

4. ACHIEVEMENT OF PRICE STABILITY TO PRESENT

Price stability was achieved prior to the time limit set in the PTA with headline inflation
reported within the target band in the first quarter of 1993. Early on in the inflation
targeting regime New Zealand was characterised as a ‘strict’ inflation targetter, though
as inflation expectations have settled closer to the target New Zealand has become a
‘flexible’ inflation targetter (Bollard 2008). Monetary policy cannot take all the credit for
creating and maintaining confidence in the deregulated financial system, actions from

8
Consumer prices were to be represented by the CPI in the policy targets agreement, but were
not taken to be the sole indicator of inflation by the RBNZ at the time. It would seem the RBNZ
was already considering the pitfalls of targeting headline inflation well before price stability was
achieved.
9
The initial target date of reaching price stability by the year ended December 1992 was met,
though the PTA was amended within 9 months of original signing to extend the target by a year.

14
the government such as the Fiscal Responsibility Act (1994) reinforced in public
perception that financial and monetary stability was not a short term goal and assisted
in the formation of stable expectations such as for an inflation rate near the target.

Throughout this period the dollar has been floating, with no significant controls on
capital. Most of the time the currency has been freely floating, with the major exception
being RBNZ selling of NZD in June 2007 with the aim of reduce the exceptional and
unjustified level of the currency. Likewise monetary policy has been very conventional
throughout this period, with the only major developments being the method of
implementation.

4.1 The TWI comfort zone

The RBNZ’s main policy lever was initially the amount of settlement cash made
available to trading banks and monetary policy indicators were yield gaps, 90-day
rates, interest rates on settlement deposits and the TWI. The aim was to maintain a
target level of system liquidity by offsetting projected government cash flows and
currency transactions through open market operations. If the RBNZ wanted to withdraw
(inject) liquidity from the system, the RBNZ would sell (repurchase) Treasury Bills. The
RBNZ stressed repeatedly that the interest rates it took at any time did not indicate its
policy intentions.

The RBNZ’s preference was for the market to make corrections to monetary conditions.
In order to condition financial markets the RBNZ removed itself from the interest rate
setting responsibility, developed the concept of the “TWI comfort zone”.

With each inflation forecast the RBNZ calculated the extreme values the TWI could
move to without inflation departing from the target range (accounting for direct pass
through of tradable prices). While the thresholds were not published, they were easily
calculable with some confidence using the RBNZ’s published estimates of exchange
rate pass-through. The idea being that when the TWI approached one of the endpoints
financial markets would respond with offsetting interest rate movements, pre-empting
any monetary response from the RBNZ. Prior to RBNZ publishing forecasts, these
bands had to be deduced by observation of RBNZ actions.

If the RBNZ’s inflation forecast changed materially between publications, so would the
TWI comfort zone 10. Publication dates of forecasts were not changed and the market
would have to discern the RBNZ’s new forecast from various on-the-record
pronouncements.

A feature of the comfort zone period was relatively short-term low volatility in the TWI,
though 90 day rates exhibited very high levels of volatility. This is not an unexpected
outcome as an implication of the trilemma is that you can choose where you have
volatility, but not eliminate it.

4.2 The Monetary Conditions Index (MCI)

The introduction of the MCI in June 1997 was essentially an extension of the TWI
comfort-zone, whereby the RBNZ tried to condition financial markets to look at the mix
10
The RBNZ generally published a technical assumption of a flat TWI projection. However, in
June 1994 it forecast a constant real effective exchange rate, implying a rising nominal TWI and
therefore tighter monetary conditions, while forecasting lower inflation.

15
of exchange rate and interest rates. One perception of the comfort zone was that it put
a floor under the exchange rate and enabled investors in NZD to make one way bets
with no risk. Further, the RBNZ was mindful of not giving any institutions unfair
advantage.

The MCI was an index combining 90 day rates and the TWI to develop a summary
measure of monetary conditions in the economy, with changes based on relative
effects on inflation and aggregate demand of the two components. Short-term interest
rates (proxied by the 90-day rate) were judged (empirically) to be twice as influential as
the exchange rate and hence the ratio was 2:1. The RBNZ set ‘tolerance bands’
around the projected path of monetary conditions (based on the projections for the TWI
and 90-day rates). Generally, the RBNZ would allow deviations from the projected path
of the MCI by +/- 50 points. The variations were an acknowledgement that short term
deviations from the target may not have much undue influence on inflation outcomes,
but by limiting the variation ensured that long term adverse effects would not develop.
However, given the volatility in the exchange rate market it is likely the bands were
insufficient to accommodate shocks in the NZD, hence volatility in the 90-day rate was
high during this period.

This change obfuscated the monetary mix somewhat as the exchange rate and interest
rates affect inflation with different, and varying, lags. Nevertheless one idea of the MCI
was to increase transparency in the signalling of the RBNZ preferred monetary policy
mix.

Pronouncements on monetary policy targets were made fairly regularly, and were not
tied to Statement publication windows. The threat of central bank intervention in the
overnight interest rate market ensured that the market delivered a 90-day interest rate
consistent the RBNZ desired monetary conditions (determined at the Monetary Policy
Statement) and the prevailing exchange rate.

The aftermath of the Asian crisis (coupled with successive droughts in agricultural
regions) spelled the end for the MCI. The NZD fell sharply and the RBNZ was slow to
reduce its target MCI resulting in a very sharp increase in 90-day rates at a time when
both external and domestic demand was falling. Comfort bands around the desired
MCI were relaxed in 1998 but financial markets were able to trade using mechanical
rules very profitably as the currency continued to plummet, knowing with considerable
certainty that a reduction in the MCI target was coming.

4.3 Introduction of the OCR

The RBNZ abandoned the MCI, and settlement cash targets, in March 1999,
introducing a more conventional price of money target, the Official Cash Rate (OCR).
The OCR was the rate (+/- 25 points) that banks would pay (receive) for overnight
balances in the system.

Then OCR was to be set at regular intervals, in public announcements made at the
release of the Monetary Policy Statement and once inter quarter at set OCR
announcement dates. The OCR was initially set at 4.5 percent (90-day rates had fallen
from over 7 percent following announcement of new measure in anticipation of this) in
response to the weak activity levels following droughts and the Asian crisis.

16
 4.4 Intervention

In response to growing discomfort about the perceived high level of the NZD (including
political pressure) the RBNZ intervened in the currency in June 2007. In 2004 (as the
dollar was rising fast from historic lows) the RBNZ and the Minister of Finance signed a
Memorandum of Understanding outlining conditions for exchange rate intervention.
This prompted a review of reserve holdings and the RBNZ began to hold more
reserves (Orr 2004 and Eckhold and Hunt 2005).

As part of the process for deciding on exchange rate intervention, the RBNZ released a
set of criteria under which intervention could be undertaken. It stated for intervention to
occur, then the currency level must be exceptional and unjustified. Further any
intervention must be opportune, likely to be effective and consistent with current
monetary policy objectives. These are high hurdles to jump and to this date significant
intervention has only occurred in June 2007 though there have been other occasions of
smaller market activity.

The first round of intervention had an immediate impact on the exchange rate lasting
several days. The RBNZ noted at the time that it created “doubt in the market about the
future direction of the exchange rate” and “sent a signal to the market that the RBNZ
was concerned about the high value of the New Zealand dollar.” Nevertheless, the
NZD remained high, with respite only coming from the financial crisis where ‘risky’
currencies such as the NZD were sold off heavily. Since then the NZD has regained
the levels of 2007 and appreciated even further. The REER is at a similar level to that
prevailing at the time of intervention.

4.5 Macroeconomic performance

Figure 4 – New Zealand unemployment and inflation

12.0

10.0
Unemployment rate
CPI (annual change)
8.0

6.0
percent

4.0

2.0

0.0
Mar-91 Mar-93 Mar-95 Mar-97 Mar-99 Mar-01 Mar-03 Mar-05 Mar-07 Mar-09 Mar-11

-2.0

Source: Statistics NZ

17
Figure 5 – New Zealand GDP/capita vs OECD
0.90

0.85

0.80

0.75

Source: OECD

Since 1991, New Zealand’s relative economic performance has improved, if not
markedly. Compared to the OECD average New Zealand has crept up over the past
two decades without threatening to regain the levels of the 1960s or early 1970s.
Unemployment, at one point in the 2000s the lowest in the OECD, remains low by
developed country standards, and prices remain relatively stable, and importantly
inflation expectations remain stable.

New Zealand still runs persistent current account deficits, and though not reaching the
size seen during of the oil price crisis, expanding to 9 percent of GDP at the height of
the house price boom. The reliance on foreign funds remains, though the demand has
shifted from the public to the private sector.

5. IMPLICATIONS

Different exchange rate regimes are shown not to have significant effect on the REER,
with income and relative economic performance probably more significant
determinants. Indeed short-term measures to alter the nominal exchange rate in order
to assist tradable sectors have been shown to have little lasting effect on the REER.
Indeed targeting lower volatility in the nominal exchange rate has tended to mean
volatility and problems appear elsewhere in the economy.

Over the last 50 years of history the REER has moved generally in line with terms of
trade movements (figure 6) largely as expected. The long, if bumpy, decline in the
terms of trade from the 1950s to around 1986 was matched by a steady downward
trend in the REER. However, over the next twenty years the REER was roughly flat
while the terms of trade stepped up slightly at the beginning of the period, before
flattening off at a level higher than that suggested by the previous relationship with the
REER. It is perhaps due to the perception that New Zealand’s terms of trade would
soon return to its long downward trend given the reliance on commodity exports that
had, up until then, displayed a downward trend in prices over a century or more.

18
Figure 6 – New Zealand REER and Terms of Trade
1500 150

1400 140
Terms of Trade REER (RHS)
1300 130
Index = 1000 in June 2002

Index = 100 in 2010

1200 120

1100 110

1000 100

900 90

800 80

700 70
Mar-64
Mar-66
Mar-68
Mar-70
Mar-72
Mar-74
Mar-76
Mar-78
Mar-80
Mar-82
Mar-84
Mar-86
Mar-88
Mar-90
Mar-92
Mar-94
Mar-96
Mar-98
Mar-00
Mar-02
Mar-04
Mar-06
Mar-08
Mar-10
Mar-12
Source: BIS, Statistics New Zealand

From about 2005 the upward trend in the terms of trade has once again been matched
by an upward shift in the REER. Perhaps this is due to the latest move being seen as
a permanent shift upwards in the relative price of commodities, allied to the increasing
wealth in the east Asian area.

The REER’s divergence from terms of trade movements in the late 1980s could be due
to the relative economic performance (Figure 7). New Zealand’s relative economic
performance continued to decline after the REER had reached its nadir. Similarly, the
recent lift in the average REER has not been matched by, or related to, relative
economic performance, perhaps hinting at the forward looking nature of the REER.

Figure 7 – New Zealand REER and relative GDP

1.20 120
GDP per capita ratio (to OECD average)
1.15 115
REER (RHS)
1.10 110
7-year average
1.05 105

1.00 100

0.95 95

0.90 90

0.85 85

0.80 80

0.75 75

0.70 70

Source: BIS, OECD

19
However it is difficult to disentangle the effect of the exchange rate alone when
assessing the first twenty years of the post-Bretton Woods era, as so many
interventionist policies and then structural reform muddy the picture of how the
exchange rate mattered to economic outcomes.

Looking at the exchange rate performance in the pre inflation targeting era and since
inflation targeting, it is not apparent that the REER has shown any difference in
behaviour. The mean between the two periods is very similar with the median almost
identical. Minimum, maximum and standard deviation are all remarkably close when
compared across the two periods. Skewness switches from positive in the early period
to negative since but both are close to zero, while kurtosis reduces slightly since
inflation targeting.

Table 1 – Analysis of NZD REER pre- and post-IT

NZD REER (monthly. Index = 100 in 2010)

Full sample 1963-1989 1990-2012
mean 93.49 94.35 92.49
median 92.88 92.88 92.91
maximum 114.51 114.51 110.86
minimum 70.33 70.33 70.4
std dev 9.79 9.92 9.56
skewness 0.07 0.27 -0.22
kurtosis 2.47 2.62 2.01

Effectively the data above show that the exchange rate regime, or more correctly, the
presence of inflation targeting has made no difference to the behaviour of the REER.

20
References

Bollard, A (2008) Flexibility and the Limits to Inflation Targeting,

http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/speeches/3369044.html

Brash, D (2002) Inflation targeting 14 years on, speech to American Economics

Association, Atlanta

Brook, A and Hargreaves, D (2000) A macroeconomic balance measure of New

Zealand’s equilibrium exchange rate, RBNZ Discussion Papers DP2000/09

Brook, A and Hargreaves, D (2001). PPP-based analysis of New Zealand’s Equilibrium

Exchange Rate,

Dalziel, P. and Lattimore, R. (2004). The New Zealand Macroeconomy

Deane, R. (1981). Reflections on Exchange Rate Policy

Deane, R. (1983). Recent Developments in the New Zealand Foreign Exchange

Market

Deane, R. (1984). Financial sector policy reform: the case of New Zealand.

Eckhold, K. and C. Hunt (2005) The Reserve Bank’s new foreign exchange intervention
policy, Reserve Bank of New Zealand Bulletin, 68(1), March

Evans, L., Grimes, A., Wilkinson, B., and Teece, D. (1996). Economic reform in New
Zealand 1984-95: The pursuit of efficiency. Journal of Economic Literature

Graham, J and Steenkamp, D (2012) Extending the Reserve Bank’s macroeconomic

balance model of the exchange rate, Reserve Bank of New Zealand Analytical Notes
series AN2012/08

Joumard, I. and Reisen, H. (1992). Real exchange rate overshooting and persistent
trade effects: The case of New Zealand.

Mabin, G. (2010). New Zealand’s exchange rate cycles: Evidence and drivers.
Treasury Working Paper Series.

McDonald, C (2012) Kiwi drivers: the New Zealand dollar experience, Reserve Bank of
New Zealand Analytical Notes series AN2012/02

New Zealand Parliamentary Library (2004). The New Zealand Dollar. Background note
2004/01

Obstfeld, M., Shambaugh, J., and Taylor, A. (2004). The trilemma in history: Trade-offs
among exchange rates, monetary policies, and capital mobility. Technical report,
National Bureau of Economic Research.

Orr, A (2004) Reserve Bank’s exchange rate intervention proposal, speech to Meat
New Zealand Annual Conference.

21
Reserve Bank of New Zealand (1992), Monetary Policy and the New Zealand Financial
System

Reserve Bank (1986), Financial Policy Reform

Scott, G. (1996). Government Reform in New Zealand, volume 140. International

Monetary Fund.

Scott, G., Bushnell, P., and Sallee, N. (1990). Reform of the core public sector: New
Zealand experience. Governance, 3(2):138–167.

Sherwin, M (1999) Inflation targeting 10 years on speech to NZAE Confernce

22
APPENDIX A – A Chronology of Financial Reforms and Monetary Policy Actions

1970
January – Government announces all trustee savings banks invest at least 60 percent of deposits in government stock
October – Interest rate ceilings on deposits for terms greater than 2 years revoked. Ceilings increased to 4.5% and 5% for 1 and 2
year investments respectively.
1971
July – Selective Advance Control replaced ceilings with growth guidelines for total bank lending. 9% for forthcoming year
October – credit guideline for trading banks increased to 11% and government stock requirement for trustee banks reduced to
57%
1972
March – Government announced the RBNZ discount rate reduced from 7% to 6% to encourage economic growth, first change
since 1961. Government stock requirement reduced to 54% for trustee banks. Savings banks requirement reduced from 70% to
60%. New schedule of interest rate ceilings introduced ranging from 4.5% on demand deposits to 7.25% on maturities over 6
years.
1973
June – Minister of Finance announced new reserve asset ratio system would replace ceiling and guideline system
July - NZD revalued by 3%. NZD no longer pegged to USD
August – Reserve requirement increased by 2 percentage points
September – NZD revalued by 10% to insulate against foreign inflation
1974
March – Trustee banks reduced from 54 to 53 and progressively reduced over rest of year to 50%. Savings banks ratio on
investment accounts reduced from 100 to 99%, profgressively falling to 81% by March 1975. Funds released were to be lent for
housing.
May – Interest on Deposits regulations amended. Major changes included shortening length of term to receive maximum rate
(from 6 to 4 years) Secured borrowings were expempted from regulation. Savings bank deposit rates were increased to make
these types of deposits more attractive.
September – NZD devalued by 9% against all currencies except AUD against which it was revalued by 3%. This followed decision by
Australian government to devalue by 12%.
October – Special deposits scheme introduced due to substantial outflow of funds on overseas transactions and a tightening of
liquidity. RBNZ made sums available to trading banks to lend to priority areas.
1975
May – Budget included range of savings measures, to give banks more flexibility. Included were: deposit rate increases at trustee,
private and Post Office savings banks; new accounts created with specified maturities and interest rates; three year government
stock was made available to compensate banks for the higher deposit rates; and restrictions on rates applying to trading bank
deposits of $25000 or less were abolished.
July – Reserve asset ratio system for trading banks changed from fixed ratio to free reserves margin approach. Trading bank
deposits of more than three years were released from interest control.
August – NZD devalued by 15 percent.
1976
February – Importers of certain goods were required to lodge one-third value of goods as non-interest bearing deposits with
RBNZ, to prevent speculative importing.
March – Interest on deposits regulations revoked. Interst payable on POSB deposits and maximum rates permitted on trustee and
private savings bank deposits adjusted upwards by 1% for maturities less than 2 years, 1.5% for 3 years. Interest rates on trading
bank deposits were decontrolled except deposits less than $12000 which were not to exceed rates offered by the other types of
banks. Overdraft interest rate controls were removed for trading banks. Government security ratios reduced by 2 percent for all
banks. Interest on trading bank borrowings from the RBNZ increased by 1.5% and RBNZ indicated these would be adjusted in a
more flexible manner than previously.
July – Wool Income Stabilisation Scheme introduced.
September – A new deposit instrument called Housing binds introduced for trustee savings banks and the POSB.
December – A quantitative directive on trading bank lending to other financial institutions was rescinded.
1977
June – POSB authorised to introduce a personal housing loans (second mortgage) scheme.
July – Interest rate ceilings removed and savings banks free to set own term deposit rates (with RBNZ approval). Trading bank
restrictions on deposits less than $12000 revoked.
November – Inflation Adjusted Savings Bonds made available. The bonds carried a non-taxable adjustment to the CPI plus taxable
rate of 2%
December – Trading banks given approval to introduce negotiable certificates of deposit and prohibition on investing in local
authority securities removed.

23
1978
February - Trading and trustee banks could lend on personal loans up to 2% of deposits (previously 1%).
March Compensatory deposits Scheme whereby the RBNZ would redeposit with trading banks much of the net flows of funds to
Government during periods of low liquidity. Minimum term for TCDs was lowered to 30 days.
April – Reserve Bank relaxed rules governing operation of official money market dealers. Trading banks were permitted to operate
fully in the commercial bill market.
August – Minister of Finance announced private sector credit growth guideline of 10-15%
October – Private savings banks permitted to phase out holding of special government stock (interest rate of 3.75%). A new
security, Government Savings Stock was made available carrying an intial interest rate of 11%.
1979
March – Housing lending conditions relaxed, including the introducing the ability to borrow to purchase existing homes.
April – Minister of Finance guideline for private sector credit growth was amended to 8-12%.
May – Trading and trustee banks were permitted to issue credit cards. All financial institutions required to notify RBNZ of any
increases in charges for services, including lending rates.
June – NZD devalued by 5 percent, and crawling peg introduced whereby smaller more frequent changes of less than one-half of
1% would be made unannounced. Forward exchange contracts were introduced for USD. RBNZ would set premium or discount.
August – POSB approved to introduce term deposits
September – Trustee banks and POSB approved to make overdraft loans.
1980
February – Government security ratio applying to private savings banks and trustee banks reduced by 2% and 1% respectively.
April – Minister of Finance abolished limit on personal loans as percent of deposits for trustee and POSB.
July – RBNZ announces that single reserve asset ratio on all deposits to be applied to trading banks.
September – Trading banks no longer required to offer higher interest rates on investment accounts than those of savings banks.
Private savings banks permitted to issue farm and fishing vessel accounts.
1981
July – RBNZ penal interest rate charged to trading banks reduced by 1%
1982
June – Government imposed 12-month wage and price freeze. Freeze also applied to interest rates, dividend rates, directors’ fees
and professional charges. Steady devaluation of NZD due to crawling peg was suspended.
August – Limit on size loan where notification of change in fees or interest rates had to be notified to RBNZ was reduced to $10000
(from $100,000) in effort to stem lending growth through uncontrolled channels. Exchange controls on current account
transactions were relaxed.
1983
January – RBNZ tightened restrictions on dealing in foreign exchange
March – NZD devalued by 6% against the basket of currencies, in response to AUD devaluation of 10%. Kiwi Savings stock
introduced, paying 15%. CER agreement signed with the goal of free trade between New Zealand and Australia by 1995..
April – Lending guideline imposed involving upper limit of 1% credit growth per month for trading banks. This was shortly
extended to finance companies, building societies and all savings banks. Minister of finance announced that the range of
institutions that could apply for a foreign exchange dealers’ licence was to be widened from trading banks and the RBNZ to other
‘suitably qualified institutions.’ S&P cuts credit rating from AAA to AA+.
May – Wage and price freeze extended to February 1984.
August – RBNZ quotation of USD exchange rate on a daily basis ceased. Quoted rate would be allowed to vary in a band in line
with market forces. RBNZ would no longer participate in forward market. Nine new foreign exchange dealers authorised.
September – First government stock tender held.
November – Mortgage interest rate controls introduced placing maximum limit of 11% on first mortgage and 14% on second and
subsequent mortgages.
December – details of price surveillance to take effect following end of wage and price freeze announced including an attempt to
limit price increase to no more than two per year with retailers submitting returns of sales and profits to the Dept of Trade and
Industry who could investigate and alter price changes. Government-owned financial institutions to face same regulations on
owning government stock as other financial institutions. Free reserves margin reduced for trading banks.
1984
January – Minister of Finance announces free reserves margin reduced to zero.
February – Wage freeze extended. Reserve asset ratio for trading banks set at 32 percent of deposits, reserve margin reduced to -
$50 million.
April – Minister of finance announces reserve asset ratio eased to $50 million. General wage adjustment of $8/week announced as
part of a transition to a relaxation of wage controls. Agreement reached to phase out import licensing and replace with a system
of tariff-based protection.
May – Minister of Finance announces lending interest rates capped at 15% for non-mortgage securities offered by banks, building
societies, life assurance and superannuation providers, 17% for other lenders.

24
June – RBNZ re-enters forward exchange market, reflecting concern over likelihood of upcoming devaluation.
July – NZD devalued by 20% following change of government (and three days of foreign exchange market being closed). Controls
on lending and deposit interest rates removed. Price freeze imposed for three months.
August – Interest on deposit accounts decontrolled – maximum rates on savings accounts abolished and interest allowed to be
paid on demand deposits. Credit growth guideline removed. Compensatory Deposits scheme abolished. Governor announces
RBNZ to commence dealing in government securities on a regular basis.
September – RBNZ withdraws approval of the four dealing companies in the short-term money market. Lender of last resort
facility for official money market also withdrawn. Export assistance scheme removed. New wage fixing rules introduced, with
encouragement of bargaining at enterprise or industry level.
October – wage and price freeze extended to November
November – RBNZ announced abolition of overseas borrowing controls. Budget announces removals of various subsidies and
incentives for farming, fishing and forestry. Interest rates on Government funded rural lending to increased to market rates. First
home owner rebate abolished.
December – all controls on outward and inward foreign exchange transactions relaxed.
1985
January – New Zealand Futures Exchange begins operations. First tender of Treasury bills held.
February – Compulsory ratios of holdings of government securities abolished.
March – NZD floated. RBNZ indicated they would remain in market to meet New Zealand Government requirement for foreign
exchange, and to smooth movements if undue volatility occurred. Limits on foreign ownership of financial institutions abolished.
May – Governor’s signature replaces Minister of Finance’s on banknotes.
June – Budget includes income taxes cut in preparation for introduction of GST and plan to phase out assistance to land-based and
manufacturing industries. Foreign investment rules relaxed again.
September – phase out of import licenses to be speeded up, but protective tariff removal to be reduced more slowly.
October – New Zealand Bankers’ Association announced that trading banks would proceed with the commercial development of a
cashless shopping system or EFT/POS
November – New banking licenses legislation removing types of banks, allowing institutions who meet criteria to be just ‘banks.’
RBNZ prudential supervision powers strengthened.
December – Minister of Finance announces several changes to Government’s liquidity management arrangements, including
definition of primary liquidity being settlement balances at the RBNZ.
1986
March – Wholesale sales taxes reduced to 20%
May – Electricity Division, State Coal Mines, Post Office and Civil Aviation corporatised.
June – All trustee savings banks except Taranaki agree to amalgamate operations.
July – Government legislates the ability to float shares in the BNZ.
October – GST introduced at 10%. Concurrent reduction in income tax rates, simplification of tax scale, increases in social welfare
payments, abolition of most sales taxes.
December – RBNZ Amendment Act 1986 passed, providing a registration system for banks and for the RBNZ to carry out
prudential supervision. New Zealand’s international credit rating drops from AA+ to AA.
1987
January – BNZ publicly floated 13 percent of capital, the largest share float in New Zealand’s history, New Zealand government
maintains 87 percent holding.
March – Petrocorp announced to be second public float (30 percent shares to be sold).
July – Eight new banks registered.
August – new monetary aggregates announced, M3 and private sector credit. Governor says these will give a better view of overall
monetary conditions.
October – Governor announces monetary policy tightened by way of increasing RBNZ’s discount margin from 1 to 1.5%.
Sharemarket plunges in line with international markets, NZD falls 3.7 percent on a trade weighted basis. New Zealand Steel sold to
Equiticorp.
November – Governor announced increase in daily cash target from $20 million to $30 million, following sharemarket crash in
previous month. RBNZ TWI introduced.
December – Government announces latest economic reforms including reacceleration of tariff removal and an increase in the
asset sales programme.
1988
March – Government announces sale of remaining 70 percent of Petrocorp to Fletcher Challenge.
April – Minister of Finance announced that future monetary policy would be targeted at price stability.
July – introduction of the Reserve Bank Bill that replaces government stock and Treasury Bills as primary liquidity. NZDMO
established.
October – top tax rate reduced from 48 cents to 33 cents.
November – Coalcorp sale approved

25
December – Air New Zealand sold to Brierley-Qantas consortium and Postbank sold to ANZ
1989
March – 1 and 2 cent coins removed from circulation. Excise tax on motor vehicles halved.
April – Inflation falls to 20 year low (excluding price freeze) of 4% for year to March. All manufacturing trade barriers between
New Zealand and Australia removed.
June – BNZ announces loss of $650 million due to increased provisioning.
July – Budget sets target date of achievement of price stability at December 1992. GST increased to 12.5%.
August – OIC approval no longer needed for investment below $10 million. Rural Bank sold to Fletcher Challenge.
October – Governor appoints statutory manager to DFC New Zealand Ltd
December – Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act passed, effective 1 February 1990. The Act defined price stability as the objective of
monetary policy and made many significant changes in the function, operation and structure of the Bank.
1990
March – First PTA agreed reaffirming price stability as 0-2 percent annual CPI, to be achieved by December 1992. Government
proposes restructuring of New Zealand Railways with a view to corporatisation, privatisation of Telecom (with restrictions on
purchaser) further tariff reductions and a plan to make the labour market more flexible.
April – RBNZ issues first Monetary Policy Statement.
May – State Insurance sold to Norwich Insurance.
June – Austraclear enters New Zealand.Telecom sold to consortium comprising two US telcos, Fay Richwhite and Freightways.
Tourist Hotel Corporation sold to Southern Pacific Hotel Corporation.
July – Minister of State Owned Enterprises announces end of state asset sales.
August – RBNZ undertook to firm monetary conditions twice in the month, following exchange rate weakness and disappointing
inflation outcomes.
October – Governor announces will target ex-oil inflation in the next year, due to large petrol price increases following the
invasion of Kuwait. RBNZ firmed monetary policy in response to ‘inappropriate’ falls in NZD.
November – Government announces commitment to supporting BNZ through problems arising from non-performing loans in
Australia. RBNZ met with trading banks to discuss periodic manipulation of market for short-term cash.
December – Following change of government, new PTA extends target date for price stability to December 1993. BNZ
shareholders, Government and Fay Richwhite, reaffirm commitment to complete recapitalisation of BNZ. Government announce
end of compulsory unionism and associated labour market restrictions
1991
January – RBNZ releases policy statement in response to emergence of an upward sloping yield curve stating that short rates
should exceed long rates while inflation is being reduced.
February – RBNZ introduces technical changes to monetary policy implementation.
March – New safeguards introduced following DFC failure including requiring banks to hold certain amount of capital and limit
exposure to single borrowers.
May – Employment Contracts Act takes effect.
1992
January – RBNZ issued statement noting concern over weakening exchange rate and threat to inflation. CPI actually prints at 1
percent for year to December 1991, inside target band for first time.
March – New Zealand’s credit rating affirmed at AA-.
September – Downward movements in the exchange prompt RBNZ to announce that inflation target at risk
December – RBNZ reiterates commitment to price stability and expressed concern over continued weakness in NZD. Later in
month RBNZ purchased $30 million of government bonds as part of open market operation. On Christmas Eve the rBNZ responded
to continued exchange rate weakness by not conducting an OM, meaning $41 million of RBNZ bills were not offered back to the
market.
1993
January – RBNZ tightens monetary policy in response to sharp fall in exchange rate: increasing penalty margin from 90 basis points
to 150 basis points, not offering previously discounted bills back to the market, and reducing the cash target from $20 million to
zero. Cash target progressively increased to $15 million following a firming in monetary conditions.
February – monetary settings restored to levels prior to tightening.
April – RBNZ MPS states no no policy adjustment required as rising exchange rate has firmed monetary conditions.
September – New Zealand Rail sold to Wisconsin Central Transportation.
1994
March – Moody’s upgrade New Zealand sovereign debt rating to Aa2
June – Fiscal Responsibility Act passed, aiming to consolidate last decade of reform by increasing reporting requirements of
Government.
December – RBNZ issues paper proposing a shift in bank supervision from private monitoring to public disclosure. MPS states
inflationary pressure have emerged as a result of rapid economic growth and a substantial firming of monetary conditions is

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warranted. New Zealand recorded the most rapid growth in the OECD in the year to June 1994. New Zealand credit rating
upgraded from AA- to AA.
1995
January – CPI for December 1994 is 2.8 percent, outside the target band.
February – Budget announces net public debt targets of 20-30 percent of GDP.
March – RBNZ March Economic Forecasts note inflation will exceed target band and that monetary policy may not have been tight
enough in hindsight. CPI subsequently published at 4.0 percent.
June – MPS notes productive capacity strains are easing, but not enough to warrant easing of monetary policy.
July – Governor states that given rise in exchange rate, the bank is open to a small market-driven fall in interest rates. CPI
published at 4.6 percent.
August – RBNZ reduces settlement cash target twice in month in response to easing monetary conditions.
October – Governor states in that monetary policy may be eased sooner than expected if evidence of rapid easing in inflation
arises. RBNZ issues statement two weeks later saying it is important financial markets do not overestimate the scope for an easing
in monetary policy.
1996
January – new public disclosure regime for registered banks comes into force.
February – New Zealand credit rating upgraded from AA to AA+.
May – Minister of Finance writes to non-executive directors of RBNZ asking for assessment of Governor’s performance given
length of time CPI has been outside band.
August – Forestry Corporation of New Zealand sold to Fletcher Challenge.
October – RBNZ issues statement that further easing in monetary conditions would be inappropriate following lower than
expected inflation projections. A week later the RBNZ indicates that recent firming in the exchange rate has not been necessary.
November – Governor urges fiscal restraint during coalition negotiations following first MMP election.
December – coalition government formed and new PTA signed widening the target band to 0-3 percent. PTA states that price
stability is the best contribution monetary policy can make to economic growth, not simply an end in itself. RBNZ December MPS
announces introduction of MCI to help reduce signalling problems. Governor notes overall easing in monetary conditions and
urges a more moderate easing in the future.
1997
January – CPI published at 2.6 percent, within the new target band.
March – RBNZ publishes review of monetary policy implementation and signalling. Announces intended change from targeting
settlement cash balances to targeting the overnight interest rate.
May – RBNZ issues statement that monetary conditions seem to be setting below desired levels.
June – Governor announces there will be no changes to monetary policy implementation following consultation on March paper.
RBNZ announces the development of FPS to produce forecasts underlying MPS projections. Government announces all remaining
tariffs to be removed by 2010.
July – Governor states that MCI has settled too far from desired levels.
August – RBNZ issued statement saying monetary conditions are becoming too loose.
December – RBNZ reiterates statement that monetary conditions are too loose. The release of the MPS shows monetary
conditions continue to ease and the low NZD is causing inflationary pressure.
1998
February – RBNZ issues statement saying momentary conditions have eased too far.
March – March Economic forecasts announce an easing in desired monetary conditions. Governor announces shortly after that
financial markets have overreacted to policy easing announcement and monetary conditions have eased too far despite some
rises in interest rates.
May – MPS announces further easing in monetary conditions. Prohibition on parallel importing removed. All remaining motor
vehicle tariffs removed.
June – RBNZ cautions market against extent of easing in monetary conditions.
July – Auckland International Airport publicly floated.
August – Governor announces monetary conditions have eased too far and too fast.
September – Moody downgrades New Zealand sovereign debt from Aa1 to Aa2. Government announces plans to remove all tariffs
by 2006.
October – RBNZ issues statement that monetary easing has been very substantial and is increasing the need for caution. New
Zealand banks drop floating mortgage rates to around 6.5 percent, the lowest in 28 years.
December – RBNZ announce euro will replace DEM in the TWI from January 1999. Further TWI will be reweighted to 50:50 trade
weight to GDP weights.
1999
February – 90-day rate goes below 4 percent, an all-time low. RBNZ announces change to implementation of monetary policy in
order to simplify process. From March the RBNZ will announce Official Cash Rate (OCR), reviewed every six weeks in public

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announcements. The ‘Wednesday window’, previously used to comment on current monetary conditions is closed, to reduce risks
of misinterpretation.
March – OCR introduced at 4.5%, a level broadly consistent with current monetary conditions.
May – Government floats Contact Energy on stock exchange.
September – New Zealand signs free trade accord with Chile.
November – OCR increased by 50 points to 5% and signal further rises over the next year. This is the first change in the OCR.
December – new PTA is signed with new government. Major change is directive to avoid unnecessary instability in output, interest
rates and the exchange rate.
2000
January – OCR raised by 25 points to 5.25%.
March OCR raised by 50 points to 5.75%.
April – Cabinet agrees on five year freeze on tariff reduction. OCR raised by 25 points to 6.0% “to reduce future inflation
pressures.”
May – OCR increased by 50 points to 6.5%. Finance Minister announces Svensson review of monetary policy.
October – NZD hits all-time low of 0.3895c against the USD.
2001
January – CPI published at 4.0p% – outside the target range of 0-3.
February – Svensson report released – critical of MCI, and recommends establishment of internal 5-person committee for setting
of interest rates.
March – OCR reduced by 25 points to 6.25%. MPS states despite high headline inflation, inflation pressures are easing.
April – OCR reduced by 25 points to 6.0%. CPI inflation still above target range.
May – OCR reduced by 25 points to 5.75%.
September – announcement of external advisers to participate in monetary policy decisions. OCR reduced by 50 points to 5.25%–
this is unscheduled and is in response to forecasted slowdown in world growth following ‘September 11’ events.
October – CPI published at 2.4%, back inside target band.
November – OCR reduced by 50 points to 4.75%. Kiwibank registered, to be run as SOE by New Zealand Post.
2002
March – OCR increased by 25 points to 5.0%
April – OCR increased by 25 points to 5.25%
May – OCR increased by 25 points to 5.5%. MPS shows core inflation at top of band and strong domestic demand conditions mean
interest rate stimulus is no longer warranted.
July – OCR increased by 25 points to 5.75%.
September – new PTA signed with new Governor, changing CPI target band to 1-3 percent on average over the medium term.
October – Moody’s upgrades New Zealand sovereign debt to AAA.
2003
March – MPS states that stronger currency and stronger domestic demand continue to pull monetary conditions in opposite
direction. OCR unchanged but conditions for cut outlined.
April – OCR cut by 25 points to 5.5% as “conditions outlined earlier are met”.
June – OCR cutr by 25 points to 5.25%.
July – OCR cut by 25 points to 5.0%. NZD rises above USD0.60 for first time in five years.
August – RBNZ becomes shareholder in Bank for International Settlements.
September – Government announces top tariff rates of 17-19 percent will be reduced to 10 percent by 2009, all other tariffs
reduced to 5 percent by 2008.
November – unemployment rate published at 4.4%, the second lowest in the western world.
2004
January – OCR raised by 25 points to 5.25%
April – Government ratifies amendment to RBNZ funding agreement to broaden foreign exchange intervention capacity. OCR
increased by 25 points to 5.5%.
June – OCR increased by 25 points to 5.75%
July – OCR increased by 25 points to 6.0%
September – OCR increased by 25 points to 6.25%
October – RBNZ releases first Financial Stability Report, noting financial instability often has its origins in long periods of economic
expansion. OCR increased by 25 points to 6.5%.
December – New Zealand and Thailand announce closer economic partnership. NZD reaches 16-year high of USD0.7268.
2005
March – OCR increased by 25 points to 6.75%. MPS notes increasing capacity pressures as reasons for tighter monetary policy.
NZD reaches USD07465, a 23 year high.
April – Government announces creation of KIwisaver.

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October – Governor issues statement voicing concerns about imbalance growing in New Zealand economy, including current
account deficit at 8 percent of GDP. OCR increased by 25 points to 7.0 percent. Unemployment reaches 3.4 percent, the lowest in
the OECD.
November – RBNZ announces joint project with Treasury and IRD looking at ancillary monetary policy instruments. Rising house
prices contribute to the concern of rising imbalances and reducing reliance on OCR may relieve exchange rate pressure.
December – OCR increased by 25 points to 7.25%. Cabinet announces that , in principle, RBNZ should be sole prudential regulator
of financial sector.
2006
January – RBNZ raises settlement cash level from $20 million to $500 million reflecting concern over upcoming liquidity pressures.
February – Settlement Cash level raised to $2000 million.
March – RBNZ issues consultation document for liquidity management system.
April – Supplementary Stabilisation Instruments Report released. Report notes there are no readily implemented options without
significant costs or complications. CPI prints at 3.3%, outside the target band.
June – NZD falls to low of USD0.5951
September – OCR unchanged at MPS despite noting inflation pressures easing more slowly than expected.
December – OCR unchanged but RBNZ does not rule out further tightening.
2007
January – CPI prints at 2.6%, back inside the band.
March – OCR raised by 25 points to 7.5%. MPS notes clear evidence of pick-up in activity, resurgence in the housing market and
expansionary fiscal policy. Current account deficit published at 9.0% of GDP.
April – OCR increased by 25 points to 7.75%.
June – OCR increased by 25 points to 8.0%. MPS notes continued strength in domestic demand. Exchange rate noted to be at
levels unjustified by fundamentals. Later in month RBNZ confirms it has intervened in foreign exchange market to sell NZD.
July – Bridgecorp put into receivership (first of seven finance companies before end of year). RBNZ announces changes to financing
and management of foreign reserves, allowing an ‘open’ position to be held in future.
July – NZD reaches post-float high of USD0.8110. OCR raised by 25 points to 8.25%.
August – RBNZ announces will accept New Zealand bank bills as overnight reverse repos in order to ease liquidity following
international credit market disruptions.
December – OCR unchanged at MPS RBNZ notes downside risk posed by global economic conditions but offset by rising food
prices and recent tax cuts.
2008
April – New Zealand signs free trade agreement with China. CPI prints at 3.4%, outside the band.
May – FSR reports sharp downturn in global financial markets as the “largest financial shock since the Great Depression.” RBNZ
broadens set of eligible securities for overnight reverse repos.
July – OCR reduced by 25 points to 8.0%. RBNZ notes despite inflationary pressures persisting, the financial crisis has significantly
increased the cost of funds raised abroad. Governor notes in speech that inflation targeting has served New Zealand well, and
flexibility has allowed RBNZ to manage ongoing external shocks.
September – RBNZ Amendment Bill passed making RBNZ sole regulator on non-bank deposit takers. OCR reduced by 50 points to
7.5% as outlook for global and domestic economy continues to deteriorate. New Zealand enters technical recession.
October – RBNZ announces further liquidity enhancements in broadening of securities eligible. CPI prints at 5.1%. OCR reduced by
100 points to 6.5%.
November – Minister of Finance announces Crown will offer wholesale funding guarantee. RBNZ announces two new facilities
aimed at increasing banking system liquidity. FSR reiterates soundness of New Zealand financial system, but acknowledges higher
cost and lower accessibility of overseas funding. US announces “Quantitative Easing.”
December – OCR cut by 150 points to 5%. MPS states that monetary policy is now expansionary.
2009
January – OCR reduced by 150 points to 3.5%. Bank of England announces Quantitative Easing.
March – OCR reduced by 50 points to 3%.
April – governor expresses concern over strength of long term interest rates, stating “we are projecting interest rates to remain at
low levels for an extended period.”
April – OCR reduced by 50 points to 2.5%.
June – OCR unchanged at MPS. GDP published at -1.0% for year ended March.
July – CPI published at 1.9%, well back in the band after being 3.0% in April.
August – RBNZ announces that it is exempting some deposit takers from requiring a credit rating.
October – RBNZ announces it will remove and consolidate some of the emergency liquidity measures put in place during the
financial crisis.
2010
March – RBNZ announces that credit ratings are now mandatory for non-bank deposit takers. MPS leaves OCR unchanged but
indicates intention to remove policy stimulus later in year as economy recovers.

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April – Wholesale Guarantee Facility closes.
June – OCR increased by 25 points to 2.75%. GDP growth for year to March published at 0.4%, first positive for a year.
July – OCR increased by 25 points to 3.0%.
September – Damaging earthquake hits Christchurch. OCR unchanged at MPS, though RBNZ notes disruption to recovery.
October – GST increases to 15 percent. Retail Deposit Guarantee Scheme ends.
November – Last remaining emergency liquidity facility is removed.
2011
January – CPI inflation prints at 4.0% - outside the band due to GST, excluding GST inflation would have been 2.1%.
February – Canterbury suffers second, more damaging earthquake with 185 fatalities.
March – OCR reduced by 50 points to 2.5%, MPS cites severe damage and disruption to business from earthquake, and clear that
economic activity will be negatively affected for some time.
May – Moody’s downgrades New Zealand’s four main banks one notch following downgrades of their Australian parents.
July – Banks now face minimum core funding ratio of 70 percent (up from 65 percent)
2012
July – CPI published at 0.9%, outside band.

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