Appointments include six-month term for acting chief economist.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson has confirmed appointments to the Reserve Bank’s monetary policy committee, restoring its numbers after the sudden departure of senior figures late last year.
New RBNZ assistant governor Karen Silk has been appointed to the committee for a five-year term from May 16, while manager of central banking analytics Adam Richardson will serve for a six-month term from March 11.
Richardson is an interim committee member while the RBNZ recruits for a new chief economist and will be acting chief economist when incumbent Yuong Ha departs on March 10.
Ha is a current member of the committee.
“The internal candidates have the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience to assist the MPC,” Robertson said.
The RBNZ’s monetary policy committee is responsible for managing the central bank’s monetary policy.
Robertson also reappointed existing external committee members Bob Buckle and Peter Harris for further three-year terms from April 1.
Buckle is a professor emeritus at Victoria University; Peter Harris is a former CTU economist.
“It was important to retain Dr Buckle’s and Mr Harris’ experience and expertise as external members of the MPC which responded to a one-in-100 year economic shock and provide continuity as the pandemic evolves,” Robertson said.
The other external member of the committee, Lincoln University agricultural economics professor Caroline Saunders, has a four-year term expiring in April 2023.
