Date: 16 October 2018
Secretary to the Treasury invited to observe monetary policy meetings
The Secretary to the Treasury, Gabriel Makhlouf, has accepted Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr’s invitation to attend
monetary policy deliberation and decision meetings as an observer from the end of this month.
Mr Orr extended the invitation to deepen Mr Makhlouf’s understanding of the process leading into a monetary policy decision, with the aim of ensuring
a smooth transition to a new monetary policy framework.
This invitation comes ahead of the proposed creation of a formal Treasury observer position in the Reserve Bank of New
Zealand (Monetary Policy) Amendment Bill. This Bill is currently being considered by the Finance and Expenditure
Committee.
As outlined in his letter to the Governor, Mr Makhlouf recognises and respects the highly confidential nature of these meetings. Mr Makhlouf’s letter outlines
how he intends to manage issues related to confidentiality, and any actual or perceived conflicts of interest. The
letter also details how Mr Makhlouf will avoid any perception of conflict in relation to his statutory responsibility
for the Treasury’s debt management function.
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