Hawkesby steps in following resignation of Adrian Orr
Christian Hawkesby has been formally appointed as governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) for a six-month term, effective 8 April.
The appointment, made by the minister of finance on the recommendation of the RBNZ board, follows Hawkesby’s stint as acting governor since 5 March following the resignation of RBNZ Governor Adrian Orr.
The interim term is designed to provide continuity as the RBNZ board begins the recruitment process for a new governor to serve a full five-year term. The minister of finance may extend Hawkesby’s appointment for up to an additional three months if needed.
“I am proud to step into the role of governor and continue contributing to our mission of working to enable economic prosperity and wellbeing for all New Zealanders,” said Hawkesby.
Board chair Neil Quigley welcomed the appointment, citing Hawkesby’s experience and leadership since joining Te Pūtea Matua in 2019.
“His appointment reflects both his contributions and our confidence in his ability to continue strengthening New Zealand’s financial system, chair the Monetary Policy Committee, and lead the RBNZ as CEO,” Quigley said.
During the recruitment period, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will remain evenly split between three internal RBNZ members and three external appointees.
As chair, Hawkesby will hold a casting vote in the event of a tie.
Hawkesby first joined the central bank as assistant governor and was later promoted to deputy governor and general manager of the Financial Stability Group. Before joining the RBNZ, he helped establish Harbour Asset Management and spent nine years in senior positions at the Bank of England.
He holds a master of commerce (hons) in Economics from the University of Canterbury.
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