Economy Watch · Interest.co.nz / Podcasts NZ, David Chaston, Gareth Vaughan, interest.co.nz

Anna Breman: The new RBNZ Governor on inflation, being told off by Winston Peters & more

·23 min·2 clips

Anna Breman becomes the first woman and non-New Zealander to lead the RBNZ amid an economic annus horribilis.

This episode of the Return of the Of Interest podcast features host Gareth Vaughan interviewing Anna Breman, the new Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. Breman is the first woman and first non-New Zealander to hold the role, having previously served as deputy governor at Sweden's central bank. The interview occurs just hours after the release of New Zealand's December quarter Consumer Price Index data. The discussion immediately focuses on the CPI result of 3.1%, which is above the Reserve Bank's 1-3% target band and higher than its own forecast of 2.7%. Governor Breman states the bank is determined to return inflation to the 2% midpoint of its target range. She notes the bank is carefully analyzing the data, acknowledging some persistent domestic inflation pressures. Breman emphasizes the importance of inflation expectations remaining anchored to the bank's target. A key insight is Breman's view that the bank must look through short-term data volatility to assess underlying inflation trends. She highlights the significant role of domestic factors, as opposed to imported inflation, in the current economic picture. The governor underscores that clear communication and policy transparency are central to her leadership approach. Breman connects this commitment to transparency directly to maintaining public trust in the institution. The conversation has an analytical and educational tone, centered on recent economic data and policy frameworks. The style is a direct interview, with the host posing specific questions about current monetary policy challenges. This episode is ideal for listeners seeking a timely, data-driven analysis of New Zealand's inflation outlook from the country's top central banker. Those looking for broad economic storytelling or non-technical discussions might find it too narrowly focused.

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