Kia ora,  

Thank you for contacting the Reserve Bank of New Zealand - Te Pūtea
Matua.   

Please note that this is an automatic reply to acknowledge that we have
received your email. We aim to respond to you in 14-21 working days. In
the meantime please read the below for our frequently asked questions. 

 

Upcoming Monetary Policy Announcements   

See all the Monetary Policy Announcement and Financial Stability Report
dates for 2023/2024 [1]here. 

 

Money & Cash   

* [2]Returning old or damaged currency  
* [3]The Future of Cash   
* [4]Security and counterfeit detection  
* [5]Using images of currency    

Banknote or coin suggestions   
If your email is offering suggestions related to banknote or coin designs
then it will be kept for review as part of any future work in this area.  

Who we are and what we do  
We are kaitiaki (guardians) of New Zealand’s financial ecosystem, working
to fulfil our purpose of Toitu te Ōhanga, Toitu te Oranga (enabling the
prosperity and wellbeing of all New Zealanders). We deliver on our mandate
by:  

o [6]Operating monetary policy to maintain low and stable inflation and
contribute to maximum sustainable employment  
o [7]Promoting a sound and efficient financial system  
o [8]Meeting the public’s cash needs  
o [9]Overseeing effective payments systems  

Statistics  
For any queries or clarifications on the [10]data and statistics we
publish, please email [11][email address].  

Firms we regulate  
The Reserve Bank is the prudential regulator of banks, insurers, and
non-bank deposit takers (NBDTs).   

o [12]List of registered banks in New Zealand  
o [13]List of licensed insurers   
o [14]Register of licensed NBDTs  

Complaints about banks, insurers, and NBDTs 
If you have a complaint, please deal directly with your bank or insurer in
the first instance. You can also contact the [15]Banking Ombudsman,
the [16]Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman, or the [17]Financial
Markets Authority. 

Looking for information about the strength of the financial system?  
Check out our [18]Bank Financial Strength Dashboard. You can also read our
regular assessments of the economy and the financial system:  

o [19]Monetary Policy Statement  
o [20]Financial Stability Report   

Please note that the Reserve Bank is not authorised to give legal or
financial advice. Please contact a lawyer or a financial adviser
instead.  

Kōrero – our speaking and engagement programme 
Reserve Bank staff meet and speak with a wide range of businesses,
industry forums, community groups, schools and universities. These
engagements are welcome opportunities to discuss topical issues and
policies, hear people’s experiences and answer questions.  

Please check out the [21]Kōrero webpage for more information on the
programme. To request a speaker, please email [22][email address].  

 

We’ll be in touch as soon as possible. 

Kia ora,  

   

Thank you for contacting the Reserve Bank of New Zealand - Te Pūtea
Matua.   

Please note that we are operating with a reduced team during the Christmas
and New Year period. We will aim to respond to you as soon as possible in
early 2023. In the meantime please read our frequently asked
questions below.    

 

Upcoming Monetary Policy Announcements   

See all the Monetary Policy Announcement and Financial Stability Report
dates for 2023/2024 [23]here. 

 

Money & Cash   

* [24]Returning old or damaged currency  
* [25]The Future of Cash   
* [26]Security and counterfeit detection  
* [27]Using images of currency    

Banknote or coin suggestions   
If your email is offering suggestions related to banknote or coin designs
then it will be kept for review as part of any future work in this area.  

Who we are and what we do  
We are kaitiaki (guardians) of New Zealand’s financial ecosystem, working
to fulfil our purpose of Toitu te Ōhanga, Toitu te Oranga (enabling the
prosperity and wellbeing of all New Zealanders). We deliver on our mandate
by:  

o [28]Operating monetary policy to maintain low and stable inflation and
contribute to maximum sustainable employment  
o [29]Promoting a sound and efficient financial system  
o [30]Meeting the public’s cash needs  
o [31]Overseeing effective payments systems  

Statistics  
For any queries or clarifications on the [32]data and statistics we
publish, please email [33][email address].  

Firms we regulate  
The Reserve Bank is the prudential regulator of banks, insurers, and
non-bank deposit takers (NBDTs).   

o [34]List of registered banks in New Zealand  
o [35]List of licensed insurers   
o [36]Register of licensed NBDTs  

Complaints about banks, insurers, and NBDTs 
If you have a complaint, please deal directly with your bank or insurer in
the first instance. You can also contact the [37]Banking Ombudsman,
the [38]Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman, or the [39]Financial
Markets Authority. 

Looking for information about the strength of the financial system?  
Check out our [40]Bank Financial Strength Dashboard. You can also read our
regular assessments of the economy and the financial system:  

o [41]Monetary Policy Statement  
o [42]Financial Stability Report   

Please note that the Reserve Bank is not authorised to give legal or
financial advice. Please contact a lawyer or a financial adviser
instead.  

Kōrero – our speaking and engagement programme 
Reserve Bank staff meet and speak with a wide range of businesses,
industry forums, community groups, schools and universities. These
engagements are welcome opportunities to discuss topical issues and
policies, hear people’s experiences and answer questions.  

Please check out the [43]Kōrero webpage for more information on the
programme. To request a speaker, please email [44][email address].  

 

We’ll be in touch as soon as possible. 

 

 

Kind regards | Ngā mihi nui 

  

Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua  

2 The Terrace, Wellington 6011. PO Box 2498, Wellington 6140  

T + 04 471 3660  

E [45][RBNZ request email]   W [46]rbnz.govt.nz  

This message (and any files transmitted with it) are confidential and may
be legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient please notify
the sender immediately and delete this message from your system.

This message does not necessarily reflect the views of the Reserve Bank of
New Zealand. If the recipient has any concerns about the content of this
message they should seek alternative confirmation from the Reserve Bank of
New Zealand.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2022/1...
2. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/notes-and-coins...
3. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/notes-and-coins...
4. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/notes-and-coins...
5. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/notes-and-coins...
6. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/monetary-policy
7. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/financial-stabi...
8. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/notes-and-coins
9. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/payments-and-se...
10. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/statistics
11. mailto:[email address]
12. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/regulation-and-...
13. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/regulation-and-...
14. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/regulation-and-...
15. https://bankomb.org.nz/the-complaint-pro...
16. https://www.ifso.nz/complaints/
17. https://www.fma.govt.nz/
18. https://bankdashboard.rbnz.govt.nz/summary
19. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/monetary-policy...
20. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/financial-stabi...
21. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/news-and-events...
22. mailto:[email address]
23. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2022/1...
24. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/notes-and-coins...
25. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/notes-and-coins...
26. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/notes-and-coins...
27. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/notes-and-coins...
28. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/monetary-policy
29. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/financial-stabi...
30. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/notes-and-coins
31. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/payments-and-se...
32. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/statistics
33. mailto:[email address]
34. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/regulation-and-...
35. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/regulation-and-...
36. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/regulation-and-...
37. https://bankomb.org.nz/the-complaint-pro...
38. https://www.ifso.nz/complaints/
39. https://www.fma.govt.nz/
40. https://bankdashboard.rbnz.govt.nz/summary
41. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/monetary-policy...
42. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/financial-stabi...
43. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/news-and-events...
44. mailto:[email address]
45. mailto:[RBNZ request email]
46. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/

Dear Ens-Rationis

 

Official information request regarding sovereign debt

 

Thank you for your official information request of 27 July 2023 for:

 

In a previous information request dated 31 August 2022 (FYI request
#19881) you provided the following information:

 

"Sovereign debt may also be referred to as Government debt or public debt.
The Government does not use assets or other forms of collateral to “back”
its sovereign debt, which is a promise to pay out of future tax revenue.
New Zealand has relatively low sovereign debt levels by international
standards and has a strong international credit rating. The link below
shows New Zealand’s credit ratings, as assigned by international credit
rating agencies. Credit ratings are a measure of a country’s willingness
and ability to service its financial obligations."

 

It is noted in your response that you have stated what is 'not' backing
the sovereign debt, but appear not to have given information with respect
to what 'is' backing the sovereign debt.

 

Please advise: What is backing debt currency in New Zealand?

 

Request: Please be as direct and specific as possible in answering this
very simple question.

 

We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and in
any event no later than 24 August 2023, being 20 working days after the
day of your request. If we are unable to respond to your request by then,
we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.

 

Charges for providing official information and publishing responses

 

The Official Information Act allows charges to be imposed for the
preparation of information that we send in response to requests. The
Reserve Bank is resourced to meet disclosure obligations for a reasonable
level of requests and generally will not impose charges for small, simple
or infrequent requests. Where the request is for information that requires
substantial collation, research and preparation work, and is chargeable,
we will work with you first to refine the request to a smaller scale or
scope that is less likely to involve charges.

 

Responses to official information requests are published on the Reserve
Bank’s website. We will confirm in our decision letter to you whether we
intend to publish our response to your request.

 

Further information about charges and publishing responses is available on
our website at
[1]www.rbnz.govt.nz/research-and-publications/official-information-requests.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Government and Industry Relations Team

Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea [3]Text Description automatically
Matua generated

2 The Terrace, Wellington 6011. PO Box    
2498, Wellington 6140

W [2]rbnz.govt.nz

 

 

 

This message (and any files transmitted with it) are confidential and may
be legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient please notify
the sender immediately and delete this message from your system.

This message does not necessarily reflect the views of the Reserve Bank of
New Zealand. If the recipient has any concerns about the content of this
message they should seek alternative confirmation from the Reserve Bank of
New Zealand.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/research-and-pub...
2. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/

Please find attached the response to your requests of 27 July 2023.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Government and Industry Relations

Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea [2]Text Description automatically
Matua generated

2 The Terrace, Wellington 6011. PO Box    
2498, Wellington 6140

W [1]rbnz.govt.nz

 

 

 

This message (and any files transmitted with it) are confidential and may
be legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient please notify
the sender immediately and delete this message from your system.

This message does not necessarily reflect the views of the Reserve Bank of
New Zealand. If the recipient has any concerns about the content of this
message they should seek alternative confirmation from the Reserve Bank of
New Zealand.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/

Please find attached the response to your requests of 27 July 2023.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Government and Industry Relations

Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea [2]Text Description automatically
Matua generated

2 The Terrace, Wellington 6011. PO Box    
2498, Wellington 6140

W [1]rbnz.govt.nz

 

 

 

This message (and any files transmitted with it) are confidential and may
be legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient please notify
the sender immediately and delete this message from your system.

This message does not necessarily reflect the views of the Reserve Bank of
New Zealand. If the recipient has any concerns about the content of this
message they should seek alternative confirmation from the Reserve Bank of
New Zealand.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/