5 November 2024
Cody Ellingham
[FYI request #28725 email]
Dear Cody
Official Information Act (OIA) request for costs for RBNZ economics research conference
speakers
We refer to your request to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua (RBNZ) of 10 October
2024 for the fol owing:
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is organising a research conference "35 years of flexible inflation
targeting - challenges and opportunities" to be held in March 2025, with the stated aim of understanding
the chal enges to flexible inflation targeting.
Please release the fol owing information:
A breakdown of costs (including travel, accomodation, speaking fees, and any other costs) associated with
the keynote speakers, Dr. Ben S. Bernanke and Dr. Catherine Mann participating in this event.
Background
The RBNZ’s research conference is one of the premier conferences for applied macroeconomics in the
Australasian region. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the conference has not been held since 2018.
More information on the upcoming conference for 2025 can be found at the fol owing link:
https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/news-and-events/our-korero-speaking-and-engagement-programme/35-
years-of-flexible-inflation-targeting
The research papers for this conference are targeted at central bank researchers and an academic
audience involved in macroeconomics and banking. The RBNZ research conference has supported the
transfer of technical know-how from international experts to our staf . This improves the technical depth
of staf analysis and lifts the quality of the policy advice delivered to the Monetary Policy Committee.
The RBNZ wil publish the research papers on our website fol owing the conference.
Response
No costs have yet been incurred for the conference speakers, Dr Ben Bernanke and Dr Catherine Mann.
Neither speaker wil be paid a speaker’s fee, however the RBNZ does intend to meet the fol owing costs
for each speaker:
Dr Ben Bernanke
• Return business class travel between United States and New Zealand (approximately $15,000).
• Two dinners.
• Catering costs associated with attendance at workshop.
Dr Catherine Mann
• Return business class travel between UK and New Zealand (approximately $15,000).
• Accommodation during conference.
• Two dinners.
• Catering costs associated with attendance at workshop.
Aside from estimated flight costs, other costs are yet to be paid and are subject to change.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this Of icial Information
Act response. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
We intend to publish this response on the Reserve Bank’s website at:
www.rbnz.govt.nz/research-and-
publications/of icial-information-requests. We do this in order to improve transparency and provide an
additional resource for anyone seeking information.
Yours sincerely
Government Relations
Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua
Document Outline
