Summary
The Reserve Bank plays a significant role in the New Zealand economy, and has done so since the Bank’s formation in 1934.
Today the Bank is responsible for maintaining price stability, promoting the maintenance of a sound and efficient financial system, and meeting the currency needs of the public.
However, this role has changed over the years. This booklet outlines the broad history of the New Zealand economy since the 1840s, and details the role the Reserve Bank has played in it since the mid-1930s.