Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand (video statements)
On Wednesday 25 March our Chief Economist Paul Conway delivered a keynote speech “Purchasing power and the real cost of living in New Zealand” at the National Financial Advisers Conference.
In his speech Paul broke down why the cost of living feels so high in New Zealand, even with inflation coming down from the highs of the pandemic.
He outlined the role of The Reserve Bank of New Zealand in keeping prices stable, and how global shocks and uncertainty makes this harder – as seen recently with the conflict in the Middle East.
Hear the key points in this video, or read the full speech here: https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/news-and-events/events/2026/march/purchasing-power-and-the-real-cost-of-living-in-new-zealand