New Zealand Finance Minister Nicola Willis appointed Rebecca Williams as an internal member of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s Monetary Policy Committee. Williams will begin a one-year term on 15 October 2026 and serve until 14 October 2027. The appointment was made on the recommendation of the central bank’s board.
Williams is a senior manager in economics at RBNZ and has worked at the institution since 2010. Her experience includes monetary-policy analysis, economic forecasting and the leadership of teams of analysts. The committee is responsible for monetary-policy decisions supporting price stability.
VACANT SEAT FILLED
RBNZ said Williams fills an internal committee seat that has been vacant since March 2025. Her appointment comes as Assistant Governor Money and internal committee member Karen Silk, who announced her retirement on 16 September, prepares to leave the central bank in mid-December. Williams will participate in the Monetary Policy Review scheduled for 28 October.
Willis said the shortened term reflects electoral conventions, preserving the next administration’s discretion over longer-term appointments while maintaining the committee’s statutory and operational requirements. Williams holds an honours commerce degree in economics and an arts degree in history from the University of Canterbury. RBNZ chair Rodger Finlay cited her work advising the committee on the state of the New Zealand economy.
LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE CHANGES
The appointment comes as RBNZ reshapes its executive leadership after Silk’s planned departure. The bank has said it will create separate assistant governor roles for monetary policy and for payments and cash. Its board expects to recommend the future assistant governor for monetary policy to the finance minister for appointment to the committee.
After Silk leaves, the committee’s internal members will be Governor Anna Breman, chief economist Paul Conway and Williams, alongside external members Carl Hansen, Prasanna Gai and Hayley Gourley.