Overview
- Winston Peters told Governor Anna Breman to "stay in her New Zealand lane," saying the Reserve Bank should not involve itself in U.S. domestic politics.
- Breman signed a joint statement backing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell after he faced subpoenas and defended the Fed's independence.
- The Reserve Bank of New Zealand said her signature reflected the institution's position and emphasized its statutory independence from government.
- The statement was also endorsed by Christine Lagarde of the ECB, Andrew Bailey of the Bank of England and Michele Bullock of the Reserve Bank of Australia, asserting that central bank independence underpins stability.
- Commentary highlighted diplomatic sensitivities for smaller export-heavy economies like New Zealand, and Peters later declined an interview request from RNZ about his remarks.