He has been with the central bank since 1997
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) has announced that chief economist and Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) member Yuong Ha will leave next year after 25 years with the central bank.
Ha, who has been with RBNZ since 1997 and an internal member of the MPC, will leave both roles after the February 2022 Monetary Policy Statement.
Despite his departure, Ha offered assurances that the RBNZ’s future remains in good hands.
“It has been a privilege working at the Reserve Bank, Te Pūtea Matua, and to serve on the Monetary Policy Committee. Thank you to all my colleagues for their support over the years,” he added.
Meanwhile, RBNZ Governor Adrian Orr thanked Ha for his dedication and commitment to the central bank and its MPC over the years.
“Yuong is a very capable leader and has contributed a huge amount to the RBNZ’s monetary policy efforts,” Orr added.
Read more: RBNZ deputy governor Geoff Bascand announces departure
The current MPC comprises RBNZ members: Governor Adrian Orr, Deputy Governor Geoff Bascand, Christian Hawkesby, and Yuong Ha and external members Professor Caroline Saunders, Professor Bob Buckle, and Peter Harris.
However, Ha is not the only member who will leave the Reserve Bank and its MPC next year. In September 2021, Bascand announced that he will leave also the central bank in January 2022.
Bascand, who has been the deputy governor of the central bank since May 2013, said: “The bank is a special place that makes a massive contribution to New Zealanders’ wellbeing. I have had extraordinary opportunities to participate in a huge range of important initiatives and work with many wonderful colleagues, but I want to make more time for other interests in my life.”
The RBNZ confirmed that Hawkesby will become the next deputy governor beginning January 2022.
