Reserve Bank of New Zealand policy-rate history

New Zealand's Official Cash Rate. The page separates the rate's effective date, source coverage, successful retrieval time and official decision evidence.

Updated Official Cash Rate effective 3 Sept 2026

Official Cash Rate

2.75%

Comparison series; direct source unavailable

Previous observation

2.50%

Effective 9 Jul 2026

Last verified change

+0.25 pp (+25 bp)

hike effective 3 Sept 2026

Next meeting

28 Oct 2026

Scheduled monetary policy decision

Latest data: Sep 18, 2026 · This update may be older than usual.

Rate effective 3 Sept 2026 (Source observation date). Currency: NZD.

Source observations run through 18 Sept 2026. This coverage date may precede the effective date or retrieval time.

Previous 12 months

Complete twelve-month coverage is available. Counts include verified transitions in the available period.

Verified changes

4

2 hikes · 2 cuts · 0 source-confirmed holds

Net rate change

-0.25 pp (-25 bp)

Year-over-year difference -0.25 pp (-25 bp)

Highest observed rate

3.00%

21 Aug 2025

Lowest observed rate

2.25%

27 Nov 2025

Days since last change

25

Based on a verified rate transition

Meeting time zone: Pacific/Auckland. Calendar last verified 25 Sept 2026, 13:49 UTC. Reserve Bank of New Zealand OCR decision schedule

Meeting-calendar updates are temporarily paused. The date shown may not include a recent official revision.

Policy-rate history

Historical observations use the published instrument and source dates shown below. Coverage begins 17 Mar 1999.

Reserve Bank of New Zealand policy-rate historyObservations from 10 Nov 2016 to 3 Sept 2026. The line uses Official Cash Rate in basis points, spaces points by UTC effective date and holds each rate until the next observation.10 Nov 20163 Sept 2026
Time follows actual effective dates; steps hold the published policy instrument to the next observation, in basis points.
Dated official policy-rate observations for Reserve Bank of New Zealand
Effective dateDate basisPublished rateObserved throughRetrievedSourceStatus
3 Sept 2026Source observation date2.75%18 Sept 202628 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
9 Jul 2026Source observation date2.50%9 Jul 202628 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
27 Nov 2025Source observation date2.25%27 Nov 202528 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
9 Oct 2025Source observation date2.50%9 Oct 202528 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
21 Aug 2025Source observation date3.00%21 Aug 202528 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
29 May 2025Source observation date3.25%29 May 202528 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
10 Apr 2025Source observation date3.50%10 Apr 202528 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
20 Feb 2025Source observation date3.75%20 Feb 202528 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
28 Nov 2024Source observation date4.25%28 Nov 202428 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
10 Oct 2024Source observation date4.75%10 Oct 202428 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
15 Aug 2024Source observation date5.25%15 Aug 202428 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
25 May 2023Source observation date5.50%25 May 202328 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
6 Apr 2023Source observation date5.25%6 Apr 202328 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
23 Feb 2023Source observation date4.75%23 Feb 202328 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
24 Nov 2022Source observation date4.25%24 Nov 202228 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
6 Oct 2022Source observation date3.50%6 Oct 202228 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
18 Aug 2022Source observation date3.00%18 Aug 202228 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
14 Jul 2022Source observation date2.50%14 Jul 202228 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
26 May 2022Source observation date2.00%26 May 202228 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
14 Apr 2022Source observation date1.50%14 Apr 202228 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
24 Feb 2022Source observation date1.00%24 Feb 202228 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
25 Nov 2021Source observation date0.75%25 Nov 202128 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
7 Oct 2021Source observation date0.50%7 Oct 202128 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
17 Mar 2020Source observation date0.25%17 Mar 202028 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
8 Aug 2019Source observation date1.00%8 Aug 201928 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
9 May 2019Source observation date1.50%9 May 201928 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series
10 Nov 2016Source observation date1.75%10 Nov 201628 Sept 2026, 03:34 UTCBank for International SettlementsComparison series

Policy changes

Decision labels identify whether the source stated the outcome or the rate history implies a transition.

Dated central-bank policy changes and official source links
EffectiveDecisionPreviousNew rateChangeEvidenceSource
3 Sept 2026hike2.50%2.75%+0.25 pp (+25 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
9 Jul 2026hike2.25%2.50%+0.25 pp (+25 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
27 Nov 2025cut2.50%2.25%-0.25 pp (-25 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
9 Oct 2025cut3.00%2.50%-0.50 pp (-50 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
21 Aug 2025cut3.25%3.00%-0.25 pp (-25 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
29 May 2025cut3.50%3.25%-0.25 pp (-25 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
10 Apr 2025cut3.75%3.50%-0.25 pp (-25 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
20 Feb 2025cut4.25%3.75%-0.50 pp (-50 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
28 Nov 2024cut4.75%4.25%-0.50 pp (-50 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
10 Oct 2024cut5.25%4.75%-0.50 pp (-50 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
15 Aug 2024cut5.50%5.25%-0.25 pp (-25 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
25 May 2023hike5.25%5.50%+0.25 pp (+25 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
6 Apr 2023hike4.75%5.25%+0.50 pp (+50 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
23 Feb 2023hike4.25%4.75%+0.50 pp (+50 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
24 Nov 2022hike3.50%4.25%+0.75 pp (+75 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
6 Oct 2022hike3.00%3.50%+0.50 pp (+50 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
18 Aug 2022hike2.50%3.00%+0.50 pp (+50 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
14 Jul 2022hike2.00%2.50%+0.50 pp (+50 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
26 May 2022hike1.50%2.00%+0.50 pp (+50 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
14 Apr 2022hike1.00%1.50%+0.50 pp (+50 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
24 Feb 2022hike0.75%1.00%+0.25 pp (+25 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
25 Nov 2021hike0.50%0.75%+0.25 pp (+25 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
7 Oct 2021hike0.25%0.50%+0.25 pp (+25 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
17 Mar 2020cut1.00%0.25%-0.75 pp (-75 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
8 Aug 2019cut1.50%1.00%-0.50 pp (-50 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements
9 May 2019cut1.75%1.50%-0.25 pp (-25 bp)Historical comparisonBank for International Settlements

Data basis: Official Cash Rate. Comparison series: BIS central-bank policy rate series where direct historical coverage is unavailable..

RBNZ policy-rate history | Squawkdeck