Finance Minister Nicola Willis insists she’s been as “upfront and transparent” as possible about the mismanagement of Adrian Orr’s resignation as Reserve Bank governor in March.
She mounted the personal defence on RNZ on Wednesday after Labour deputy Carmel Sepuloni called on Willis to take responsibility for the shifting stories and lack of public transparency from the central bank.
“Nicola, just be forthcoming,” Sepuloni implored.
“Let us know what exactly happened here.”
Willis bit back: “Why on earth would I be motivated to in any way hide any of this when the person it ultimately all reflects badly on is the former Reserve Bank governor – not me?”
The back-and-forth follows the resignation of Reserve Bank chair Neil Quigley on Friday, after Willis told him his handling of Orr’s departure was risking the bank’s reputation.
Quigley had initially described Orr’s exit as a “personal decision”, but months later, the bank revealed it had actually stemmed from a disagreement with the board around government funding.
Last week, the Ombudsman required the bank to release a timeline showing the board had also presented Orr with a letter of concerns before his resignation, but agreed to withdraw it when he quit.
Speaking on Morning Report, Willis said she was “unhappy” with the Reserve Bank’s communication about the dispute and subsequent resignation.
“I want a culture going forward in which they are as publicly accountable and transparent as possible.”
Asked why she personally was not more upfront, Willis said she had not been privy to all the details of the employment dispute.
She said, for example, she had not seen the board’s letter of complaint.
“It’s not helpful for the minister who doesn’t know the ins and outs of what they’re talking about to wade in with reckons,” Willis said.
“I’ve left it to the Reserve Bank to communicate about this at all times… ultimately, I haven’t been happy that they’ve done a good enough job of that.”
Willis said she had also been “very conscious” of the bank’s independence and there being no suggestion of political interference.
“I’ve been as upfront and transparent on this as you could be – in fact, insisting publicly and privately for more information to be shared with New Zealanders.”
Sepuloni acknowledged Willis could not involve herself in an employment dispute but said she “should have asked a few more questions”.
“Pleading ignorance… is not acceptable here,” Sepuloni said.
“At every point, she could have been kept updated if she wanted to be.”
rnz.co.nz
