Did the Reserve Bank help the coalition’s re-election chances?

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Opinion

Opinion by

Thomas Coughlan

Political Editor·NZ Herald·

28 Oct, 2026 06:51 AM5 mins to read

Thomas Coughlan, Political Editor at the New Zealand Herald, loves applying a political lens to people's stories and explaining the way things like transport and finance touch our lives.

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Today's Official Cash Rate decision may have little bearing on the election prospects of Labour and National's finance spokeswomen Barbara Edmonds (left) and Nicola Willis. Photo / Michael Craig

Reserve Bank decisions are often seen through a political lens: hikes are bad, cuts are good.

Politicians can try to make the opposite case: a hike may be because the economy is running so hot things need to cool down; a cut, by contrast, may be because an economy is