Labour’s pledge to reinstate the Reserve Bank’s dual mandate only risks worsening the cost of living - Jenée Tibshraeny

Opinion byWellington Business Editor·NZ Herald·23 Aug, 2026 05:58 PM5 mins to readWellington Business Editor, Jenée Tibshraeny, covers business, the economy and public policy for the Business Herald.‌Labour's Chris Hipkins and Barbara Edmonds, backed by Carmel Sepuloni and Willie Jackson, who are campaigning on reintroducing the Reserve Bank's dual mandate. Photo / Sylvie Whinray New Zealanders have little to gain and much to lose from Labour playing politics with the Reserve Bank by campaigning on reinstating its dual mandate. Labour yesterday confirmed that if elected to govern, it would require the Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to maintain “maximum sustainable employment” in