Rodger Finlay, key figure in Lake Onslow project, named Reserve Bank board chair
Thursday, 27 November 2025
Reserve Bank director Rodger Finlay has been appointed as chairperson of the bank’s board.
Finlay, a former investment banker, had been serving as the board’s acting chairperson since the sudden resignation of academic Neil Quigley in August and as deputy chair since 2023.
Quigley’s resignation followed criticism from Finance Minister Nicola Willis of the bank’s communications surrounding the resignation of former governor Adrian Orr.
Willis has also appointed businesswoman Rhiannon McKinnon to the bank’s board, restoring it to a full complement of seven.
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“The appointments are the latest milestones in the refresh of the Reserve Bank,” Willis said.
“The bank now has a new chair, a new governor who starts next week, new members of the board and monetary policy committee, a new financial policy committee, and a new, more modest, funding agreement.
“In addition, it is operating under a fresh set of expectations from the Government that require it to place greater emphasis on banking competition,” she said.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that Finlay is also a key figure in an ambitious venture backed by electricity industry luminary Keith Turner to revive a plan to build a massive pumped hydro scheme at Lake Onslow in Central Otago.
The scheme is touted as having huge environmental benefits by potentially replacing the role fossil fuels currently play in meeting peaks in electricity demand and allowing for a switch to 100% renewable generation.
McKinnon is a chartered financial analyst and former chief executive of wealth management company Kiwi Wealth, now part of Fisher Funds.
She has also had board roles with the Film Commission and Dress for Success Wellington.