ForexLive nailed this as it happened, back last week on April 21!
Reserve Bank of New Zealand Governor Orr spoke that day, saying:
And, I thought, even more significantly:
From that post … in bold:
- A central bank buying debt directly from the government issue is not something that will inspire confidence in markets. This will be viewed as a NZD negative.
Sure enough, look at the divergence between the Australian and New Zealand dollars since:
Adding to the fuel this morning was this from WPAC: