We’ve had the odd query from other New Zealanders asking, “how much gold does the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) actually have?”.
They’re probably asking as since the financial crisis net gold purchases by global central banks have switched from negative (i.e. they were selling), to positive (i.e. they are buying).
So is the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) also buying gold?
Well we’re sorry to report folks, the news isn’t so great.
The RBNZ website has the following table: (We’ve highlighted the gold related part in blue. And the full table can be found here on the RBNZ website.)
New Zealand’s International Reserves and Foreign Currency Liquidity
30 Sep 2009
(Information is disclosed in NZD 000’s)
I.
Official reserve assets and other foreign currency assets (approximate market value)
A.
Official reserve assets
19,994,933
(1) Foreign currency reserves (in convertible foreign currencies)
17,074,379
(a) Securities
15,079,813
of which: issuer headquartered in reporting country but located abroad
–
(b) total currency and deposits with:
1,994,566
(i) other national central banks, BIS and IMF
1,912,062
(ii) banks headquartered in the reporting country
–
of which: located abroad
–
(iii) banks headquartered outside the reporting country
82,504
of which: located in the reporting country
–
(2) IMF reserve position
382,538
(3) SDRs
1,598,884
(4) gold (including gold deposits and, if appropriate, gold swapped)
–
volume in fine troy ounces
–
(5) other reserve assets
939,132
financial derivatives
484,080
loans to non-bank non-residents
–
other
455,052
Last time we checked a dash didn’t mean that the number was too big to report! But was rather a simple alternative for the number zero. So according to the RBNZ website, New Zealand has $0 worth of gold deposits from a grand total of zero fine troy ounces of gold.
The RBNZ Confirms No Gold Reserves in Official Information Act Request
How Does New Zealand Compare to the Leading Gold Holding Nations?
The below chart shows the gold reserves of 20 largest gold holding countries worldwide as of the October 2019 (in metric tons). The smallest – Belgium – has 227.4 tons of gold.
Further confirmation of New Zealand’s total gold reserves comes from the World Gold Council. They periodically take information compiled by the IMF to create a ranking of gold deposits of countries.
The lazy mans research site – Wikipedia means we don’t have to look too hard for the latest figures though. The table below ranks each nation according to it’s officially reported gold holdings as of November 2009.
We can save you some time searching and state that unfortunately New Zealand does not feature – at all.
World official gold holding (November 2009)[11]
Rank
Country/Organization
Gold
(tonnes)
Gold’s share
of total
forex reserves (%)[11]
1
United States
8,133.5
77.4%
2
Germany
3,408.3
69.2%
3
International Monetary Fund
3,005.3
–
4
Italy
2,451.8
66.6%
5
France
2,445.1
70.6%
6
China
1,054.0[12]
1.9%
7
Switzerland
1,040.1
29.1%
8
Japan
765.2
2.3%
9
Netherlands
612.5
59.6%
10
Russia
568.4
4.3%
11
India
557.7[6]
6%
12
European Central Bank
501.4
18.8%
13
Taiwan
423.6
3.9%
14
Spain
416.8
42.5%
15
Portugal
382.5
90.2%
16
Venezuela
363.9
35.5%
17
United Kingdom
310.3
18.7%
18
Lebanon
286.8
30.0%
19
Austria
280.0
50.5%
20
Belgium
227.5
42.5%
21
Algeria
173.6
3.6%
22
Philippines
153.9
12.3%
23
Libya
143.8
4.5%
24
Saudi Arabia
143.0
12.4%
25
Sweden
135.9
14.2%
26
Singapore
127.4
2.2%
27
Bank for International Settlements
125.0
–
28
South Africa
124.7
11.0%
29
Turkey
116.1
4.7%
30
Greece
112.5
92.8%
31
Romania
103.7
8.4%
32
Poland
102.9
5.0%
33
Thailand
87.4
2.2%
34
Australia
79.8
7.3%
35
Kuwait
79.0
11.9%
36
Egypt
75.6
6.4%
37
Indonesia
73.1
4.3%
38
Kazakhstan
72.0
11.6%
39
Denmark
66.5
4.7%
40
Pakistan
65.4
20.3%
41
Argentina
54.7
3.4%
42
Finland
49.1
17.6%
43
Bulgaria
39.9
7.6%
44
West African Economic and Monetary Union
36.5
11.8%
45
Malaysia
36.4
1.2%
46
Slovakia
35.1
81.6%
47
Peru
34.7
3.3%
48
Brazil
33.6
0.5%
49
Bolivia
28.3
10.3%
50
Ecuador
26.3
11.6%
51
Ukraine
26.2
2.0%
52
Syria
25.9
–
53
Morocco
22.0
2.2%
54
Nigeria
21.4
0.9%
55
Belarus
20.3
11.6%
56
Sri Lanka
15.3[7]
3.8%
57
Jordan
14.8
5.2%
58
South Korea
14.3
0.1%
59
Cyprus
13.9
29.7%
60
Czech Republic
13.2
0.9%
61
Netherlands Antilles
13.1
31.4%
62
Cambodia
12.4
12.9%
63
Qatar
12.4
2.6%
64
Serbia
12.2
2.3%
65
Laos
8.1
23.1%
66
Latvia
7.7
3.3%
67
El Salvador
7.3
8.2%
68
Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa
7.1
–
69
Guatemala
6.9
3.9%
70
Colombia
6.9
0.8%
71
Macedonia
6.8
7.6%
72
Tunisia
6.8
2.1%
73
Lithuania
5.8
2.3%
74
Ireland
5.5
16.3%
75
Mongolia
5.2
10.9%
76
Bahrain
4.7
–
77
Mauritius
3.9[8]
2.4%
78
Bangladesh
3.5
1.6%
79
Mexico
3.4
0.1%
80
Canada
3.4
0.2%
81
Slovenia
3.2
7.2%
82
Aruba
3.1
17.1%
83
Hungary
3.1
0.3%
84
Mozambique
3.0
4.6%
85
Kyrgyzstan
2.6
5.3%
86
Luxembourg
2.3
10.8%
87
Albania
2.2
2.6%
88
Hong Kong
2.1
0.0%
89
Iceland
2.0
1.9%
90
Tajikistan
2.0
–
91
Papua New Guinea
2.0
2.1%
92
Trinidad and Tobago
1.9
0.6%
93
Yemen
1.6
0.5%
94
Suriname
1.4
7.0%
95
Cameroon
0.9
–
96
Honduras
0.7
0.7%
97
Paraguay
0.7
0.6%
98
Dominican Republic
0.6
0.7%
99
Gabon
0.4
–
100
Republic of the Congo
0.3
–
101
Chad
0.3
–
102
Central African Republic
0.3
–
103
Uruguay
0.3
0.1%
104
Estonia
0.2
0.1%
105
Chile
0.2
0.0%
106
Malta
0.2
0.8%
107
Costa Rica
0.1
0.0%
Note: Wikipedia doesn’t appear to have a top 100 list anymore. It’s now just a top 20. However Trading Economics now does. The holdings of each country has not changed too dramatically since 2009. You can see that list here. We can however confirm as of 2019, New Zealand still has zero gold reserves.
It’s a bit of a worry when the Central African Republic of Chad, which the U.N. reports as the 5th poorest nation on the planet, recently had more gold reserves than New Zealand does!
Chad may come in at number 101 on the list and only have 0.3 tonnes but that’s 0.3 tonnes more than us! (Or about $15 Million NZD in Gold reserves more than New Zealand)
Just like we believe the average person should have at least a small percentage of their liquid net worth held in gold, we too think the RBNZ would be wise to convert some of its foreign currency reserves into real money. Thereby ensuring a store of value in a time when currencies the world over are being depreciated at ever greater speed.
However, it’s very unlikely that the New Zealand central bank will buy any gold in the future. Even though so many other central banks have been doing just that since 2009. Why do we think that?
Because back in 2012 a reader forwarded us an email from the RBNZ that said:
Dear Jake
Thank you for your question and apologies for the delay in responding.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has not held any gold reserves since 1991.
Our reserves management responsibilities are set out in the Reserve Bank Act of 1989 and our foreign reserve targets are specified by the Minister of Finance. The Reserve Bank is not, at this stage, planning to include gold in our foreign reserve portfolio. The Reserve Bank’s position is that gold does not meet our liquidity requirements.
Kind regards
Raewyn Peters Knowledge Adviser | Reserve Bank of New Zealand 2 The Terrace, Wellington 6011 | P O Box 2498, Wellington 6140 T. +64 4 472 2029 | F. +64 4 471 3722 www.rbnz.govt.nz
Interesting that gold does not meet the RBNZ’s “liquidity requirements”. Even though gold can be sold at a moments notice and turned into cash. So the odds of a turn around from the Reserve Bank on buying gold looks slim indeed.
Editors note: This post was first published 5 December 2009. Last updated 10 December 2019 with new charts and numbers.
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22 thoughts on “How Much Gold Does the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Have? Updated 2019”
danny says:
It would be interesting to see a table for private gold hold by country.
Scarey, I have more gold than the NZ Government!
admin says:
Danny,
That would be an insightful piece of information alright. The World Gold Council does track Jewellery, Industrial and Investment demand but we are not aware of them itemizing the investment demand per country – probably because they don’t have the complete information in order to do so. As a large part of private investment in gold is in Over-the-Counter transactions, so it is very difficult to accurately measure.
Although undoubtedly India would be joined by China at the top and New Zealand would be a long way down the list. Also here’s a recent article on how China is about to take over top spot from India as the worlds top Gold consumer… http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLNE5B801V20091209?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=stocksNews&rpc=401&sp=true
I’m not a fan of government’s holding gold. I think if you want to hold gold, then we ought to do it ourselves. As far as currencies are concerned, I’d like to see private crypto-currencies underpinned by gold, if not other currencies. I’d not trust the NZ govt to hold it, as it would probably be plundered. How can we believe that Fort Knox still has its gold reserves. The Fed doesn’t publish the holdings, since its private. It leases it too. I’m not an advocate of such counter-party risks. I personally hold gold shares, because I know with gold in the ground, I don’t have to worry about it being stolen, and it offers an income. Its getting to a point where its almost time to buy.
Helena M Jordan says:
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is owned by the Rothschild Family, as are the Reserve banks in most other “western countries”, with the exception of Cuba, Nrth Korea and Iran – hence wars in the Middle East. (Good thing perhaps China bought the U.S.Fed Reserve and gold stocks held by J.P.Morgan) Rothschild took control of Iraq and Libya Reserve Banks – the way paved by blood under the umbrella “fight against terrorism”. Rothschild is now after Iran Reserve Bank by way of Syria. IMF and World Bank is controlled by the Rothschild Group – they have put the peoples of Portugal, Spain, Italy (U.K. although they don’t realize it yet) on their knees and now the peoples of Greece are getting up off their knees to say “NO MORE”. The wars in the Middle East are by Rothschild design to cause total disruption in Europe. How long before NATO troops are ordered in to “regain the peace” or better put take over control.
New Zealand has no gold reserves, Rothschild owns and controls the Reserve Bank and major high street banks. This Elite could put the people of NZ on their knees overnight. Perhaps as soon as 2016.
Glenn says:
Hi Helena,
Yes there is a fair bit of evidence backing up what you say.
It is indeed a case of “following the money” in many of these conflicts to see what the rationale is for most of them.
Thanks for taking the time to write an insightful comment.
Gold has to be the most worthless metal ever dreamt about. Asthetic jewelry, a small play in medicine and electronics and conveniently a ‘universal currency’ by horders who monopolise and oversee world curriencies. It is a good thing NZ stays away from gold reserve holdings, as its hit and miss these days whether you have ‘gold’ stock or ‘tungsten’ look-a-like bar… very close atomic weight between these two metals has inspired false gold reserve all over the place … like the load China got as payment from the fed reserve … they was not happy folks … wheres the real stuff going? Well … back to its owners of course – the guys who control the money systems certainly will want to control the ‘universal’ currency as well otherwise owning reserve banks and convential curriencies will mean jack shit … Ive got no gold, but Ive got 112 dollars in the bank … and thats just how I like it.
It would be interesting to see a table for private gold hold by country.
Scarey, I have more gold than the NZ Government!
Danny,
That would be an insightful piece of information alright. The World Gold Council does track Jewellery, Industrial and Investment demand but we are not aware of them itemizing the investment demand per country – probably because they don’t have the complete information in order to do so. As a large part of private investment in gold is in Over-the-Counter transactions, so it is very difficult to accurately measure.
Although undoubtedly India would be joined by China at the top and New Zealand would be a long way down the list. Also here’s a recent article on how China is about to take over top spot from India as the worlds top Gold consumer…
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLNE5B801V20091209?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=stocksNews&rpc=401&sp=true
Thanks for your comment.
GSG editors.
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I’m not a fan of government’s holding gold. I think if you want to hold gold, then we ought to do it ourselves. As far as currencies are concerned, I’d like to see private crypto-currencies underpinned by gold, if not other currencies. I’d not trust the NZ govt to hold it, as it would probably be plundered. How can we believe that Fort Knox still has its gold reserves. The Fed doesn’t publish the holdings, since its private. It leases it too. I’m not an advocate of such counter-party risks. I personally hold gold shares, because I know with gold in the ground, I don’t have to worry about it being stolen, and it offers an income. Its getting to a point where its almost time to buy.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is owned by the Rothschild Family, as are the Reserve banks in most other “western countries”, with the exception of Cuba, Nrth Korea and Iran – hence wars in the Middle East. (Good thing perhaps China bought the U.S.Fed Reserve and gold stocks held by J.P.Morgan) Rothschild took control of Iraq and Libya Reserve Banks – the way paved by blood under the umbrella “fight against terrorism”. Rothschild is now after Iran Reserve Bank by way of Syria. IMF and World Bank is controlled by the Rothschild Group – they have put the peoples of Portugal, Spain, Italy (U.K. although they don’t realize it yet) on their knees and now the peoples of Greece are getting up off their knees to say “NO MORE”. The wars in the Middle East are by Rothschild design to cause total disruption in Europe. How long before NATO troops are ordered in to “regain the peace” or better put take over control.
New Zealand has no gold reserves, Rothschild owns and controls the Reserve Bank and major high street banks. This Elite could put the people of NZ on their knees overnight. Perhaps as soon as 2016.
Hi Helena,
Yes there is a fair bit of evidence backing up what you say.
It is indeed a case of “following the money” in many of these conflicts to see what the rationale is for most of them.
Thanks for taking the time to write an insightful comment.
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Gold has to be the most worthless metal ever dreamt about. Asthetic jewelry, a small play in medicine and electronics and conveniently a ‘universal currency’ by horders who monopolise and oversee world curriencies. It is a good thing NZ stays away from gold reserve holdings, as its hit and miss these days whether you have ‘gold’ stock or ‘tungsten’ look-a-like bar… very close atomic weight between these two metals has inspired false gold reserve all over the place … like the load China got as payment from the fed reserve … they was not happy folks … wheres the real stuff going? Well … back to its owners of course – the guys who control the money systems certainly will want to control the ‘universal’ currency as well otherwise owning reserve banks and convential curriencies will mean jack shit … Ive got no gold, but Ive got 112 dollars in the bank … and thats just how I like it.
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