RBNZ Interest Rate Decision, February 2026
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand held the Official Cash Rate at 2.25% on February 18, 2026, as expected.
What the RBNZ decided in February 2026
NZD/USD after the RBNZ decision, minute by minute
One-minute candles, Wellington time. The box is the hour before the announcement. How we measure.
- The hour beforeNZD/USD ranged 8.8 pips, from 0.60414 to 0.60502, and was at 0.60414 at the announcement.
- The first spike After 0 minutes price went through the hour's low and ran 32 pips past it.
- The close back No five-minute candle closed back inside the range within the hour: the first move held.
- The other side Not measured: it needs a close back first.
- The moves From the last price before the announcement: −21 pips at 15 minutes, −23 pips at one hour, −43 pips at four hours.
Across 13 measured RBNZ decisions since January 2025, the first spike closed back inside the hour-before range within 60 minutes in 4 (31%), and in 2 of those price then took the other side within four hours. In the other 9 the first move held. Median move in the first 15 minutes: 30 pips.
This decision is one where the first move held. Counts include the decisions where it did not close back. All RBNZ dates · RBNZ overview.
RBNZ February 2026 decision: questions
What time was the RBNZ interest rate decision on Feb 18, 2026?
It was announced at 2:00 PM Wellington (8:00 PM EST New York, 1:00 AM London London), with the press conference at 3:00 PM Wellington.
What did the RBNZ decide in February 2026?
Held at 2.25% (previous 2.25%). Economists expected: hold at 2.25%, so the decision was as expected.
How did NZD/USD react to the RBNZ decision in February 2026?
On one-minute candles: the hour before ranged 8.8 pips; the first spike went below it by 32 pips; it did not close back inside within the hour; after one hour NZD/USD was −23 pips from its pre-announcement price.
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