Via Bloomberg comes comments from New Zealand PM John Key, speaking earlier today on radio in NZ:

New Zealand dollar gains against Australian counterpart are "reflection of the strength of the New Zealand economy, and the perception of those who price currencies of which economy is in better shape"

  • Says currency gain is "tough on exporters" ... but they've been "amazingly resilient"
  • But makes imported components cheaper
  • Says very little the government or the RBNZ can do
  • Says cutting interest rates is "conventional economics" but there have been times when rates have been lowered and the currency has gone up

Bloomberg with the headlines from earlier