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Reserve Bank chairman Neil Quigley responds to allegations around Adrian Orr's resignation
Reserve Bank chairman Neil Quigley responds to allegations around Adrian Orr's resignation

NZ Herald

timea day ago

  • Business
  • NZ Herald

Reserve Bank chairman Neil Quigley responds to allegations around Adrian Orr's resignation

When Newstalk ZB asked Quigley about the alleged 'Statement of Concerns' on Tuesday night, he said, 'I can't go into that'. When it asked Quigley about the swearing allegation, he responded, 'I can't comment on that. That's a matter of privacy that I don't think I should discuss.' On the day Orr resigned, Quigley refused to elaborate on what led to the surprise decision, hurriedly announced the day before the Reserve Bank hosted an international economics conference. Quigley said it was a 'personal decision' that Orr made. Then in June, the Reserve Bank issued a more detailed statement saying Orr resigned because he disagreed with the board over the amount of government funding the bank should pitch for. However, Reddell's source suggests there was an element of Orr being pushed to resign. When Newstalk ZB quizzed Quigley on Tuesday over his explanations for Orr's resignation, he made the point that Orr did not have to resign over the funding disagreement. 'There was nothing about that, that required Adrian to resign. He chose to make it a personal decision that he would resign at that point,' Quigley said. A Reserve Bank spokesman told the Herald the bank didn't plan to release any more information about Orr's resignation in addition to its June statement and accompanying documents released under the Official Information Act (OIA). 'The Reserve Bank believes that we have provided what information we can within our legal obligations, noting that the Ombudsman is investigating a complaint related to our handling of these information requests,' the spokesman said. Orr declined the Herald's request for comment. Willis prepped to answer questions about raised voices Reddell – who is often critical of the Reserve Bank – said, in his Croaking Cassandra blog post, he did not know the identity of his source and could not independently verify their claims. However, he believed the source's tone and the way their claims aligned with material in the public domain, gave them credibility. For example, it is known that Willis' press secretary warned her journalists might ask about Orr's conduct. A document released to the Herald under the OIA in April shows that on the morning of Orr's resignation, the press secretary jotted down several answers Willis could use in response to questions she might be asked be journalists. One question he suggested Willis might be asked was: 'Did you ever have disagreements with Adrian Orr?' The press secretary advised Willis to respond: 'I'm not going to discuss what happens in meetings that discuss confidential and sensitive matters.' He suggested a follow-up question could be: 'Did the Governor ever raise his voice with you?' Willis was advised to respond: 'As I've said, my relationship with Adrian Orr was professional. It's not appropriate for me to comment further on meetings that discussed sensitive and confidential matters.' When the Herald asked Willis on Tuesday whether Orr raised his voice with her during the meeting they had on February 24, she said, 'As I've said previously – not that I recall.' Put to her that she surely did remember what happened, Willis said Orr did not raise his voice with her. She distanced herself from the issue, saying it was an employment matter between Orr and the Reserve Bank board. The Herald has asked Treasury to comment on the allegation Orr lost his cool during the February 21 meeting. A copy of the meeting minutes has also been requested. Reserve Bank chairman Neil Quigley says he can't comment on allegations around what led to Adrian Orr's resignation. Photo / Mark Mitchell February 27 board meeting pivotal The Reserve Bank, in its official June explanation for Orr's resignation, said that by the time the board met on February 27, it was clear that it and Willis were willing to agree to a 'considerably lesser amount' of funding for the bank than Orr deemed necessary. 'This caused distress to Mr Orr and the impasse risked damaging necessary working relationships, and led to Mr Orr's personal decision that he had achieved all he could as Governor of the Reserve Bank and could not continue in that role with sufficiently less funding than he thought was viable for the organisation,' the Reserve Bank said. Secretary to the Treasury Iain Rennie texted Willis during the evening of February 27 to say he had spoken to Quigley. Details of the exchange were redacted, but Willis responded, 'Thanks for the update.' February 27 is also the day Reddell's source alleges Quigley sent Orr a 'Statement of Concerns'. The Reserve Bank said that following the board meeting, Orr and Quigley 'entered discussions, which led to Mr Orr's decision to resign. Both parties engaged senior counsel to negotiate an appropriate exit agreement.' Quigley involved in appointment of new Governor Orr hasn't spoken publicly about his resignation. His concerns over funding for the bank are detailed in an email, released under the OIA, which he sent board members on February 14. He noted the tension between submitting a funding proposal the Government wanted to hear, versus one that supported the bank's goals. 'The importance and clarity of operational independence for central banks is judged by global financial markets now and in the future. Not by any current Government,' Orr told the board. Since Orr's departure, the Reserve Bank has embarked on a major restructure that has involved several executives leaving and senior roles being cut. The board is in the process of finding someone it will recommend Willis appoints as Governor. In the meantime, Orr's former deputy, Christian Hawkesby, is acting Governor. When in Opposition, Willis was unhappy Quigley recommended Orr be reappointed Governor for a second term. However, last year, she reappointed Quigley chairman until June 2026. Jenée Tibshraeny is the Herald's Wellington business editor, based in the Parliamentary Press Gallery. She specialises in government and Reserve Bank policymaking, economics and banking.

At The 50-Yard Line, Kenneth Orr Makes A Play For Moderation
At The 50-Yard Line, Kenneth Orr Makes A Play For Moderation

Int'l Business Times

time2 days ago

  • Business
  • Int'l Business Times

At The 50-Yard Line, Kenneth Orr Makes A Play For Moderation

Kenneth Orr and Family Kenneth Orr has built his career by spotting undervalued assets. Now, the activist investor, and former Tufts University defensive lineman, is betting that America's political center is one of them. This summer, Orr unveiled Meet Me at the Fifty , a nonprofit dedicated to facilitating purposeful conversation. The football-inspired name, suggested by his sister Jackie Orr, anchors the group's key proposition: if rival teams can shake hands at midfield, United States citizens ought to be able to do the same on life's 50-yard line. "Maybe the answer isn't about teaching people something new," Orr says. "Maybe it's reminding people of what they already know but have lost sight of in all of the outrage." The organization plans to fund a series of initiatives it will call "Dialogue Drills." They will launch digital ad campaigns to cool partisan hotspots on social media, host campus forums where college students across the political spectrum can engage in open dialogue, and lead small-group listening sessions that pair Republicans and Democrats alike. In these sessions, participants will earn points by accurately restating an opposing viewpoint before offering their own — a practice meant to reward understanding before rebuttal. "Specific locations and dates for the Dialogue Drills are still being finalized" says Orr. He also envisions deploying a mobile recording booth to capture short conversations for a future podcast and video series. This project traces back to P.S. 28 Wright Brothers, the Harlem elementary school where Orr's mother Barbara taught art and coached basketball. "She instilled in me that education is a great equalizer," Orr recalls. The doctrine "equal opportunity, not equal outcome" would later inform his philanthropy and investment ethos. His family places importance on generosity, a value that has followed him into his business career. In 2014, Orr founded KORR Acquisitions Group and has since led activist campaigns at small-cap firms across industries from telecom to energy. Orr has built a reputation for polite but firm shareholder letters that shun the verbal flamethrowers preferred by some in the activist crowd. Team sports taught him the importance of working together for a common good or goal. "Call strikes and balls the way you see them," he jokes. "Just make sure you're seeing clearly." Meet Me at the Fifty will measure its progress in decibels rather than legislation. The organization's stated mission is to normalize moderation and create a public space where centrist voices are not drowned by the extremes. "If two people who voted opposite ways can finish a meal without walking out on each other, that is progress," Orr said. Through ad campaigns, local events, and educational content, the group aims to restore the art of listening and create a space for reflection, not reaction. The group has no partisan affiliation and will not endorse candidates, Orr says. Its messaging will be intentionally nonpolitical, focused on behavioral norms like patience, listening, and curiosity. The idea is to build trust before taking sides. Formal nonprofit paperwork is being prepared for filing in New York, according to Orr. He expects 501(c)(3) status to follow next year and says that political affiliations will not be a factor in his board selection. Early funding will come from his family foundation and personal resources, with the goal of inviting outside donors once the group secures 501(c)(3) status in New York. "People think in binaries: left or right, black or white," he says. "But most of us agree on more than we think. We just need help seeing it." Critics may dismiss the middle ground as watered-down centrism, but Orr argues that it can be "the strongest turf on the field when it focuses on principles first." He points to recent public-opinion research suggesting that many Americans still view their opposing side as fundamentally decent. "We're living in a land of hypocrisy and divide," he said. "Take the blinders off, and you will find that most Americans actually can agree on most things." Whether that principle can scale beyond a slogan depends on funding and reach, but Orr plans to combine digital outreach with volunteer-led Dialogue Drills moderated by trained facilitators. Orr expects early challenges. He admits that "moderation isn't popular" and that viral content often favors outrage. But he believes a growing exhaustion with extremism opens a door for what he calls "compassionate centrism." While he doesn't expect Meet Me at the Fiftyto solve polarization overnight, he hopes it can build small bridges that add up over time. For the time being, the former football player is satisfied with moving the ball a few yards at a time. Like the classroom where his mother once taught, Meet Me at the Fifty is a space where every voice matters and where the real lesson is learning how to listen. "Meet me at the fifty" Orr states. "Let's start talking."

Transported to idyllic world
Transported to idyllic world

Otago Daily Times

time3 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • Otago Daily Times

Transported to idyllic world

NZSO principal oboe Robert Orr. PHOTO: SUPPLIED An excited audience packed the King's and Queen's Performing Arts Centre on Saturday evening to hear an exceptionally polished performance by the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra under the inspirational conductor Benjamin Bayl with guest oboist Robert Orr. Three works from the Western classical repertoire transported the audience to an idyllic world of stability, exuberance and wealth as portrayed by three prodigious composers of the 18th and 19th centuries. The highlight of the event was the Mozart Oboe Concerto given a stunningly beautiful performance by Robert Orr. Orr's exceptional breath control over long lyric phrases held true over increasingly technically demanding solo obligatii. Orr richly deserved the prolonged applause. The reduced orchestration of Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks (1749) befits the concert chamber. Composed for extraordinarily large forces as incidental music in the days before loudspeakers were a thing, it invites its audience to celebrate peace by right, royally dancing the night away despite the fizzled fireworks display. Its catchy rhythms, rousing grandeur and the strength of the DSO's wind section created a successful performance. Schubert's 4th Symphony, ''The Tragic'', has a Bryon-esque opening. It wallows in poetic gloom before the following movements emerge grandly frenetic. Reprieve comes in the briefly sweeping menuetto. Schubert is better remembered for his chamber works. The Tragic is built on standard classic composition techniques in which a small amount of thematic material is, to put it simply, echoed down and up the melodic scale through the various timbres of instrumental groups before upping the tempo with inverted thematic material. All credit to all sections of the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra and to the conductor for keeping the delivery crisp, energetic and tight while testing stamina. The whole event was a sublime escape, leaving the audience feeling all the richer for the experience.

Donegal man assaulted Garda and damaged motorcycle during spate of incidents on Valentine's Day
Donegal man assaulted Garda and damaged motorcycle during spate of incidents on Valentine's Day

Irish Independent

time5 days ago

  • Irish Independent

Donegal man assaulted Garda and damaged motorcycle during spate of incidents on Valentine's Day

Owen Orr (32) of Tullyverry Drive, Derry, appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court before Judge Roderick Maguire charged with a number of incidents which occurred on February 14, 2019. Orr, a father of five, previously pleaded guilty in April 2024 one count of assault causing harm at Manorcunningham in Co Donegal on February 14, 2019. At Letterkenny Circuit Court this week, Orr pleaded guilty to other offences which occurred on the same date including unlawful interference with a vehicle, dangerous driving, criminal damage, failure to report an accident, refusal to provide a specimen, and assaulting a Garda. Orr is charged that he assaulted Garda Michael Kilcoyne, a peace officer, acting in the course of his duty, at Cullion Road, Letterkenny, Orr is also charged with the unlawful interference with a mechanically propelled vehicle, the property of Charles Bonner, while such vehicle was stationary at Manorcunningham by removing the key from the ignition. He is also charged with dangerous driving on the N13 on February 14, 2019 He is further charged that he did without lawful excuse damage property, to wit, a Toyota Corolla, belonging to Kathleen Birch intending to damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged at Dromore, Letterkenny, on February 14, 2019. He is also charged with failing to report an accident when injury was caused to property or a person at Dromore Lower on February 14, 2019 being the driver of a mechanically propelled vehicle involved in the accident. Orr was also charged with refusal or failing to provide a blood specimen/urine sample having been required by gardaí on February 14, 2019. Other charges were also taken into account by the court. State Prosecutor, Ms Fiona Crawford, BL, along with Garda Daire Sheridan outlined the incidents to the court. The court heard another motorist, Charles Bonner, was driving a Landcruiser towards the Manorcunningham roundabout when he observed a vehicle overtaking vehicles before pulling in front of him. Mr Bonner flashed his lights at the vehicle and the driver braked forcing Mr Bonner to brake and he came to a stop. Mr Bonner told gardaí that the car reversed back and continued to brake preventing him from leaving the area. The driver, now known as Orr, got out of the car and punched Mr Bonner on the nose, removed his keys from the ignition and threw them in the hedge. Mr Bonner could not find his keys and suffered a cut on his face caused by his glasses. A short time later, gardaí received a report of a two car traffic collision at Dromore Lower, Letterkenny. The court heard Ms Kathleen Birch and her daughter were traveling towards Letterkenny down Lurgybrack approaching the Dry Arch Roundabout when a car pulled onto her side of the road and hit into them. Ms Birch suffered pain in her back and legs and a number of people came to help after the incident. Orr left the scene of the crash on foot but he left behind his wallet with banks cards inside and there was a letter addressed to him in the vehicle. Garda motorcyclist Michael Kilcoyne attended the scene and went in search of Orr who was found on the Cullion Road. Garda Kilcoyne approached Orr and he became aggressive and assaulted the Garda by grabbing him by the neck, pulling him from the motorcycle. The motorcycle fell to the ground and damage was caused to the frame of the bike. During the arrest, there was a bit of a 'scuffle' and he had to be forced into the Garda vehicle. He was taken to Letterkenny Garda Station and refused to provide a sample for testing. Orr was interviewed about the incident on February 18, 2019 and apologised for the incident. Barrister for Orr, Mr Ciaran Elders BL, instructed by solicitor Frank Dorrian, said Orr was co operative during the second interview and the court heard he 'could not have been more apologetic.' Mr Elders told the court Orr entered a plea on the first day the case was returned to the Circuit Court and he had gathered €2,000 worth of compensation including €500 to replace Mr Bonner's key, €750 for the damage to his glasses and a further €750 for Garda Kilcoyne to be donated to a charity of his choice. A further €500 was also available to Mrs Birch while the court heard civil proceedings had arose from the collision. Mr Elders told the court that Orr finds himself in a much better place today and he has not come to Garda attention in a number of years. Mr Elders said the offence occurred while he was under the influence of an intoxicant but that he has been attending AA meetings. The court heard that Orr has been abusing various different substances since the age of 13 and this is the root cause of his offending. Mr Elder said Orr has a high IQ and his children are also very intelligent with positive outlooks in attending college, while he is a 'great help' with his two younger children. Mr Elders said if the court is inclined to impose a custodial sentence, it may be mindful to suspend the sentence for a long period of time to encourage Orr to continue on he path he finds himself on and it would also act as a deterrent for a number of years. Mr Elders said Orr had rehabilitated himself and had come a long way since 2019. The court heard there is also the option of community service. Mr Elders described the incident as 'an unfortunate sequence of event' and asked Judge Roderick Maguire to be as lenient as possible with his client. Judge Maguire said he would not finalise the sentence at the hearing and the case was adjourned until Friday, July 25.

Dad-of-five crashed car into mum and daughter and assaulted Garda in rampage
Dad-of-five crashed car into mum and daughter and assaulted Garda in rampage

Sunday World

time6 days ago

  • Sunday World

Dad-of-five crashed car into mum and daughter and assaulted Garda in rampage

Owen Orr, who has 31 previous convictions, punched a fellow motorist in the face, assaulted a Garda, damaged his motorbike and crashed his car into a mother and daughter A man who was described as having a very high IQ but who is a 'Jekyll and Hyde' character after drinking alcohol has appeared in court after going on a rampage in Co Donegal. Owen Orr committed a series of offences on St Valentine's Day in 2019 leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. The father-of-five punched a fellow motorist in the face, assaulted a Garda, damaged his motorbike and crashed his car into a mother and daughter. Orr, who has 31 previous convictions, appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court where he pleaded guilty to a range of offences which all occurred on the same evening. The 32-year-old is charged that, at Cullion Road, Letterkenny, he assaulted Garda Michael Kilcoyne, a peace officer, acting in the course of his duty. The charge is contrary to Section 19 (3) of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994, as amended by Section 185 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006. Owen Orr at Letterkenny Circuit Court. Photo: North West Newspix Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 17th He is also charged that he did without lawful excuse damage property, to wit, a Garda Honda motorcycle, belonging to the Chief Superintendent, An Garda Siochana. The charge is contrary to Section 2 (1) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991. Orr is charged with the unlawful interference with a mechanically propelled vehicle, the property of Charles Bonner, while such vehicle was stationary at Manorcunningham by removing the key from the ignition. The charge is contrary to Section 113 or the Road Traffic Act, 1961, as amended by Section 6 of the Road Traffic Act, 1968 and Section 18 of the Road Traffic Act, 2006. He is also charged with dangerous driving on the N13 on February 14th, 2019 He is further charged that, at Dromore, Letterkenny, on February 14, 2019, that he did without lawful excuse damage property, to wit, a Toyota Corolla belonging to Kathleen Birch intending to damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged. The charge is contrary to Section 2 (1) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991. He is also charged with failing to report an accident when injury was caused to property or a person at Dromore Lower on February 14th, 2019 being the driver of a vehicle involved in the accident. Owen Orr at Letterkenny Circuit Court. Photo: North West Newspix Other charges were also taken into account by the court. Prosecutor for the State, Ms Fiona Crawford, BL, along with Garda Daire Sheridan outlined the series of events on the day which led to Orr's arrest. He told how another motorist, Charles Bonner, was driving on the dual carriageway into Letterkenny when he saw another car overtaking a series of other vehicles before pulling in front of him. Mr Bonner flashed his lights at the car but the other driver, now known to be Owen Orr, slammed on his brakes forcing the other driver to brake. Mr Bonner stopped and the driver of the other car came over, punched him in the nose, pulled the keys out of his jeep and then threw them into a hedge and drove off with the entire incident being captured on dashcam. At Dromore Lower, some kilometres down the road, Mrs Kathleen Birch and her daughter were traveling towards Letterkenny down Lurgybrack when a car pulled out and smashed into them. Mrs Birch suffered pain in her back and legs and feared her car was going to go on fire as other motorists came to her aid. The driver of the other car fled on foot but left his wallet with bank cards and identification at the scene. Garda motorcyclist Michael Kilcoyne arrived at the scene of the accident and went in search of the driver of the other car and found Owen Orr walking at nearby Cullion Road. He addressed Orr who became aggressive and assaulted the Garda by grabbing him by the neck causing his motorbike to fall to the ground. A scuffle broke out and Orr lashed out at the arresting officer by kicking him before he was taken to Letterkenny Garda Station for questioning. While in the station, Orr refused to give either a blood or urine sample to a registered nurse. The accused man was interviewed four days later when sober and the court was told he was very apologetic about the incident. Barrister for Orr, Mr Ciaran Elders, BL, directed by solicitor Frank Dorrian, said his client was very cooperative during the second interview describing him as a 'Jekyll and Hyde' character when he had alcohol taken. He added that he finds himself in a better place today and has been sober since 2023 after two periods in rehabilitation apart from a small lapse. The accused man had a total of €2,000 in compensation to offer including a sum to replace the €500 key for Mr Bonner's jeep, another €750 for the damage to his glasses and €750 to be given to a charity of Garda Kilcoyne's choice. A further €500 was also available to Mrs Birch while the court was also told that civil proceedings are also ongoing arising from the collision. Mr Elders added that his client was now trying to put his life back together and was a man with a high IQ with five children, the oldest of which were also academically gifted and wanted to attend college. Judge Roderick Maguire addressed the accused and asked him how his family were now keeping and how his life was now that he is trying to remain sober. Orr said that he was attending AA meetings four times a week. The reason the case has taken so long to come before the court was that Orr was involved in a very serious car accident during Covid lockdown and was seriously injured, the court was told. Mr Elders suggested to Judge Maguire that if he was considering a custodial sentence that perhaps he would consider suspending the sentence for a long period so his client could be encouraged not to engage in negative behaviour again. He added that now that it appears that Orr has been rehabilitated and has also come a long way since this incident in 2019, he was not sure how a custodial sentence could benefit Orr or society at large. He said Orr was available to undertake community service and ended by asking the court to be as lenient as possible. Judge Maguire said he will deliver his final sentence next week.

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