By Lucy Craymer

WELLINGTON (Reuters) -New Zealand’s finance minister is expected to announce a new central bank chief in the coming weeks, with economists hoping the move will signal the end of a tumultuous period in which both the bank’s governor and chairman unexpectedly departed.

Whoever takes the reins of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand faces a tough task: repairing the reputational damage done by a deep downturn in the economy, while defending the bank’s independence from a critical government.

“We face a test of trust and confidence in us as an organisation,” interim Governor Christian Hawkesby said in a speech earlier this month.

“I want to assure you that we are resolutely focused on our mandate of delivering low and stable inflation in the medium term, and a resilient and enab

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