New Zealand's top central banker said on Tuesday if recent gains in oil prices persist it would lead to "somewhat" higher inflation than previously forecast, adding that there remained significant risks to the country's economic recovery. In notes from a speech given in Dunedin, Reserve Bank of New Zealand Governor Anna Breman said the economic recovery was expected to strengthen and broaden, supported by exports and a gradual increase in household spending. "Recent increases in global oil prices and longer-term interest rates reflect the challenging environment we face," Breman said. "If higher oil prices persist, they are expected to result in somewhat higher near-term inflation than we assumed in the September statement."