WELLINGTON, May 2 (Reuters) - New Zealand's central bank Deputy Governor Christian Hawkesby said on Thursday that New Zealand's economy had been evolving largely as expected.

"The big picture for us is that the economy is evolving, largely as we expected, in terms of what happens with higher interest rates, the way that works through the economy, the sectors that feel that the most, the way that flows into people's ability to meet their mortgage commitments and other commitments," Hawkesby told a New Zealand government select committee on Thursday. (Reporting by Lucy Craymer Editing by Chris Reese)