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Alex is interest.co.nz's political journalist based in the parliamentary press gallery in Wellington.
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Articles by Alex Tarrant


'Next 5-10 years make or break for NZ'

Next 5-10 years make or break for NZ economy, ANZ chief economist Bagrie says; Urges govt to turn attention to natural resources, renewables potential; Details the 6 Cs

English defends current account blowout

Updated
Finance Minister English defends forecasts of worsening current account deficit; Says it's because investment intentions want more capital than NZ savings provide

Why Fonterra's TAF rebel should be heard

Alex Tarrant thinks Parliament's Primary Production Committee needs to urgently call back ex-Fonterra Shareholders' Council chair, who resigned over TAF concerns

Fonterra farmer rep resigns over TAF

Updated
Fonterra Shareholders' Council chair resigns due to "lack of comfort" with parts of Trading Among Farmers; Council then announces TAF support

Budget 2012 reactions

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Budget 2012 reactions: Economic assumptions on the high side; Surprise at GST take forecasts; 'Departure lounge Budget'

Govt eyes Kiwibank injection

Updated
Govt positions itself for Kiwibank captial injection in next few years; plans to use partial asset sale proceeds

Treasury lowers interest rate track

Treasury lowers forecast interest rate track over next four years; Expects first OCR hike at start of 2013, and for OCR to rise higher than Reserve Bank thinks

Govt scraps KiwiSaver plan

Updated
Govt scraps 2014 KiwiSaver auto-enrolment plan in bid to reach surplus in 2014/15 year

Govt eyes NZ$1.4b revenue grab

Govt eyes NZ$1.4 bln extra revenue over next four years as tobacco excise hiked, mixed-use and livestock rules tightened, tax compliance increased

NZ$ falls below 75 US cents

NZ$ falls below 75 US cents following former Greek PM's interview on Greece preparing for euro exit and 'catastrophic' fallout

Budget tax moves to target high income NZers

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Budget 2012 tax base broadening moves to target high income NZers avoiding obligations, English says; Budget theme 'confidence in uncertain times'

English wants more house builds

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Finance Minister English welcomes jump in investor confidence for rental property if it means more house building; Doesn't see bubble

Fonterra cuts payout forecast

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Fonterra cuts 2011/12 payout forecast 30 cents to NZ$6.45-6.55 per kg milksolids; announces 2012/13 initial forecast of NZ$5.95-6.05

Key and Parker's solutions to private debt

PM Key, Labour's Parker both wary of NZ's private debt; Key says controlling public debt will keep mortgage rates down, Parker eyes private savings, CGT

Euro-mess won't change Key on Super

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Key won't budge on Super at 65 stance even if European situation deteriorates to point where govt needs to look at policy changes

NZ to borrow more if crisis worsens-Key

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PM Key says NZ Government would delay move to surplus beyond 2014/15 and borrow more if Euro crisis worsens considerably

'Don't sell SOE shares; Borrow from Kiwis'

BERL economist Ganesh Nana suggests govt borrows from NZ mums & dads to finance new assets, rather than selling SOE shares, competing with bank deposits

'Councils should look at asset sales'

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Govt OK for councils to consider asset sales as replacement for debt, rates rises, PM Key and Local Government Minister Carter say. Your view?

NZ$ drops down through 76 USc

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NZ$ drops through 76 USc on back of negative sentiment, Aussie fall, Chinese data; At lowest point since before Christmas; Swap rates drop

Key: Low interest rates helping

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Low interest rates helping people into home ownership, Key says; One reason why govt scrapped Gateway scheme; Heatley says Crown land values very high