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Alex Tarrant

About

Alex is interest.co.nz's political journalist based in the Parliamentary Press Gallery in Wellington. He previously spent four years in London as a journalist and assistant editor at global financial newswire Mergermarket, which was part of the FT Group. Alex worked for interest.co.nz between 2008 and 2012, returning at the start of 2017.

Email Alex

Member for

15 years 5 months

Latest articles

OIO investigates Trinity Hill buyer's character
Overseas Investment Office investigating Trinity Hill vineyard buyer on good character grounds after he pleaded guilty to fraud charges in the US
7th Apr 17, 10:47am
by Alex Tarrant
6
Overseas Investment Office investigating Trinity Hill vineyard buyer on good character grounds after he pleaded guilty to fraud charges in the US
RMA reform Bill passed into law
RMA reform Bill passes as Maori Party supports National; ACT’s Seymour lets rip on the RMA; Labour's Robertson claims process corrupt; Greens outline housing demand problems; NZF announces coalition deal would require Bill's repeal
6th Apr 17, 6:28pm
by Alex Tarrant
14
RMA reform Bill passes as Maori Party supports National; ACT’s Seymour lets rip on the RMA; Labour's Robertson claims process corrupt; Greens outline housing demand problems; NZF announces coalition deal would require Bill's repeal
Why houses in NZ have become so expensive and change will be so hard
Shamubeel Eaqub rails against govt failures that led to an undersupply of 500,000 homes over 30 years, and rising societal gaps as social housing was ignored
6th Apr 17, 12:00pm
by Alex Tarrant
231
Shamubeel Eaqub rails against govt failures that led to an undersupply of 500,000 homes over 30 years, and rising societal gaps as social housing was ignored
Tackling land bankers with competitive land markets
Nick Smith says tackling land bankers best done by creating competitive land markets; Welcomes Productivity Commission proposals
6th Apr 17, 7:05am
by Alex Tarrant
39
Nick Smith says tackling land bankers best done by creating competitive land markets; Welcomes Productivity Commission proposals
RMA agreement a 'separatist abyss' - Peters
RMA politics rears its head in Parliament ahead of debate on National/Maori compromises on Iwi say over consenting process
4th Apr 17, 2:36pm
by Alex Tarrant
17
RMA politics rears its head in Parliament ahead of debate on National/Maori compromises on Iwi say over consenting process
Building firms looking to raise prices
Construction firms in position to raise prices as they hit capacity buffers with skilled labour shortages showing no signs of letting up, NZIER survey shows
4th Apr 17, 1:31pm
by Alex Tarrant
25
Construction firms in position to raise prices as they hit capacity buffers with skilled labour shortages showing no signs of letting up, NZIER survey shows
NZ crime tax raises $25m
Govt touts crime tax success as offender levy proceeds pushes through $25m mark since 2010
3rd Apr 17, 1:34pm
by Alex Tarrant
Govt touts crime tax success as offender levy proceeds pushes through $25m mark since 2010
Winston the Kingmaker
The latest polls show Winston Peters could be Kingmaker in September. So what way will he go? Alex Tarrant reckons it'll be easier for him to turn left due to Labour/Green Cabinet inexperience
2nd Apr 17, 5:59am
by Alex Tarrant
72
The latest polls show Winston Peters could be Kingmaker in September. So what way will he go? Alex Tarrant reckons it'll be easier for him to turn left due to Labour/Green Cabinet inexperience
What is govt doing on foreign buyer data?
Alex Tarrant looks into Overseas Investment Minister Mark Mitchell's comment that Stats NZ was doing work to capture 'a lot more' data on land purchases by foreigners
31st Mar 17, 9:31am
by Alex Tarrant
44
Alex Tarrant looks into Overseas Investment Minister Mark Mitchell's comment that Stats NZ was doing work to capture 'a lot more' data on land purchases by foreigners
Of land tax, land bankers, NIMBYs & debt
Land tax, council rates, land acquisition powers, value-capture tax & Auckland Council funding: Murray Sherwin chats to Alex Tarrant about improving NZ's urban planning framework
30th Mar 17, 12:02pm
by Alex Tarrant
17
Land tax, council rates, land acquisition powers, value-capture tax & Auckland Council funding: Murray Sherwin chats to Alex Tarrant about improving NZ's urban planning framework
PM welcomes Chinese bank competition
PM English welcomes Chinese banks providing competition to Aussie incumbents tightening lending criteria
30th Mar 17, 10:09am
by Alex Tarrant
10
PM English welcomes Chinese banks providing competition to Aussie incumbents tightening lending criteria
'Hey, those are our ideas'
Labour responds to challenge from Joyce that political parties should seriously consider ProdComm urban planning proposals in Election 2017 campaign; Notes similarities to current policies
29th Mar 17, 2:10pm
by Alex Tarrant
12
Labour responds to challenge from Joyce that political parties should seriously consider ProdComm urban planning proposals in Election 2017 campaign; Notes similarities to current policies
‘Auckland illustrates planning failures’
Auckland’s housing and infrastructure issues illustrate central failures of NZ’s urban planning system, Productivity Commission says
29th Mar 17, 8:02am
by Alex Tarrant
48
Auckland’s housing and infrastructure issues illustrate central failures of NZ’s urban planning system, Productivity Commission says
'Substantial urban planning changes required'
NZ's urban planning framework requires substantial overhaul to avoid further harmful effects from spiraling house prices, infrastructure shortfalls and environmental costs, Productivity Commission says; 'Scrap the RMA'
29th Mar 17, 5:02am
by Alex Tarrant
4
NZ's urban planning framework requires substantial overhaul to avoid further harmful effects from spiraling house prices, infrastructure shortfalls and environmental costs, Productivity Commission says; 'Scrap the RMA'
OIO breach fines a wet bus ticket - Labour
Labour hits out at overseas investment breach fines; Says document shows OIO investigations since 2011 show 250,000 hectares of sensitive land was illegally sold; Average fine of $8,500 a 'wet bus ticket'
28th Mar 17, 10:36am
by Alex Tarrant
17
Labour hits out at overseas investment breach fines; Says document shows OIO investigations since 2011 show 250,000 hectares of sensitive land was illegally sold; Average fine of $8,500 a 'wet bus ticket'
NZ, China to start FTA upgrade talks
NZ, China to begin talks on upgrading free trade agreement in April, PM English announces as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits Wellington
27th Mar 17, 1:11pm
by Alex Tarrant
10
NZ, China to begin talks on upgrading free trade agreement in April, PM English announces as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits Wellington
Wellington Mayor prods private land owners
Wellington Mayor Lester says Council will "encourage" house building on 490 hectares of private land on greenfield city fringe which could accommodate 2,750 new homes
27th Mar 17, 10:03am
by Alex Tarrant
20
Wellington Mayor Lester says Council will "encourage" house building on 490 hectares of private land on greenfield city fringe which could accommodate 2,750 new homes
The generational debate just got real
Warnings on New Zealand's environmental performance this week mean the intergenerational debate just got real in an election year, Alex Tarrant says
26th Mar 17, 6:02am
by Alex Tarrant
53
Warnings on New Zealand's environmental performance this week mean the intergenerational debate just got real in an election year, Alex Tarrant says
Free trade vital to NZ - PM
Free trade importance to NZ cannot be overstated, PM English says; Launches 2030 trade agenda including group to ‘better inform public on trade issues’
24th Mar 17, 9:42am
by Alex Tarrant
28
Free trade importance to NZ cannot be overstated, PM English says; Launches 2030 trade agenda including group to ‘better inform public on trade issues’
A 'presentist' intergenerational bias
Vic Uni Professor Jonathan Boston rallies against intergenerational equity bias that favours short-term political thinking; Outlines NZ successes, failures and why income inequality desperately needs to be tackled
24th Mar 17, 9:31am
by Alex Tarrant
10
Vic Uni Professor Jonathan Boston rallies against intergenerational equity bias that favours short-term political thinking; Outlines NZ successes, failures and why income inequality desperately needs to be tackled
Labour/Greens promise restraint, give themselves room
Labour/Greens budget rules give wiggle room on debt reduction and surpluses, but largely in line with current forecasts
24th Mar 17, 5:02am
by Alex Tarrant
22
Labour/Greens budget rules give wiggle room on debt reduction and surpluses, but largely in line with current forecasts
Key talks successes, regrets and life as PM
Key on economic policy successes, regrets including flag debate and TPP, Christchurch quake and Pike River, losing troops overseas and life in Parliament
22nd Mar 17, 6:47pm
by Alex Tarrant
33
Key on economic policy successes, regrets including flag debate and TPP, Christchurch quake and Pike River, losing troops overseas and life in Parliament
'Oil significant for some time yet'
Oil & gas to be significant for global economy for some time yet, Energy and Resources Minister Judith Collins says as prices pick up
22nd Mar 17, 12:31pm
by Alex Tarrant
5
Oil & gas to be significant for global economy for some time yet, Energy and Resources Minister Judith Collins says as prices pick up
How to fix NIMBYs, the RMA & property taxation in NZ
How NZ could fix property taxation, face down the NIMBY problem, overhaul the RMA and drive sustainable urban development - OECD
22nd Mar 17, 9:35am
by Alex Tarrant
32
How NZ could fix property taxation, face down the NIMBY problem, overhaul the RMA and drive sustainable urban development - OECD
PM requests bottled-water export review
Govt writes to water allocation advisory group asking for specific review on bottled-export issue after rise in public interest; Report set for November 2017
20th Mar 17, 6:04pm
by Alex Tarrant
26
Govt writes to water allocation advisory group asking for specific review on bottled-export issue after rise in public interest; Report set for November 2017