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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

'DTIs can be very helpful if managed well'
Unprecedented net migration has little effect on monetary policy as younger people arrive, but macro-prudential tools may help if it feeds through to higher house prices, RBNZ says
9th Feb 17, 12:41pm
by Alex Tarrant
9
Unprecedented net migration has little effect on monetary policy as younger people arrive, but macro-prudential tools may help if it feeds through to higher house prices, RBNZ says
NZ risks include China, protectionism
Risks to NZ economy include Chinese financial stability, NZ housing and dairy sectors, Treasury and Joyce say; Treasury pencils in dairy price rises
9th Feb 17, 7:46am
by Alex Tarrant
2
Risks to NZ economy include Chinese financial stability, NZ housing and dairy sectors, Treasury and Joyce say; Treasury pencils in dairy price rises
House prices at peak – Joyce
NZ house prices look to have peaked, Joyce says as Treasury warns borrowers on rising interest rates; Greens eye BC-style stamp duty
8th Feb 17, 4:02pm
by Alex Tarrant
61
NZ house prices look to have peaked, Joyce says as Treasury warns borrowers on rising interest rates; Greens eye BC-style stamp duty
Govt delays RBNZ's plans for DTIs
Finance Minister says he wants full 'cost benefit analysis' and public consultation before considering introduction of debt-to-income ratios for house buying; DTIs now very unlikely before election
8th Feb 17, 1:09pm
by Alex Tarrant
28
Finance Minister says he wants full 'cost benefit analysis' and public consultation before considering introduction of debt-to-income ratios for house buying; DTIs now very unlikely before election
Govt 'will barely increase Auckland’s state housing stock,' Labour says
Housing NZ's $2 bln, 3-year building & acquisition programme to see net gain of 1,400 houses in Auckland
8th Feb 17, 11:46am
by Alex Tarrant
5
Housing NZ's $2 bln, 3-year building & acquisition programme to see net gain of 1,400 houses in Auckland
Labour okay with RBNZ interim move
Labour OK with 6-month interim RBNZ governor after election, but could be cut short by PTA review if in govt, Robertson says. Wants to include employment focus in PTA
8th Feb 17, 9:35am
by Alex Tarrant
Labour OK with 6-month interim RBNZ governor after election, but could be cut short by PTA review if in govt, Robertson says. Wants to include employment focus in PTA
Housing dominates Parliament opening
Housing a key focus for National-led govt this year, PM English says; Targets KiwiSaver fees, overseas investment & trade
7th Feb 17, 2:15pm
by Alex Tarrant
28
Housing a key focus for National-led govt this year, PM English says; Targets KiwiSaver fees, overseas investment & trade
PM feels good on US relations
PM English feeling good about NZ-US-Aus relations; Trade talks set to come after NAFTA sorted; talks China with Trump
7th Feb 17, 12:03pm
by Alex Tarrant
4
PM English feeling good about NZ-US-Aus relations; Trade talks set to come after NAFTA sorted; talks China with Trump
Northland drought medium scale - Govt
Medium scale drought in Northland declared
3rd Feb 17, 2:52pm
by Alex Tarrant
3
Medium scale drought in Northland declared
PM puts $500m into boosting police
Govt to spend $500m on 10% Police expansion, PM announces; Talks trade deals, global economy in State of Nation speech
2nd Feb 17, 1:16pm
by Alex Tarrant
36
Govt to spend $500m on 10% Police expansion, PM announces; Talks trade deals, global economy in State of Nation speech
PM sets the date
September 23 named as election date; Prime Minister says National would again work with Act, United Future and Maori Party; would talk to Winston, but NZ First 'an unlikely partner'
1st Feb 17, 2:38pm
by Alex Tarrant
45
September 23 named as election date; Prime Minister says National would again work with Act, United Future and Maori Party; would talk to Winston, but NZ First 'an unlikely partner'
RBNZ has room to stay low
OCR able to be kept at 1.75% into 2018 following unemployment and wage figures, economists say
1st Feb 17, 1:13pm
by Alex Tarrant
6
OCR able to be kept at 1.75% into 2018 following unemployment and wage figures, economists say
NZ unemployment and employment rates both rise
Rise in job seekers pushes up NZ unemployment rate; Those in work rises too; Wage growth steady
1st Feb 17, 10:54am
by Alex Tarrant
12
Rise in job seekers pushes up NZ unemployment rate; Those in work rises too; Wage growth steady
Friday's guest Top 10
Alex's Top 10: A million new home owners only know crisis rates; Blessed be the short sellers; EU debt deflation; Forward guidance; Bird and Fortune
7th Mar 14, 10:31am
by Alex Tarrant
6
Alex's Top 10: A million new home owners only know crisis rates; Blessed be the short sellers; EU debt deflation; Forward guidance; Bird and Fortune
Alex's Top 10 at 10
Alex's Top 10: Blame ze Germans; Draghi cuts; Highest property taxes in the world; Will England have a navy in two years' time? Catch up
8th Nov 13, 11:16am
by Alex Tarrant
119
Alex's Top 10: Blame ze Germans; Draghi cuts; Highest property taxes in the world; Will England have a navy in two years' time? Catch up
Growth lower than expected
Economy grows at half expected pace in Sept qtr; Revisions show June qtr growth cut in half; NZ did have double-dip recession in 2010; But annual growth highest in 4 yrs
20th Dec 12, 10:51am
by Alex Tarrant
62
Economy grows at half expected pace in Sept qtr; Revisions show June qtr growth cut in half; NZ did have double-dip recession in 2010; But annual growth highest in 4 yrs
Current account deficit narrows
NZ current account deficit narrows to 4.7% of GDP in Sept qtr from June, but more imports this year means more paid to rest of world than a year ago
19th Dec 12, 10:53am
by Alex Tarrant
5
NZ current account deficit narrows to 4.7% of GDP in Sept qtr from June, but more imports this year means more paid to rest of world than a year ago
Taxpayer bill from euro nations may grow
Odds on NZ taxpayers helping fund more European sovereign bailouts via the International Monetary Fund have increased, Treasury says
19th Dec 12, 10:05am
by Alex Tarrant
Odds on NZ taxpayers helping fund more European sovereign bailouts via the International Monetary Fund have increased, Treasury says
Govt on track for small surplus
Treasury lowers govt's forecast for 2014/15 surplus to NZ$66 mln from NZ$197 mln on Budget day; Debt Management Office increases debt programme
18th Dec 12, 12:39pm
by Alex Tarrant
20
Treasury lowers govt's forecast for 2014/15 surplus to NZ$66 mln from NZ$197 mln on Budget day; Debt Management Office increases debt programme
Petrol tax to be hiked 9 cents
Govt to hike petrol taxes and road user charges 9 cents over three years to pay for 'roads of national significance'
18th Dec 12, 11:16am
by Alex Tarrant
70
Govt to hike petrol taxes and road user charges 9 cents over three years to pay for 'roads of national significance'
SOE sales go to Supreme Court
Supreme Court grants leave for Maori Council to appeal High Court ruling that govt's asset sales decisions can't be reviewed
18th Dec 12, 10:54am
by Alex Tarrant
4
Supreme Court grants leave for Maori Council to appeal High Court ruling that govt's asset sales decisions can't be reviewed
Ross liquidators to look to Madoff
Ross Asset Management liquidators have big task deciding whether investors who received money before collapse can keep it
18th Dec 12, 9:04am
by Alex Tarrant
4
Ross Asset Management liquidators have big task deciding whether investors who received money before collapse can keep it
PwC to liquidate Ross companies
PwC to liquidate Ross Asset Management companies; Warns 'premature to assume anything at this stage in regards to third party recoveries'
17th Dec 12, 5:00pm
by Alex Tarrant
2
PwC to liquidate Ross Asset Management companies; Warns 'premature to assume anything at this stage in regards to third party recoveries'
'Economy to be worse for longer'
NZIER consensus forecasts show growth to be lower, OCR on hold til end of 2013, unemployment to stay high next year, NZ$ to keep rising
17th Dec 12, 12:20pm
by Alex Tarrant
20
NZIER consensus forecasts show growth to be lower, OCR on hold til end of 2013, unemployment to stay high next year, NZ$ to keep rising
Key's 2013 goal: Cut unemployment
PM Key says goal for 2013 is to reduce unemployment rate; Acknowledges NZers "cut us a fair bit of slack" due to headwinds
17th Dec 12, 8:38am
by Alex Tarrant
19
PM Key says goal for 2013 is to reduce unemployment rate; Acknowledges NZers "cut us a fair bit of slack" due to headwinds