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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 6 months

Latest articles

Selling down your home in retirement
NZ needs to look at decumulation in retirement income debate, expat economist says; 'How do you convince retirees to start selling down their homes?'
14th Dec 12, 1:06pm
by Alex Tarrant
31
NZ needs to look at decumulation in retirement income debate, expat economist says; 'How do you convince retirees to start selling down their homes?'
Upton outlines economic challenges
Ex-Cabinet Minister turned OECD official Simon Upton highlights range of risks facing NZ economy over 40yrs including global warming, pollution, pandemics, war, financial crises, deficits...
13th Dec 12, 5:19am
by Alex Tarrant
31
Ex-Cabinet Minister turned OECD official Simon Upton highlights range of risks facing NZ economy over 40yrs including global warming, pollution, pandemics, war, financial crises, deficits...
Cullen on managing Super costs
Former Finance Minister Cullen gives three ways to manage Super costs; Tax KiwiSaver withdrawals; Form of income testing; Super levy
12th Dec 12, 11:10am
by Alex Tarrant
9
Former Finance Minister Cullen gives three ways to manage Super costs; Tax KiwiSaver withdrawals; Form of income testing; Super levy
Court throws out bid to halt asset sales
High Court rules govt decision to sell shares in four energy SOEs in partial-privatisation programme not reviewable
11th Dec 12, 4:29pm
by Alex Tarrant
11
High Court rules govt decision to sell shares in four energy SOEs in partial-privatisation programme not reviewable
KiwiSaver as a monetary policy tool?
Could universal KiwiSaver be used for monetary policy means, former Finance Minister Cullen asks
11th Dec 12, 3:02pm
by Alex Tarrant
25
Could universal KiwiSaver be used for monetary policy means, former Finance Minister Cullen asks
'Housing affordability a key retirement income issue'
Housing affordability a looming retirement income crisis, retiring Retirement Commissioner Crossan says
11th Dec 12, 9:08am
by Alex Tarrant
18
Housing affordability a looming retirement income crisis, retiring Retirement Commissioner Crossan says
Billions to fix prone buildings
Cost of upgrading NZ's 15,000-25,000 earthquake-prone buildings between NZ$2 bln and NZ$12 bln, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment estimates
7th Dec 12, 10:51am
by Alex Tarrant
23
Cost of upgrading NZ's 15,000-25,000 earthquake-prone buildings between NZ$2 bln and NZ$12 bln, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment estimates
RBNZ hikes NZ$ forecast
Reserve Bank hikes NZ$ forecast - TWI to stay above 71 into 2015; Says NZ$ higher than it wants; 'Due partly to major economy QE, NZ's relatively good prospects'
6th Dec 12, 12:47pm
by Alex Tarrant
7
Reserve Bank hikes NZ$ forecast - TWI to stay above 71 into 2015; Says NZ$ higher than it wants; 'Due partly to major economy QE, NZ's relatively good prospects'
RBNZ’s house price warning
Reserve Bank warns of higher interest rates if house price inflation turns excessive again
6th Dec 12, 9:06am
by Alex Tarrant
18
Reserve Bank warns of higher interest rates if house price inflation turns excessive again
RBNZ leaves OCR unchanged
Reserve Bank leaves OCR unchanged at 2.50%; Leaves rate projection pointing to early-mid 2014 rate hike unchanged
6th Dec 12, 9:04am
by Alex Tarrant
22
Reserve Bank leaves OCR unchanged at 2.50%; Leaves rate projection pointing to early-mid 2014 rate hike unchanged
Deficit already 6.3% worse
Government operating deficit already 6.3% worse than expected in first 4 mths of year due to lower tax take, interest rates
5th Dec 12, 10:09am
by Alex Tarrant
45
Government operating deficit already 6.3% worse than expected in first 4 mths of year due to lower tax take, interest rates
'LVR controls for financial stability'
PM Key on LVR controls: 'For financial stability, not monetary policy means; Too easy to get around restrictions'
4th Dec 12, 4:42pm
by Alex Tarrant
7
PM Key on LVR controls: 'For financial stability, not monetary policy means; Too easy to get around restrictions'
NZ First kicks out Brendan Horan
NZ First leader Winston Peters expels MP Brendan Horan from caucus after receiving 'substantive information'
4th Dec 12, 3:29pm
by Alex Tarrant
1
NZ First leader Winston Peters expels MP Brendan Horan from caucus after receiving 'substantive information'
English less worried on Aust, China
Finance Minister English 'a wee bit less worried' about outlook for Australian, Chinese economies; Govt surplus target a 'challenge'
4th Dec 12, 11:34am
by Alex Tarrant
3
Finance Minister English 'a wee bit less worried' about outlook for Australian, Chinese economies; Govt surplus target a 'challenge'
RBNZ's Wheeler responds on profits
New Reserve Bank Governor Graeme Wheeler misled Parliament on bank profits, Green Party claims
4th Dec 12, 9:30am
by Alex Tarrant
51
New Reserve Bank Governor Graeme Wheeler misled Parliament on bank profits, Green Party claims
Key: Land supply, not govt subsidy
PM Key on NZ housing fix: Increasing land supply in Auckland the answer, not a massive government-subsidised build
4th Dec 12, 8:20am
by Alex Tarrant
65
PM Key on NZ housing fix: Increasing land supply in Auckland the answer, not a massive government-subsidised build
Starter home designer eyes affordability
Starter home design winner Tony Koia talks costs for mass-producing affordable homes with lower running costs; Also eyes Christchurch opportunities
3rd Dec 12, 9:55am
by Alex Tarrant
33
Starter home design winner Tony Koia talks costs for mass-producing affordable homes with lower running costs; Also eyes Christchurch opportunities
Labour-Greens govt if election today
Latest TV1 poll shows Labour-Greens govt if election held today; National biggest party, but lack of potential partners poses 2014 "challenge," PM Key says
3rd Dec 12, 9:46am
by Alex Tarrant
15
Latest TV1 poll shows Labour-Greens govt if election held today; National biggest party, but lack of potential partners poses 2014 "challenge," PM Key says
NZIER warns on Australia, housing
NZIER warns Australian slowdown biggest risk to NZ economic recovery; Also says recession possible if overheating housing market falls away
28th Nov 12, 8:49am
by Alex Tarrant
32
NZIER warns Australian slowdown biggest risk to NZ economic recovery; Also says recession possible if overheating housing market falls away
Labour's housing numbers, National's 'support'
Where Labour got its numbers from for NZ$300,000 cost to build affordable homes; Delighted govt 'backs' raw land costs; Plus, can David Parker do maths?
28th Nov 12, 8:32am
by Alex Tarrant
68
Where Labour got its numbers from for NZ$300,000 cost to build affordable homes; Delighted govt 'backs' raw land costs; Plus, can David Parker do maths?
TPP likely involve dairy phase in
PM Key on TPP: NZ wants high quality agreement, which means dairy included; Might be phased in over 10 years
26th Nov 12, 4:52pm
by Alex Tarrant
6
PM Key on TPP: NZ wants high quality agreement, which means dairy included; Might be phased in over 10 years
Is Labour eyeing more state homes?
Shearer on NZ$300,000 houses: 'It can be done'; Plus, will Labour also commit to more state homes? "There's a possib— Well, look, I’m not going to go there now"
26th Nov 12, 9:48am
by Alex Tarrant
15
Shearer on NZ$300,000 houses: 'It can be done'; Plus, will Labour also commit to more state homes? "There's a possib— Well, look, I’m not going to go there now"
Mighty River move not surprising
Tower Investments CEO Stubbs not surprised by Mighty River Power move to increase dividend ratio
26th Nov 12, 8:33am
by Alex Tarrant
1
Tower Investments CEO Stubbs not surprised by Mighty River Power move to increase dividend ratio
Mighty River increases dividends
Mighty River Power - first up in govt sell down programme - announces bigger dividends just days ahead of Maori Council High Court hearing seeking to halt sale
23rd Nov 12, 4:36pm
by Alex Tarrant
Mighty River Power - first up in govt sell down programme - announces bigger dividends just days ahead of Maori Council High Court hearing seeking to halt sale
Land tax, CGT considered again
Panel testing govt's long-term cost pressures considers land and capital gains taxes for broadening revenue base; But resigned to politics getting in the way as Treasury says land tax most efficient
23rd Nov 12, 12:30pm
by Alex Tarrant
113
Panel testing govt's long-term cost pressures considers land and capital gains taxes for broadening revenue base; But resigned to politics getting in the way as Treasury says land tax most efficient