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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

'Key should call an economic summit'
Key should call economic summit after last week's shocking unemployment figures, NZ Herald's O'Sullivan says; 'Shrugging his shoulders doesn't cut it'; Your view?
12th Nov 12, 11:32am
by Alex Tarrant
8
Key should call economic summit after last week's shocking unemployment figures, NZ Herald's O'Sullivan says; 'Shrugging his shoulders doesn't cut it'; Your view?
Mike Moore: US economy to take off
NZ's US Ambassador Moore reckons US economy to 'take off' as energy prices collapse; Says NZ demanding no TPP exemptions, may give on IP & investment stance for agriculture
12th Nov 12, 10:04am
by Alex Tarrant
41
NZ's US Ambassador Moore reckons US economy to 'take off' as energy prices collapse; Says NZ demanding no TPP exemptions, may give on IP & investment stance for agriculture
Kyoto move about jobs
PM Key: NZ move to not sign second Kyoto agreement and set own climate change target about jobs; But, 'our image does matter'
12th Nov 12, 8:04am
by Alex Tarrant
50
PM Key: NZ move to not sign second Kyoto agreement and set own climate change target about jobs; But, 'our image does matter'
NZ's high flying housing market
Goldman Sachs includes NZ in list of high flying housing markets due to monetary easing by big central banks; It looks at use of macro-prudential tools to fix the problem
9th Nov 12, 12:29pm
by Alex Tarrant
2
Goldman Sachs includes NZ in list of high flying housing markets due to monetary easing by big central banks; It looks at use of macro-prudential tools to fix the problem
ANZ: 50 bps OCR cut if not for rebuild
ANZ economists would be calling for 50 basis point OCR cut if not for Christchurch rebuild; Eye March 2013 as time for a possible cut
8th Nov 12, 1:51pm
by Alex Tarrant
1
ANZ economists would be calling for 50 basis point OCR cut if not for Christchurch rebuild; Eye March 2013 as time for a possible cut
Unemployment like its 1999...
Unemployment rate rises unexpectedly for 3rd quarter in row to 7.3% in September; Highest since March 1999; vs expectation for 6.7%
8th Nov 12, 10:56am
by Alex Tarrant
63
Unemployment rate rises unexpectedly for 3rd quarter in row to 7.3% in September; Highest since March 1999; vs expectation for 6.7%
Wheeler warns on credit growth
Reserve Bank warns on credit growth; Says some needed but can’t turn excessive; ‘Or else RBNZ will act’; Eye on overvalued, undersupplied Auckland housing market
7th Nov 12, 9:12am
by Alex Tarrant
20
Reserve Bank warns on credit growth; Says some needed but can’t turn excessive; ‘Or else RBNZ will act’; Eye on overvalued, undersupplied Auckland housing market
NZ financial system stronger
NZ financial system stronger in last 6 mths, but faces significant challenges, Reserve Bank says; Warns on China; Eyes further NZ$ strength
7th Nov 12, 9:08am
by Alex Tarrant
1
NZ financial system stronger in last 6 mths, but faces significant challenges, Reserve Bank says; Warns on China; Eyes further NZ$ strength
Wilkinson resigns over Pike River
Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson resigns over Pike River report; Disaster put down to 20 years of failure to keep up with best safety practice
5th Nov 12, 5:54pm
by Alex Tarrant
14
Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson resigns over Pike River report; Disaster put down to 20 years of failure to keep up with best safety practice
Demand, not supply for house prices
Dominant drivers of NZ house prices are on demand side - tax settings, interest rates, and inflation expectations - Westpac economists say
5th Nov 12, 4:30pm
by Alex Tarrant
33
Dominant drivers of NZ house prices are on demand side - tax settings, interest rates, and inflation expectations - Westpac economists say
RBNZ seeks coin minter
Reserve Bank of New Zealand tenders contract for NZ$27.5 mln of new 10, 20 & 50 cent coins over next three years
5th Nov 12, 9:39am
by Alex Tarrant
Reserve Bank of New Zealand tenders contract for NZ$27.5 mln of new 10, 20 & 50 cent coins over next three years
Treasury's external scrutiny
As Treasury reaches out, external panel questions 20% debt target, notes Cullen-era surpluses required for a decade
2nd Nov 12, 1:49pm
by Alex Tarrant
6
As Treasury reaches out, external panel questions 20% debt target, notes Cullen-era surpluses required for a decade
Prices to keep rising due to supply issues
House prices in Auckland, Canterbury to keep rising due to supply constraints, ASB economists say after figures showing both firm sellers' markets
2nd Nov 12, 10:12am
by Alex Tarrant
33
House prices in Auckland, Canterbury to keep rising due to supply constraints, ASB economists say after figures showing both firm sellers' markets
A look at Labour's tax policy
Labour's second best, politically palatable capital gains tax stance; Why not actually do what the IMF and OECD recommend?
1st Nov 12, 3:02pm
by Alex Tarrant
27
Labour's second best, politically palatable capital gains tax stance; Why not actually do what the IMF and OECD recommend?
Canadians bid NZ$650m for Greymouth
Canada's TAG oil, already operating in NZ, wants to buy 100% of NZ-owned Greymouth Petroleum for NZ$650 mln, WSJ reports
31st Oct 12, 1:39pm
by Alex Tarrant
Canada's TAG oil, already operating in NZ, wants to buy 100% of NZ-owned Greymouth Petroleum for NZ$650 mln, WSJ reports
Auckland, Christchurch lead consent jump
Auckland and Christchurch lead 22% jump in building consents in September from year ago; Consents up 7.8% from August
31st Oct 12, 11:13am
by Alex Tarrant
1
Auckland and Christchurch lead 22% jump in building consents in September from year ago; Consents up 7.8% from August
How to better evaluate tourism events
NZIER: Hosting large events like the RWC are expensive undertakings. But most impact event analysis doesn't stack up. Benefits often far smaller than believed
30th Oct 12, 11:52am
by Alex Tarrant
4
NZIER: Hosting large events like the RWC are expensive undertakings. But most impact event analysis doesn't stack up. Benefits often far smaller than believed
'No better time to build apartments'
Auckland Deputy Mayor eyes going up in the city, different range of housing, & releasing land on the edges; 'Never a better time for apartment building'
30th Oct 12, 8:56am
by Alex Tarrant
41
Auckland Deputy Mayor eyes going up in the city, different range of housing, & releasing land on the edges; 'Never a better time for apartment building'
Govt's housing affordability plan
Government releases response to Productivity Commission's housing affordability report
29th Oct 12, 3:11pm
by Alex Tarrant
216
Government releases response to Productivity Commission's housing affordability report
Housing affordability response today
Govt to release response to housing affordability report later today; To focus on development costs, land supply, Finance Minister English says
29th Oct 12, 7:48am
by Alex Tarrant
25
Govt to release response to housing affordability report later today; To focus on development costs, land supply, Finance Minister English says
OCR on hold at 2.5%
OCR on hold at 2.50%; New Reserve Bank Governor Wheeler notes high NZ$ undermining export earnings; Expects inflation to head back to middle of target band; Says housing market activity rising as expected
25th Oct 12, 9:09am
by Alex Tarrant
26
OCR on hold at 2.50%; New Reserve Bank Governor Wheeler notes high NZ$ undermining export earnings; Expects inflation to head back to middle of target band; Says housing market activity rising as expected
'No quick fixes for affordability problem'
No quick fixes for complex, deep-seated and serious housing affordability issues, Finance Minister English says; Eyes response to Productivity Commission
24th Oct 12, 11:26am
by Alex Tarrant
72
No quick fixes for complex, deep-seated and serious housing affordability issues, Finance Minister English says; Eyes response to Productivity Commission
Iwi to get special SOE float share access
Iwi yet to complete Treaty settlements to be allowed shares in SOE floats 'on account' as part of forecast settlements, English says
17th Oct 12, 1:55pm
by Alex Tarrant
106
Iwi yet to complete Treaty settlements to be allowed shares in SOE floats 'on account' as part of forecast settlements, English says
Govt tussles with council over Auckland plan
Govt eyes more say over Auckland development rules; says if Council accepts govt panel recommendations, then no Environment Court appeals
17th Oct 12, 1:44pm
by Alex Tarrant
21
Govt eyes more say over Auckland development rules; says if Council accepts govt panel recommendations, then no Environment Court appeals
When will the next OCR move be?
Economist expectations for next OCR hike following lower-than-expected inflation figures pushing CPI below Reserve Bank target band
17th Oct 12, 11:18am
by Alex Tarrant
21
Economist expectations for next OCR hike following lower-than-expected inflation figures pushing CPI below Reserve Bank target band