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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

Inflation below RBNZ band, lowest since 99
CPI inflation 0.8% in year to Sept, lowest since 1999, below RBNZ target; Great if you’re importing a TV, but not if you're renting, buying a new home, own a home, or driving a car
16th Oct 12, 10:56am
by Alex Tarrant
34
CPI inflation 0.8% in year to Sept, lowest since 1999, below RBNZ target; Great if you’re importing a TV, but not if you're renting, buying a new home, own a home, or driving a car
Mighty River Power sale 'on track'
Mighty River Power sale still set to go ahead in March-June 2013 window, PM Key says; 'Legal action not unexpected'
15th Oct 12, 3:21pm
by Alex Tarrant
6
Mighty River Power sale still set to go ahead in March-June 2013 window, PM Key says; 'Legal action not unexpected'
Case for interest rate cut growing
Case for Reserve Bank to cut Official Cash Rate mounting, BNZ's Toplis says; But NZ$ will first have to rise further, and housing market stall
15th Oct 12, 2:53pm
by Alex Tarrant
21
Case for Reserve Bank to cut Official Cash Rate mounting, BNZ's Toplis says; But NZ$ will first have to rise further, and housing market stall
'Talk of manufacturing crisis overblown'
Talk of manufacturing crisis overblown, despite third consecutive monthly contraction in sector, BNZ says; 'Recent weakness turbulence, not tragedy'
11th Oct 12, 11:36am
by Alex Tarrant
12
Talk of manufacturing crisis overblown, despite third consecutive monthly contraction in sector, BNZ says; 'Recent weakness turbulence, not tragedy'
KiwiRail costs hit govt books
KiwiRail write-downs push govt deficit to worse position than expected in May Budget in year to June, govt financials show
10th Oct 12, 11:41am
by Alex Tarrant
25
KiwiRail write-downs push govt deficit to worse position than expected in May Budget in year to June, govt financials show
NZ property values above 2007 peak
NZ property values rise above 2007 peak in September, QV says; But inflation-adjusted values still down 12%
9th Oct 12, 12:48pm
by Alex Tarrant
54
NZ property values rise above 2007 peak in September, QV says; But inflation-adjusted values still down 12%
Businesses gloomy, trading weakens
Businesses gloomy, trading activity weakens in September quarter, suggesting lower growth in second half of 2012, NZIER says; OCR on hold 'for some time'
9th Oct 12, 10:13am
by Alex Tarrant
2
Businesses gloomy, trading activity weakens in September quarter, suggesting lower growth in second half of 2012, NZIER says; OCR on hold 'for some time'
Greens' Muldoonist, 'non-QE' slammed
NZIER's Eaqub: Greens' quake bond buying policy not QE; It's the sort of 'debt monetisation' practised by Mugabe; Will see poor pay for quake rebuild via inflation
9th Oct 12, 9:44am
by Alex Tarrant
106
NZIER's Eaqub: Greens' quake bond buying policy not QE; It's the sort of 'debt monetisation' practised by Mugabe; Will see poor pay for quake rebuild via inflation
REINZ warns of tight housing market
REINZ warns of tighter housing market heading into summer; Auckland median sale price hits new high; National stratified measure hits new high in Sept
8th Oct 12, 3:17pm
by Alex Tarrant
30
REINZ warns of tighter housing market heading into summer; Auckland median sale price hits new high; National stratified measure hits new high in Sept
'NZ can't be a pacifist in currency war'
Reserve Bank should print NZ$2 billion to buy govt earthquake bonds, overseas assets for earthquake fund, Green Party says; 'Will lower the NZ dollar'
8th Oct 12, 7:45am
by Alex Tarrant
128
Reserve Bank should print NZ$2 billion to buy govt earthquake bonds, overseas assets for earthquake fund, Green Party says; 'Will lower the NZ dollar'
'We need more banking competition'
Reserve Bank needs to promote banking competition after big 4 made more profit in 4yrs after crisis than before it, Green Party says; Want Kiwibank capital injection
5th Oct 12, 9:39am
by Alex Tarrant
35
Reserve Bank needs to promote banking competition after big 4 made more profit in 4yrs after crisis than before it, Green Party says; Want Kiwibank capital injection
Business NZ calls for OCR cut
Business NZ calls for new Reserve Bank Governor to cut OCR following RBA cut; 'Manufacturers are struggling'
4th Oct 12, 8:55am
by Alex Tarrant
50
Business NZ calls for new Reserve Bank Governor to cut OCR following RBA cut; 'Manufacturers are struggling'
Key, GCSB & Dotcom; The plot thickens
GCSB says it told PM Key of its involvement in Dotcom raid in Feb; Contradicts Key's comments that earliest he knew was Sept; GCSB gets own initials wrong
3rd Oct 12, 2:22pm
by Alex Tarrant
35
GCSB says it told PM Key of its involvement in Dotcom raid in Feb; Contradicts Key's comments that earliest he knew was Sept; GCSB gets own initials wrong
Barfoots eyes lift in house building
Average Auckland September selling price and number of houses sold down on August, Barfoots says, breaking 4-month run of rising prices
3rd Oct 12, 10:25am
by Alex Tarrant
11
Average Auckland September selling price and number of houses sold down on August, Barfoots says, breaking 4-month run of rising prices
Parker talks monetary policy changes
Labour's Parker on monetary policy; Says RBNZ should consider NZ$, employment & growth with inflation; RBNZ to decide appropriate mix; But monetary policy needs mates too
2nd Oct 12, 4:01pm
by Alex Tarrant
46
Labour's Parker on monetary policy; Says RBNZ should consider NZ$, employment & growth with inflation; RBNZ to decide appropriate mix; But monetary policy needs mates too
'Auckland housing market to keep booming'
Treasury told booming Auckland housing market expected to stay strong; Land available on outskirts, but negligible demand for it; Little potential for supply response
1st Oct 12, 3:52pm
by Alex Tarrant
33
Treasury told booming Auckland housing market expected to stay strong; Land available on outskirts, but negligible demand for it; Little potential for supply response
Labour's Shearer on monetary policy
Labour Party leader David Shearer discusses his party's stance on monetary policy with Alex Tarrant on TV3's The Nation
1st Oct 12, 9:05am
by Alex Tarrant
67
Labour Party leader David Shearer discusses his party's stance on monetary policy with Alex Tarrant on TV3's The Nation
Bollard warns against 'monetary protectionism'
Bollard: Major central bank QE could be 'monetary protectionism', but too early to tell; Says NZ property tax distortions still exist; 'They both pushed up the NZ$'
28th Sep 12, 8:11am
by Alex Tarrant
45
Bollard: Major central bank QE could be 'monetary protectionism', but too early to tell; Says NZ property tax distortions still exist; 'They both pushed up the NZ$'
Trading partner growth picks may fall
English: Treasury projections for NZ trading partner growth may be revised down in December update, due to subdued outlook offshore
27th Sep 12, 7:48am
by Alex Tarrant
1
English: Treasury projections for NZ trading partner growth may be revised down in December update, due to subdued outlook offshore
Fonterra 2012 payout down 19%
Fonterra announces final 2012 payout down 19% from last year, due to lower prices, high New Zealand dollar
26th Sep 12, 10:41am
by Alex Tarrant
75
Fonterra announces final 2012 payout down 19% from last year, due to lower prices, high New Zealand dollar
Asian support for govt bonds
Asian central banks supporting NZ govt bond market, hence low yields, high NZ$, Finance Minister English says; 'Sense they'll stick around'
26th Sep 12, 10:21am
by Alex Tarrant
1
Asian central banks supporting NZ govt bond market, hence low yields, high NZ$, Finance Minister English says; 'Sense they'll stick around'
More new faces for Solid Energy board
Economic Development Minister Joyce tees off at those opposing new Westport coal mine as Opposition bemoans loss of jobs at Spring Creek
25th Sep 12, 12:27pm
by Alex Tarrant
5
Economic Development Minister Joyce tees off at those opposing new Westport coal mine as Opposition bemoans loss of jobs at Spring Creek
RBNZ talks up NZ economic prospects
RBNZ: NZ "markedly better" than most of OECD despite setbacks; Part of reason for high NZ$; Sees housing market recovery, 'but not time to use new tools'
24th Sep 12, 3:40pm
by Alex Tarrant
11
RBNZ: NZ "markedly better" than most of OECD despite setbacks; Part of reason for high NZ$; Sees housing market recovery, 'but not time to use new tools'
And...another record migration loss to Aus
Record loss of migrants to Australia in year to August, Stats NZ says; Nearly net 40,000 cross Tasman to the 'lucky country'
21st Sep 12, 11:06am
by Alex Tarrant
60
Record loss of migrants to Australia in year to August, Stats NZ says; Nearly net 40,000 cross Tasman to the 'lucky country'
English: Why we won't change NZ$ policy
Finance Minister English on why the govt won't change NZ exchange rate policy; Says others' unorthodox policies carry large risks, create imbalances
21st Sep 12, 9:13am
by Alex Tarrant
37
Finance Minister English on why the govt won't change NZ exchange rate policy; Says others' unorthodox policies carry large risks, create imbalances