sign up log in
Want to go ad-free? Find out how, here.

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

14 years 4 months

Latest articles

Winston Peters says there are 9 possible outcomes based on election night and will wait until 7 October special votes are in before further comments; Options are understood to include issue-by-issue minority govt situation
27th Sep 17, 4:32pm
103
Winston Peters says there are 9 possible outcomes based on election night and will wait until 7 October special votes are in before further comments; Options are understood to include issue-by-issue minority govt situation
As National and Labour fight for NZ First’s attention, the battle for the fiscal high ground remains politically relevant, Alex Tarrant writes. It could mean Labour doesn’t feel so bad if Peters turns right
27th Sep 17, 1:54pm
15
As National and Labour fight for NZ First’s attention, the battle for the fiscal high ground remains politically relevant, Alex Tarrant writes. It could mean Labour doesn’t feel so bad if Peters turns right
Alex Tarrant looks at how some of National and Labour's policies fit with NZ First's; It leaves him wondering whether Peters is more likely to go with the Nats due to 'headline potential'
27th Sep 17, 8:46am
62
Alex Tarrant looks at how some of National and Labour's policies fit with NZ First's; It leaves him wondering whether Peters is more likely to go with the Nats due to 'headline potential'
Labour Party puts front bench to work on policy comparisons; Ardern and Davis to lead on talks with Winston Peters; Separate talks to be held with the Greens
26th Sep 17, 4:31pm
64
Labour Party puts front bench to work on policy comparisons; Ardern and Davis to lead on talks with Winston Peters; Separate talks to be held with the Greens
National leader Bill English not giving much away ahead of talks with New Zealand First 'to show the respect to Mr Peters'; Plays down Super saga leak speculation
26th Sep 17, 12:48pm
23
National leader Bill English not giving much away ahead of talks with New Zealand First 'to show the respect to Mr Peters'; Plays down Super saga leak speculation
Labour leader Ardern opens up on common ground with NZ First; Cites shifting Ports of Auckland alongside tertiary education & forestry; Says Labour would stick to govt spending and debt track rules; Might shift on water tax
25th Sep 17, 5:05pm
75
Labour leader Ardern opens up on common ground with NZ First; Cites shifting Ports of Auckland alongside tertiary education & forestry; Says Labour would stick to govt spending and debt track rules; Might shift on water tax
National and Labour make opening offers to Peters; Nats talks up regional development, while Labour touts hands-on economic management as attractive to Peters; 15% of votes still to be counted
25th Sep 17, 6:48am
186
National and Labour make opening offers to Peters; Nats talks up regional development, while Labour touts hands-on economic management as attractive to Peters; 15% of votes still to be counted
Election 2017: We bring you the key updates from the night's coverage; Comments are back on - share your thoughts here
23rd Sep 17, 7:00pm
256
Election 2017: We bring you the key updates from the night's coverage; Comments are back on - share your thoughts here
Greens call for report on fuel pipeline vulnerabilities to be released; Judith Collins says Auckland Airport disruption will be over before school holidays
22nd Sep 17, 2:01pm
5
Greens call for report on fuel pipeline vulnerabilities to be released; Judith Collins says Auckland Airport disruption will be over before school holidays
Alex Tarrant presents a Top 10 of final election thoughts: Parker vs Collins; NZ First vs the Greens; Who's going to call for house price falls next term?; Rural-urban divide; Nick Smith's knob; Cartoon wrap
22nd Sep 17, 10:12am
45
Alex Tarrant presents a Top 10 of final election thoughts: Parker vs Collins; NZ First vs the Greens; Who's going to call for house price falls next term?; Rural-urban divide; Nick Smith's knob; Cartoon wrap
Winston Peters holds the balance for National vs Labour-Greens in Newshub-Reid poll; Greens recover, NZ First up slightly; Bill English up in preferred PM stakes
21st Sep 17, 6:30pm
140
Winston Peters holds the balance for National vs Labour-Greens in Newshub-Reid poll; Greens recover, NZ First up slightly; Bill English up in preferred PM stakes
ACT’s David Seymour says he will work with Winston Peters if that’s what National needs to form centre-right govt; Says he won't take Ministerial post next-term to allow for time to get his euthanasia bill through
21st Sep 17, 5:13pm
22
ACT’s David Seymour says he will work with Winston Peters if that’s what National needs to form centre-right govt; Says he won't take Ministerial post next-term to allow for time to get his euthanasia bill through
Labour Party leader Ardern maintains stance that existing house values shouldn't drop as KiwiBuild increases supply of cheaper homes
21st Sep 17, 11:48am
88
Labour Party leader Ardern maintains stance that existing house values shouldn't drop as KiwiBuild increases supply of cheaper homes
National is on top while Labour has dropped below 40% in latest 1 News Colmar Brunton poll; Winston Peters kingmaker, although now at risk of falling below 5%; Greens steady the ship
20th Sep 17, 6:06pm
231
National is on top while Labour has dropped below 40% in latest 1 News Colmar Brunton poll; Winston Peters kingmaker, although now at risk of falling below 5%; Greens steady the ship
English tackled on government's housing demand and supply record; Says construction industry telling him 10,000 houses a year in Auckland "as fast as they can" go; Says cutting immigration wouldn't help; Rules out looking at asset taxes
20th Sep 17, 1:01pm
183
English tackled on government's housing demand and supply record; Says construction industry telling him 10,000 houses a year in Auckland "as fast as they can" go; Says cutting immigration wouldn't help; Rules out looking at asset taxes
Labour keeps focus on health spending, while National says election is a clear choice for voters; Winston rallies against Communist China takeover of NZ; TOP has a go at Labour over water tax
20th Sep 17, 5:00am
39
Labour keeps focus on health spending, while National says election is a clear choice for voters; Winston rallies against Communist China takeover of NZ; TOP has a go at Labour over water tax
Auckland fuel crisis gets political; Ardern says extra storage a good idea; Labour's Nash says exports are now being taken off planes; Collins says govt doing everything possible
19th Sep 17, 2:55pm
95
Auckland fuel crisis gets political; Ardern says extra storage a good idea; Labour's Nash says exports are now being taken off planes; Collins says govt doing everything possible
Leaky homes are back in focus ahead of Saturday's election; Nick Smith has asked officials to look at extending the 10% equity Welcome Home Loan scheme to leaky home owners; RNZ running series on the issue
19th Sep 17, 10:44am
9
Leaky homes are back in focus ahead of Saturday's election; Nick Smith has asked officials to look at extending the 10% equity Welcome Home Loan scheme to leaky home owners; RNZ running series on the issue
Greens release costed manifesto; National touts economic plan; Labour tackled on water tax by RNZ and Peters; Harawira calls for MANA-Maori alliance to be power broker; Auckland fuel crisis update; The Block's Auckland house price mirror
19th Sep 17, 10:16am
83
Greens release costed manifesto; National touts economic plan; Labour tackled on water tax by RNZ and Peters; Harawira calls for MANA-Maori alliance to be power broker; Auckland fuel crisis update; The Block's Auckland house price mirror
Ardern calls out National over Auckland fuel crisis, attacks govt for setting up working group to look at fuel security over action; Deputy PM Bennett notes pipeline not owned by govt; Damage done over "months or years"; 2012 report contained warnings
18th Sep 17, 12:16pm
94
Ardern calls out National over Auckland fuel crisis, attacks govt for setting up working group to look at fuel security over action; Deputy PM Bennett notes pipeline not owned by govt; Damage done over "months or years"; 2012 report contained warnings
English defends campaign ads, looks to seniors & families; Ardern defends tax U-turn; Greens want landlords registered & maintenance bonds; Seymour touts positive poll; TOP says 5% in reach, gets qualified Eaqub support
18th Sep 17, 7:36am
278
English defends campaign ads, looks to seniors & families; Ardern defends tax U-turn; Greens want landlords registered & maintenance bonds; Seymour touts positive poll; TOP says 5% in reach, gets qualified Eaqub support
With a week to go, Alex Tarrant reckons it’s advantage Labour; National’s still in it – why a few thousand voters could be the difference; Also, what would Winston want, and could the 'London vote' be the final straw for changing the govt?
17th Sep 17, 6:02am
202
With a week to go, Alex Tarrant reckons it’s advantage Labour; National’s still in it – why a few thousand voters could be the difference; Also, what would Winston want, and could the 'London vote' be the final straw for changing the govt?
Labour and Greens could form govt together, 1 News Colmar Brunton poll shows; NZ First not in Kingmaker position any more; Greens couple of points above threshold
14th Sep 17, 6:22pm
153
Labour and Greens could form govt together, 1 News Colmar Brunton poll shows; NZ First not in Kingmaker position any more; Greens couple of points above threshold
James Shaw says the Greens are in the fight of their lives; Alex Tarrant asks him about monetary policy, income, savings and capital gains taxes, potential Cabinet posts and Kiwibank
14th Sep 17, 4:38pm
26
James Shaw says the Greens are in the fight of their lives; Alex Tarrant asks him about monetary policy, income, savings and capital gains taxes, potential Cabinet posts and Kiwibank
Labour releases document setting out tax plan, says no Working Group taxes would come into effect until after 2020 election; Confirms Tax Working Group won't look at CGT or land tax on family home/land and no inheritance tax
14th Sep 17, 10:28am
461
Labour releases document setting out tax plan, says no Working Group taxes would come into effect until after 2020 election; Confirms Tax Working Group won't look at CGT or land tax on family home/land and no inheritance tax