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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

Govt faces rethink on ageing policies
Treasury asks external panel to test its long-term cost projections; Govt faces rethink on how it approaches costs of demographic changes, panel chair Buckle says
10th Aug 12, 12:36pm
by Alex Tarrant
2
Treasury asks external panel to test its long-term cost projections; Govt faces rethink on how it approaches costs of demographic changes, panel chair Buckle says
ASB picks later start to OCR hikes
ASB shifts pick for next OCR hike to June 2013 from March after poor employment figures; Follows Westpac, ANZ, Infometrics, NZIER in picking later start
9th Aug 12, 12:37pm
by Alex Tarrant
1
ASB shifts pick for next OCR hike to June 2013 from March after poor employment figures; Follows Westpac, ANZ, Infometrics, NZIER in picking later start
Unemployment up in June qtr
Unemployment unexpectedly rises to 6.8% in June quarter from 6.7% in March; Number of employed falls by 2,000 vs expected rise of 7,000
9th Aug 12, 10:54am
by Alex Tarrant
35
Unemployment unexpectedly rises to 6.8% in June quarter from 6.7% in March; Number of employed falls by 2,000 vs expected rise of 7,000
Volatile outlook for NZ$ - Key
High NZ dollar in for volatile time as Americans, Europeans print money, PM Key says; Govt's view is it can't alter the level of the currency, he says
8th Aug 12, 3:57pm
by Alex Tarrant
48
High NZ dollar in for volatile time as Americans, Europeans print money, PM Key says; Govt's view is it can't alter the level of the currency, he says
Fay group Crafar appeal dismissed
Appeal Court dismisses Michael Fay-led bid opposing sale of Crafar Farms to Chinese company Shanghai Pengxin
8th Aug 12, 11:18am
by Alex Tarrant
6
Appeal Court dismisses Michael Fay-led bid opposing sale of Crafar Farms to Chinese company Shanghai Pengxin
Labour eyes regional capital drought
Labour's Shearer wants new govt approach to regional development; Eyes aid for regional businesses to access capital
8th Aug 12, 10:47am
by Alex Tarrant
1
Labour's Shearer wants new govt approach to regional development; Eyes aid for regional businesses to access capital
RBNZ NZ$ intervention profitable...so far
How the Reserve Bank's 2007/08 currency interventions were profitable in the years until 2010/11 and why it may be staring down a paper loss this year
7th Aug 12, 4:06pm
by Alex Tarrant
4
How the Reserve Bank's 2007/08 currency interventions were profitable in the years until 2010/11 and why it may be staring down a paper loss this year
Housing still a sellers' market
Asking prices rise in July as housing market remains in sellers' favour ahead of Spring uplift, realestate.co.nz says
7th Aug 12, 9:25am
by Alex Tarrant
65
Asking prices rise in July as housing market remains in sellers' favour ahead of Spring uplift, realestate.co.nz says
Tribunal will release report early
Waitangi Tribunal to accommodate govt request for earlier release of views on whether power company asset sales will affect water rights compensation claims
6th Aug 12, 5:40pm
by Alex Tarrant
30
Waitangi Tribunal to accommodate govt request for earlier release of views on whether power company asset sales will affect water rights compensation claims
Westpac offers 4.99% 1yr mortgage rate
Westpac introduces 4.99% one-year mortgage rate for borrowers with more than 20% equity
6th Aug 12, 5:00pm
by Alex Tarrant
4
Westpac introduces 4.99% one-year mortgage rate for borrowers with more than 20% equity
Treasury upgrades house price forecast
Treasury says NZ housing market pickup due to Canty, Auckland markets as demand rises, but supply doesn't respond; Raises house price rise pick
6th Aug 12, 3:18pm
by Alex Tarrant
9
Treasury says NZ housing market pickup due to Canty, Auckland markets as demand rises, but supply doesn't respond; Raises house price rise pick
Kordia not for sale, Ryall says
State-owned telecoms infrastructure company Kordia not for sale, SOE Minister Ryall says, following AFR report saying investment banks asked to pitch for sales process
6th Aug 12, 10:10am
by Alex Tarrant
1
State-owned telecoms infrastructure company Kordia not for sale, SOE Minister Ryall says, following AFR report saying investment banks asked to pitch for sales process
March next window for asset sales
Next window for Mighty River Power sale in March, if water rights issues delay November plan, PM Key says
6th Aug 12, 8:16am
by Alex Tarrant
1
Next window for Mighty River Power sale in March, if water rights issues delay November plan, PM Key says
Kiwibank sets lowest 18 mth mortgage rate
Kiwibank introduces new 18-month special mortgage rate of 5.19% for those with at least 30% equity; Replaces old six-month special
3rd Aug 12, 4:11pm
by Alex Tarrant
2
Kiwibank introduces new 18-month special mortgage rate of 5.19% for those with at least 30% equity; Replaces old six-month special
S&P affirms credit rating, but warns too
Standard and Poor's holds NZ's credit rating with stable outlook; Warns of pressure if external imbalances keep deteriorating; Says high debt might see investors exit NZ$
3rd Aug 12, 3:17pm
by Alex Tarrant
8
Standard and Poor's holds NZ's credit rating with stable outlook; Warns of pressure if external imbalances keep deteriorating; Says high debt might see investors exit NZ$
Govt warns on asset sale delay
Govt warns Waitangi Tribunal any delay of water rights decision past first week of September will have "significant consequences" in terms of sales
2nd Aug 12, 1:48pm
by Alex Tarrant
19
Govt warns Waitangi Tribunal any delay of water rights decision past first week of September will have "significant consequences" in terms of sales
Fears of Chinese spying sunk Pacific Fibre
Kiwi Pacific Fibre cable project sunk by US fears about Chinese investment, espionage; 'It was made clear US authorities would not allow Chinese investment,' Pacific Fibre's Drury says
2nd Aug 12, 8:46am
by Alex Tarrant
56
Kiwi Pacific Fibre cable project sunk by US fears about Chinese investment, espionage; 'It was made clear US authorities would not allow Chinese investment,' Pacific Fibre's Drury says
NZ not immune, but in better place
'Malinvestment means China not growing fast enough to keep NZ, Australia immune from global stagnation, although NZ better placed due to food production'
1st Aug 12, 4:53pm
by Alex Tarrant
35
'Malinvestment means China not growing fast enough to keep NZ, Australia immune from global stagnation, although NZ better placed due to food production'
Govt wants land deals by March 2013
Govt wants all Christchurch CBD land acquisition negotiations over by March 2013; Doesn't have timeframe for how long it will wait before forcibly buying land
31st Jul 12, 4:56pm
by Alex Tarrant
42
Govt wants all Christchurch CBD land acquisition negotiations over by March 2013; Doesn't have timeframe for how long it will wait before forcibly buying land
Govt unveils Christchurch CBD plan
Govt unveils Christchurch CBD plan; redevelopment of smaller city centre to be based around stadium, convention centre, justice precincts; Govt eyes land purchases
30th Jul 12, 6:01pm
by Alex Tarrant
29
Govt unveils Christchurch CBD plan; redevelopment of smaller city centre to be based around stadium, convention centre, justice precincts; Govt eyes land purchases
Waitangi Tribunal says 'wait'
Govt should wait until Sept report before selling Mighty River shares, Waitangi Tribunal says; Means sale process shouldn't be delayed if water rights are found to be preserved
30th Jul 12, 4:22pm
by Alex Tarrant
61
Govt should wait until Sept report before selling Mighty River shares, Waitangi Tribunal says; Means sale process shouldn't be delayed if water rights are found to be preserved
South Island leads consent jump
South Island leads 28% jump in building consents in June 2012 from year ago; Canterbury up off last year's low, Stats NZ says; But trend slows in recent months
30th Jul 12, 11:33am
by Alex Tarrant
2
South Island leads 28% jump in building consents in June 2012 from year ago; Canterbury up off last year's low, Stats NZ says; But trend slows in recent months
Key eyes smaller Christchurch CBD
Christchurch CBD plan to make smaller, more compact central city, with clear precincts for different activities, PM Key says
30th Jul 12, 9:07am
by Alex Tarrant
9
Christchurch CBD plan to make smaller, more compact central city, with clear precincts for different activities, PM Key says
Govt reviewing rent subsidy
Govt reviewing Accommodation Supplement rent subsidy, Housing Minister Heatley says; Govt wants to get land prices, section sizes under control
30th Jul 12, 8:05am
by Alex Tarrant
58
Govt reviewing Accommodation Supplement rent subsidy, Housing Minister Heatley says; Govt wants to get land prices, section sizes under control
Wholesale change to govt housing approach
Wholesale changes to how government approaches housing affordability as it drops helping demand and focusses on supply side
27th Jul 12, 3:01pm
by Alex Tarrant
82
Wholesale changes to how government approaches housing affordability as it drops helping demand and focusses on supply side