Alex Tarrant | interest.co.nz

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.

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Member for

15 years 6 months

Latest articles

Depositor protection 'not an RBNZ objective'

MPs reviewing covered bonds law concerned about depositor risk, and question why South Africa banned covered bonds to protect bank depositors

26th Jul 12, 2:52pm

by Alex Tarrant

MPs reviewing covered bonds law concerned about depositor risk, and question why South Africa banned covered bonds to protect bank depositors

OCR on hold at 2.5%

Reserve Bank leaves Official Cash Rate on hold at 2.5%; says euro risk remains; expects inflation to sit near 2% over medium term

26th Jul 12, 9:06am

by Alex Tarrant

Reserve Bank leaves Official Cash Rate on hold at 2.5%; says euro risk remains; expects inflation to sit near 2% over medium term

Export trend comes off peak

Trend in NZ exports falls for third straight quarter from September 2011 peak, Stats NZ says; Trade deficit in June 2012 quarter of NZ$664 mln

25th Jul 12, 11:39am

by Alex Tarrant

Trend in NZ exports falls for third straight quarter from September 2011 peak, Stats NZ says; Trade deficit in June 2012 quarter of NZ$664 mln

Company set up to stay easy

Contentious new rules requiring NZ-registered companies to have local agent to be subject of Parliamentary discussion, Commerce Minister Foss says

24th Jul 12, 5:58pm

by Alex Tarrant

Contentious new rules requiring NZ-registered companies to have local agent to be subject of Parliamentary discussion, Commerce Minister Foss says

Govt sets up Tamaki plan

Govt, Auckland Council join forces for Tamaki redevelopment; to form company to source public and private investment for housing, economic, spatial, social initiatives

24th Jul 12, 11:39am

by Alex Tarrant

Govt, Auckland Council join forces for Tamaki redevelopment; to form company to source public and private investment for housing, economic, spatial, social initiatives

Will there be enough advisors?

Advisors worry whether Kiwi retail investors in SOE floats will get access to advice, as govt sweetens deal with loyalty bonus

24th Jul 12, 9:15am

by Alex Tarrant

Advisors worry whether Kiwi retail investors in SOE floats will get access to advice, as govt sweetens deal with loyalty bonus

OCR to stay on hold at 2.5%

Reserve Bank should leave OCR on hold at 2.5% this Thursday, NZIER shadow board says; Gives higher rating to on hold or hike than in June

24th Jul 12, 7:52am

by Alex Tarrant

Reserve Bank should leave OCR on hold at 2.5% this Thursday, NZIER shadow board says; Gives higher rating to on hold or hike than in June

Law change to 'preserve reputation'

Law targeting dodgy NZ company start-ups set to pass by end of year, PM Key says; 'Important NZ preserves reputation'; Says trade-offs had been made for ease of registration

23rd Jul 12, 6:29pm

by Alex Tarrant

Law targeting dodgy NZ company start-ups set to pass by end of year, PM Key says; 'Important NZ preserves reputation'; Says trade-offs had been made for ease of registration

NZ not doing a Canada on housing

NZ not going as far as Canada on housing market controls, Finance Minister English tells National Party faithful

23rd Jul 12, 1:31pm

by Alex Tarrant

NZ not going as far as Canada on housing market controls, Finance Minister English tells National Party faithful

Loyalty bonus for Kiwi SOE investors

Govt announces loyalty bonus for Kiwis buying Mighty River Power shares; Key says to change investment psyche of NZers away from housing

23rd Jul 12, 7:52am

by Alex Tarrant

Govt announces loyalty bonus for Kiwis buying Mighty River Power shares; Key says to change investment psyche of NZers away from housing

'OCR hikes may be delayed further'

CPI up 1% in year to June quarter, Stats NZ says; Vs expectations of 1.1% rise; Lowest annual rise since 1999; Right at bottom of RBNZ target band

17th Jul 12, 10:54am

by Alex Tarrant

CPI up 1% in year to June quarter, Stats NZ says; Vs expectations of 1.1% rise; Lowest annual rise since 1999; Right at bottom of RBNZ target band

Labour, ACT argue over 'landlord subsidy'

Labour follows Greens in attacking 'landlord subsidy' Accommodation Supplement; ACT claims Labour attacking landlords, wants more land supply

16th Jul 12, 5:52pm

by Alex Tarrant

Labour follows Greens in attacking 'landlord subsidy' Accommodation Supplement; ACT claims Labour attacking landlords, wants more land supply

House prices, rents to rise, ASB says

ASB sees house prices rising 4-5% over next year as housing market comes back to life; 'Supply pressures key reason for pick-up'

16th Jul 12, 11:51am

by Alex Tarrant

ASB sees house prices rising 4-5% over next year as housing market comes back to life; 'Supply pressures key reason for pick-up'

'Plan to grow economy on track'

NZ Govt still on track for 2014/15 surplus, despite prospect of 'subdued world growth, or even recession,' PM Key says; 'World is now a different place'

16th Jul 12, 10:07am

by Alex Tarrant

NZ Govt still on track for 2014/15 surplus, despite prospect of 'subdued world growth, or even recession,' PM Key says; 'World is now a different place'

Court case would take years - Key

Key on water rights: Treaty issues already well-known by investors; Courts unlikely to rule authoritatively that Maori own water

16th Jul 12, 8:30am

by Alex Tarrant

Key on water rights: Treaty issues already well-known by investors; Courts unlikely to rule authoritatively that Maori own water

'Bach tax' to hit high value properties

Govt's 'bach tax' guidelines released; KMPG sees it hitting owners of high value properties after Revenue Minister Dunne includes ring-fencing provision

13th Jul 12, 4:17pm

by Alex Tarrant

Govt's 'bach tax' guidelines released; KMPG sees it hitting owners of high value properties after Revenue Minister Dunne includes ring-fencing provision

Dunne eyes higher KiwiSaver payments

Revenue Minister Dunne says KiwiSaver's future lies with higher employee and employer payments, less govt help; Favours compulsion

12th Jul 12, 4:29pm

by Alex Tarrant

Revenue Minister Dunne says KiwiSaver's future lies with higher employee and employer payments, less govt help; Favours compulsion

'Farm sales strong, despite winter'

Farm sales stay strong in three months to June, despite onset of winter and volatile commodity prices, REINZ says; Median lifestyle block price hits record

12th Jul 12, 11:57am

by Alex Tarrant

Farm sales stay strong in three months to June, despite onset of winter and volatile commodity prices, REINZ says; Median lifestyle block price hits record

Subdued mid-year growth tipped

NZ economic growth set to pick up at end of 2012 following weaker readings mid-year, ANZ leading indicator shows; 'But Europe key'

12th Jul 12, 11:00am

by Alex Tarrant

NZ economic growth set to pick up at end of 2012 following weaker readings mid-year, ANZ leading indicator shows; 'But Europe key'

'RBNZ risks repeating boom mistake'

Inflation pressures are coming; Bollard better not throw replacement Wheeler a hospital pass like Greenspan gave Bernanke, BNZ economist says

11th Jul 12, 8:52am

by Alex Tarrant

Inflation pressures are coming; Bollard better not throw replacement Wheeler a hospital pass like Greenspan gave Bernanke, BNZ economist says

OCR on hold 'for some time'

Firms turn pessimistic in June quarter as economic recovery remains lacklustre, NZIER says; Capacity pressures in Canterbury; OCR on hold 'for some time'

10th Jul 12, 10:25am

by Alex Tarrant

Firms turn pessimistic in June quarter as economic recovery remains lacklustre, NZIER says; Capacity pressures in Canterbury; OCR on hold 'for some time'

'House prices to keep rising in 2012'

House prices to keep rising through 2012 as interest rates stay low and supply shortage remains, Westpac says

10th Jul 12, 9:32am

by Alex Tarrant

House prices to keep rising through 2012 as interest rates stay low and supply shortage remains, Westpac says

Key not worried about Waitangi hearing

PM Key not worried about urgent Waitangi Tribunal hearing as Maori Council seeks to delay partial sale of Mighty River Power

9th Jul 12, 7:45am

by Alex Tarrant

PM Key not worried about urgent Waitangi Tribunal hearing as Maori Council seeks to delay partial sale of Mighty River Power

Should govt take council regulatory powers?

Productivity Commission asks: Is variation in council regulation good or bad? Does it impose costs on businesses? What should change?

6th Jul 12, 1:54pm

by Alex Tarrant

Productivity Commission asks: Is variation in council regulation good or bad? Does it impose costs on businesses? What should change?

Aussie business to Key: 'Take over'

Aussie-based SkyCity Chairman asks NZ PM Key to stay in Australia and "run the country" instead of Labour PM Julia Gillard

6th Jul 12, 11:00am

by Alex Tarrant

Aussie-based SkyCity Chairman asks NZ PM Key to stay in Australia and "run the country" instead of Labour PM Julia Gillard