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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

16 years 9 months

Latest articles

Consumer confidence drops in June
Consumer confidence drops into pessimistic zone; Households least optimistic about next five years since 2008, survey shows
by Alex Tarrant
Consumer confidence drops into pessimistic zone; Households least optimistic about next five years since 2008, survey shows
Trade-offs to keep Super affordable
KiwiSaver contributions should rise to 10%, fund manager lobby group says; Worried about those currently under 40 yrs
by Alex Tarrant
1
KiwiSaver contributions should rise to 10%, fund manager lobby group says; Worried about those currently under 40 yrs
RBNZ chances it on Euro muddle
Reserve Bank gives 60% chance of Euro muddle-through; 30% that Greece leaves euro; 10% others will follow Greece
by Alex Tarrant
6
Reserve Bank gives 60% chance of Euro muddle-through; 30% that Greece leaves euro; 10% others will follow Greece
NZ's growth potential takes a hit
RBNZ bemoans lack of investment, says has cut NZ’s potential growth rate; Capacity tight
by Alex Tarrant
37
RBNZ bemoans lack of investment, says has cut NZ’s potential growth rate; Capacity tight
RBNZ thinks the unthinkable
Reserve Bank canvasses effects of major European downturn, Greece leaving eurozone
by Alex Tarrant
8
Reserve Bank canvasses effects of major European downturn, Greece leaving eurozone
Convention centre deal to be probed
Auditor General to investigate govt process of awarding convention centre deal to SkyCity following Green Party complaint
by Alex Tarrant
Auditor General to investigate govt process of awarding convention centre deal to SkyCity following Green Party complaint
English: 'Rebalancing not sufficient'
Finance Minister Bill English admits rebalancing of NZ economy towards exporting yet to happen due to high NZ$; also sees tax switch benefits taking 5-7 years
by Alex Tarrant
28
Finance Minister Bill English admits rebalancing of NZ economy towards exporting yet to happen due to high NZ$; also sees tax switch benefits taking 5-7 years
Key says Super changes may be needed after 2020
Changes to Superannuation settings may be needed after 2020, but affordable until then, PM Key says
by Alex Tarrant
34
Changes to Superannuation settings may be needed after 2020, but affordable until then, PM Key says
OECD says 67 is the new 65
OECD pension report says 67 the new 65; Praises KiwiSaver's quick success, but NZ coverage still below countries with mandatory private schemes
by Alex Tarrant
OECD pension report says 67 the new 65; Praises KiwiSaver's quick success, but NZ coverage still below countries with mandatory private schemes
Higher chance of OCR cut than in April
NZIER shadow OCR board sees no rate move on Thursday, but chances of a cut increase in June from April
by Alex Tarrant
3
NZIER shadow OCR board sees no rate move on Thursday, but chances of a cut increase in June from April
Key more confident after EU meetings
PM Key thinks Europe will "muddle-through" crisis; "Utterly convinced" about Merkel's resolve; Feeling better about NZ's position
by Alex Tarrant
5
PM Key thinks Europe will "muddle-through" crisis; "Utterly convinced" about Merkel's resolve; Feeling better about NZ's position
Political party Super age stances
Super age policies: What the different political parties say about whether to raise the Super age, and if so, when
by Alex Tarrant
8
Super age policies: What the different political parties say about whether to raise the Super age, and if so, when
Dairy exports tipped to fall 10%
NZ dairy export revenue tipped to fall almost 10% next year due to high NZ$, weak prices, static production, Primary Ministry says
by Alex Tarrant
26
NZ dairy export revenue tipped to fall almost 10% next year due to high NZ$, weak prices, static production, Primary Ministry says
EU leaders committed, Key says
PM Key: Sense large Eurozone nations addressing structural problems, are very committed to euro, following talks with Germany's Merkel
by Alex Tarrant
3
PM Key: Sense large Eurozone nations addressing structural problems, are very committed to euro, following talks with Germany's Merkel
OCR to stay at 2.5%, global news key
Reserve Bank to keep OCR at 2.5% next Thursday, bank economists say; Global developments the catalyst for any cut; Markets eye 25% possibility of a cut
by Alex Tarrant
13
Reserve Bank to keep OCR at 2.5% next Thursday, bank economists say; Global developments the catalyst for any cut; Markets eye 25% possibility of a cut
MPs own an average 2.4 properties each
Who owns all the homes? MPs own all the homes: New Zealand's 121 Members of Parliament own at least 292 properties between them
by Alex Tarrant
91
Who owns all the homes? MPs own all the homes: New Zealand's 121 Members of Parliament own at least 292 properties between them
IMF: NZ has room to delay surplus
NZ's low public debt means govt has scope to delay 2014/15 surplus, IMF says; Global economy, widening current account are risks
by Alex Tarrant
6
NZ's low public debt means govt has scope to delay 2014/15 surplus, IMF says; Global economy, widening current account are risks
Govt backs down on teacher ratios
Education Minister Parata backtracks on Budget teacher-student ratio changes tipped to save NZ$170 mln, but 2014/15 surplus track not affected
by Alex Tarrant
17
Education Minister Parata backtracks on Budget teacher-student ratio changes tipped to save NZ$170 mln, but 2014/15 surplus track not affected
Apartments boost consents in April
Building consents up 33% in April from year ago, boosted by retirement village units; General trend steadily rising over past year, Stats NZ says
by Alex Tarrant
Building consents up 33% in April from year ago, boosted by retirement village units; General trend steadily rising over past year, Stats NZ says
No OCR hike til 2014, NZIER says
Reserve Bank unlikely to hike Official Cash Rate until 2014, may cut, NZIER says; Cites stagnant growth, low credit demand, global risks
by Alex Tarrant
11
Reserve Bank unlikely to hike Official Cash Rate until 2014, may cut, NZIER says; Cites stagnant growth, low credit demand, global risks
'Nothing significant from recent quakes'
No significant reported damage from Friday's 5.2 quake, weekend shocks, Brownlee says; Within range expected
by Alex Tarrant
No significant reported damage from Friday's 5.2 quake, weekend shocks, Brownlee says; Within range expected
Key says may talk QE with BOE's King
PM Key to meet Bank of England Governor King, British PM David Cameron, German Chancellor Merkel to talk EU crisis
by Alex Tarrant
14
PM Key to meet Bank of England Governor King, British PM David Cameron, German Chancellor Merkel to talk EU crisis
Key again rejects Super age critics
Key: Even if promise not to hike Super age had been made, Budget 2012 would not have dealt with it; Happy with costs out to 2020
by Alex Tarrant
14
Key: Even if promise not to hike Super age had been made, Budget 2012 would not have dealt with it; Happy with costs out to 2020
Labour eyes locking KiwiSavers in NZ
Labour considers not letting KiwiSaver savings out of NZ; Touts CGT, compulsory KiwiSaver, R&D tax credits, Super age reform in Budget response
by Alex Tarrant
70
Labour considers not letting KiwiSaver savings out of NZ; Touts CGT, compulsory KiwiSaver, R&D tax credits, Super age reform in Budget response
English defends Aussie exodus promise
Aussie-NZ wage gap will close if govt sticks to current plan for productivity growth over next 5-10 years, Finance Minister English says
by Alex Tarrant
7
Aussie-NZ wage gap will close if govt sticks to current plan for productivity growth over next 5-10 years, Finance Minister English says