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 5 months

Latest articles

Peters to get GST-off-food group together

Winston Peters debates New Zealand First's GST off 'basic food' policy, says would cost $600m-$700m and that group of everyday NZers would be setup to determine what 'basic' means

14th Sep 17, 10:27am

by Alex Tarrant

Winston Peters debates New Zealand First's GST off 'basic food' policy, says would cost $600m-$700m and that group of everyday NZers would be setup to determine what 'basic' means

Labour hits back at National over tax claims

Labour's Grant Robertson hits back at National over tax, says cuts at this time are irresponsible, calls out Joyce for lying about Labour's intentions; Labour releases families package calculator

13th Sep 17, 3:43pm

by Alex Tarrant

123

Labour's Grant Robertson hits back at National over tax, says cuts at this time are irresponsible, calls out Joyce for lying about Labour's intentions; Labour releases families package calculator

Election 2017 neck and neck

National may have steadied the ship this past week with its tax attacks on Labour; Alex Tarrant reviews the polls, potential coalitions and what we've seen on the campaign trail the last few days

13th Sep 17, 1:33pm

by Alex Tarrant

101

National may have steadied the ship this past week with its tax attacks on Labour; Alex Tarrant reviews the polls, potential coalitions and what we've seen on the campaign trail the last few days

National able to govern alone in latest poll

National may have won back support last week; Newshub poll shows them able to govern alone; Labour down slightly, Greens below 5%

12th Sep 17, 6:28pm

by Alex Tarrant

333

National may have won back support last week; Newshub poll shows them able to govern alone; Labour down slightly, Greens below 5%

Robertson makes his case for the finance job

Grant Robertson makes his case for the Finance Minister job: Alex Tarrant asks about Monetary Policy and not spooking the market with an unemployment target, productivity, free trade, tax settings and spending priorities

12th Sep 17, 9:23am

by Alex Tarrant

158

Peters attacks Labour, English defends deposit subsidies

English defends move to increase first home buyer deposit subsidies, says we need to sustain current building levels for 5 years; Peters takes aim squarely at Labour over tax policy with Kingmaker status on the line

11th Sep 17, 9:42am

by Alex Tarrant

181

Joyce eyes savings taxes, house building & productivity boost

National finance spokesman Steven Joyce says he's keen to look at savings tax rates next term; Alex Tarrant spoke to him about productivity, capital gains vs income, immigration, that export goal and house prices

11th Sep 17, 9:36am

by Alex Tarrant

National boosts first home buyer subsidies

National to double HomeStart grant to $20,000 for an existing house, raise new build grant to $30,000; Labour's Ardern steps up campaign with 'first 100 days' pledge

10th Sep 17, 4:16pm

by Alex Tarrant

151

National to double HomeStart grant to $20,000 for an existing house, raise new build grant to $30,000; Labour's Ardern steps up campaign with 'first 100 days' pledge

Labour has a choice, National has a chance

Labour is now in a position of choice. The ball is in National’s court to respond, perhaps with a lurch across the centre line, Alex Tarrant writes

10th Sep 17, 6:02am

by Alex Tarrant

129

Labour is now in a position of choice. The ball is in National’s court to respond, perhaps with a lurch across the centre line, Alex Tarrant writes

Labour sets 2050 net zero emissions target

Labour says will legislate to target net zero emissions by 2050 vs 1990 levels; Says agriculture will be gradually introduced into the ETS, starting with allowing it 90% of emissions free

8th Sep 17, 9:52am

by Alex Tarrant

Labour says will legislate to target net zero emissions by 2050 vs 1990 levels; Says agriculture will be gradually introduced into the ETS, starting with allowing it 90% of emissions free

Labour could form govt with Greens, Maori - poll

Labour could form a government with either New Zealand First, or with the Greens and Maori Party, latest 1News poll shows; Stuff leaders' debate in Christchurch

7th Sep 17, 6:16pm

by Alex Tarrant

115

Labour could form a government with either New Zealand First, or with the Greens and Maori Party, latest 1News poll shows; Stuff leaders' debate in Christchurch

Another day, another Labour tax exemption

Labour has 'clarified' that any land tax that may or may not be recommended by its Tax Working Group, won't be allowed to apply to land under the family home, which also won't be covered by a CGT that may or may not be recommended

7th Sep 17, 10:06am

by Alex Tarrant

346

Let's get over this

National was wrong on Labour's fiscals; But it was always going to come because it allows English and Joyce to talk up their main campaign attack on Labour: Tax. We all need to get over it, Alex Tarrant says

5th Sep 17, 3:21pm

by Alex Tarrant

115

English aims to avoid future sharp housing cycles

It could take a few years before new urban planning rules for delivering more affordable housing are in place, Bill English says; Labour says move is an admissiona of failed settings these past 9 years

5th Sep 17, 7:33am

by Alex Tarrant

Leaders debate Super age, house prices & working with Winston

Bill English and Jacinda Ardern go head-to-head: Ardern says she'd rather resign than raise Super age; both desire flat house prices; Winston Peters ruled out as Finance Minister by both

4th Sep 17, 8:03pm

by Alex Tarrant

122

Bill English and Jacinda Ardern go head-to-head: Ardern says she'd rather resign than raise Super age; both desire flat house prices; Winston Peters ruled out as Finance Minister by both

Labour hits back at Joyce's fiscal criticisms

Labour hits back at National; Grant Robertson stands by and explains fiscals after Steven Joyce launches attack claiming there is a $11.7 bln 'hole' in Labour's numbers - updated

4th Sep 17, 11:43am

by Alex Tarrant

136

Labour hits back at National; Grant Robertson stands by and explains fiscals after Steven Joyce launches attack claiming there is a $11.7 bln 'hole' in Labour's numbers - updated

Weekend wrap: Labour, Nats, Greens sing true

Labour targets rental law overhaul; Nats to get even tougher on gangs and drugs; Greens target leached nitrates levy at dairy, could shave 5% off average dairy farm's profitability

4th Sep 17, 5:02am

by Alex Tarrant

Labour targets rental law overhaul; Nats to get even tougher on gangs and drugs; Greens target leached nitrates levy at dairy, could shave 5% off average dairy farm's profitability

Labour odds on for 11th hour GDP & migration data boost

With GDP and immigration numbers due two days before the election, Alex Tarrant looks at which party is set to gain the most from media reaction to the figures. He reckons it's Labour

3rd Sep 17, 6:02am

by Alex Tarrant

115

With GDP and immigration numbers due two days before the election, Alex Tarrant looks at which party is set to gain the most from media reaction to the figures. He reckons it's Labour

Survey highlights hardship heating houses

Keeping warm a hardship for almost three in ten households, Stats NZ survey finds; Renters and those on low incomes more likely to report energy hardship; Alex Tarrant says how this could feed into the Election 2017 campaign & policies

1st Sep 17, 1:17pm

by Alex Tarrant

Election 2017: English vs Twyford on housing

Election 2017: English takes credit for allowing RBNZ's LVR regime, says foreign house buyers a 'peripheral issue'; Says he has the experience to deliver stable govt with Winston Peters if that's what voters decide

1st Sep 17, 9:45am

by Alex Tarrant

155

Leaders' debate canvasses housing affordability, Trump, productivity

Labour overtakes National in 1 News poll, could form government with NZ First only; Greens back above 5%, NZ First loses support; Ardern ahead of English in preferred PM stakes

31st Aug 17, 6:09pm

by Alex Tarrant

166

Labour overtakes National in 1 News poll, could form government with NZ First only; Greens back above 5%, NZ First loses support; Ardern ahead of English in preferred PM stakes

It's regional development day on the campaign trail

It's regional development day: What do you think about Peters' call for Ports of Auckland to switch to Northport? Road & Transport's Ken Shirley says it's "Stalinist"; Meanwhile, Simon Bridges takes two hats to Taranaki

31st Aug 17, 4:18pm

by Alex Tarrant

The election campaign starts today

The election campaign proper starts today, Alex Tarrant writes: How Labour should defend its tax stance, how the campaign might play after tonight's poll & leaders' debate; And why Winston isn't yet 100% Kingmaker

31st Aug 17, 11:33am

by Alex Tarrant

'Show me the money'; 'No, you show me the money'

Joyce and Robertson both channel Jerry Maguire, calling on each other to 'show me the money' after policy announcements

30th Aug 17, 3:24pm

by Alex Tarrant

Joyce and Robertson both channel Jerry Maguire, calling on each other to 'show me the money' after policy announcements

Auckland weakness to stay even as shortage widens

Auckland’s property market looks set to stay weak for some time yet, even as housing shortage worsens, CoreLogic says

30th Aug 17, 3:06pm

by Alex Tarrant

Auckland’s property market looks set to stay weak for some time yet, even as housing shortage worsens, CoreLogic says