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

Key cites rent rises in anti-CGT view

Auckland housing shortage, rent rises, one of the reasons I don't like capital gains tax, PM Key says

20th Mar 12, 8:35am

by Alex Tarrant

Auckland housing shortage, rent rises, one of the reasons I don't like capital gains tax, PM Key says

Govt details local council reforms

Govt announces local council reform package in bid to keep rates rises down and council debt under control

19th Mar 12, 3:44pm

by Alex Tarrant

Govt announces local council reform package in bid to keep rates rises down and council debt under control

'We pay dam good dividends'

Meridian Energy looking forward to partial sale; 'Is a strong cash generator with high yields and excellent dividend prospects'

19th Mar 12, 1:22pm

by Alex Tarrant

Meridian Energy looking forward to partial sale; 'Is a strong cash generator with high yields and excellent dividend prospects'

'No short-term quake rentals'

Near impossible for quake-hit residents to find short-term rental accommodation, REINZ says

19th Mar 12, 10:22am

by Alex Tarrant

Near impossible for quake-hit residents to find short-term rental accommodation, REINZ says

Housing market set to take off - Key

NZ housing market, particularly Auckland, set to take off again, PM Key says

19th Mar 12, 7:43am

by Alex Tarrant

NZ housing market, particularly Auckland, set to take off again, PM Key says

Govt council shake-up looms

Govt's local council shake-up looms; Less likely to be rates caps, but will look at ways to encourage councils to keep hikes down, Key says

19th Mar 12, 7:31am

by Alex Tarrant

Govt's local council shake-up looms; Less likely to be rates caps, but will look at ways to encourage councils to keep hikes down, Key says

'No Auckland house price bubble'

Auckland Council needs to ensure more low-cost housing is built, English says; 'No runaway bubble in Auckland housing market'

18th Mar 12, 5:52pm

by Alex Tarrant

Auckland Council needs to ensure more low-cost housing is built, English says; 'No runaway bubble in Auckland housing market'

Treasury revisits property tax ideas

Ministers may soon face difficult choice of tax changes to further dis-incentivise property investment, Treasury says

17th Mar 12, 8:35am

by Alex Tarrant

Ministers may soon face difficult choice of tax changes to further dis-incentivise property investment, Treasury says

NZ set to help with Greek bailout

NZ expects to be called on to help with €130 billion Greek bailout through IMF credit lines; Could we be lending over NZ$200 million?

16th Mar 12, 12:13pm

by Alex Tarrant

NZ expects to be called on to help with €130 billion Greek bailout through IMF credit lines; Could we be lending over NZ$200 million?

Tax credits, benefits hiked for inflation

Working for Families tax credits hiked 5.3%, benefit payments hiked 1.77%, Super payments by 2.65%; 'To cover for inflation'

16th Mar 12, 11:39am

by Alex Tarrant

Working for Families tax credits hiked 5.3%, benefit payments hiked 1.77%, Super payments by 2.65%; 'To cover for inflation'

Key hits back at TV3 report

PM Key hits back at TV3 report that suggested he misled public over National's desire to sell SOEs, cut public sector workers

15th Mar 12, 2:58pm

by Alex Tarrant

PM Key hits back at TV3 report that suggested he misled public over National's desire to sell SOEs, cut public sector workers

Key unveils 'Super Ministry'

PM Key unveils 'super ministry' merging Ministries of Economic Development, Science and Innovation, Dept of Labour, Building and Housing

15th Mar 12, 12:24pm

by Alex Tarrant

PM Key unveils 'super ministry' merging Ministries of Economic Development, Science and Innovation, Dept of Labour, Building and Housing

Labour's Shearer still keen on CGT

Labour leader David Shearer still keen on capital gains tax, but not so much on NZ$5,000 tax-free threshold

15th Mar 12, 8:31am

by Alex Tarrant

Labour leader David Shearer still keen on capital gains tax, but not so much on NZ$5,000 tax-free threshold

Life stages KiwiSaver eyed

English's strong comments on govt KiwiSaver contributions don't foreshadow further cuts; 'Govt keen for scheme to be stable'

14th Mar 12, 5:10pm

by Alex Tarrant

English's strong comments on govt KiwiSaver contributions don't foreshadow further cuts; 'Govt keen for scheme to be stable'

GFC cost NZ economy 7ys, NZIER says

NZ economy back in 2005 due to recession after the chase for short-term borrowed growth came to an end, NZIER says

14th Mar 12, 2:15pm

by Alex Tarrant

NZ economy back in 2005 due to recession after the chase for short-term borrowed growth came to an end, NZIER says

'Bubble settings still there'

Economic settings that led to excessive borrowing still there, Labour finance spokesman David Parker says; 'Policy changes needed'

14th Mar 12, 12:57pm

by Alex Tarrant

Economic settings that led to excessive borrowing still there, Labour finance spokesman David Parker says; 'Policy changes needed'

'Cycle trail employed 700 people'

National cycle trail, stemming from 2009 Jobs summit, has created more than 700 jobs so far, PM Key says

14th Mar 12, 9:52am

by Alex Tarrant

National cycle trail, stemming from 2009 Jobs summit, has created more than 700 jobs so far, PM Key says

'Fear a good thing in the right place'

Kiwis being scared into saving as they watch developments overseas and realise there is no more free lunch, English says

13th Mar 12, 1:39pm

by Alex Tarrant

Kiwis being scared into saving as they watch developments overseas and realise there is no more free lunch, English says

Govt won't appeal Crafar ruling

Government won't appeal High Court ruling ordering Overseas Investment Office to set aside and reconsider Crafar farm sale, PM Key says

12th Mar 12, 4:37pm

by Alex Tarrant

Government won't appeal High Court ruling ordering Overseas Investment Office to set aside and reconsider Crafar farm sale, PM Key says

Dear Labour: Revise and re-submit

Opinion: Dear Labour. Please revise and re-submit Shearer's desired Overseas Investment Act changes; Sunday's rush job doesn't look good

12th Mar 12, 12:13pm

by Alex Tarrant

Opinion: Dear Labour. Please revise and re-submit Shearer's desired Overseas Investment Act changes; Sunday's rush job doesn't look good

Fonterra cuts payout forecast

Fonterra cuts 2011/12 payout forecast 15c to NZ$6.75-NZ$6.85/kg milksolids due to high NZ$ and global production, economic uncertainty

12th Mar 12, 9:31am

by Alex Tarrant

Fonterra cuts 2011/12 payout forecast 15c to NZ$6.75-NZ$6.85/kg milksolids due to high NZ$ and global production, economic uncertainty

'Ports dispute shows need for competitiveness'

Ports dispute highlights need for NZ companies to be competitive, or risk substitution from overseas companies, Key says

12th Mar 12, 8:17am

by Alex Tarrant

Ports dispute highlights need for NZ companies to be competitive, or risk substitution from overseas companies, Key says

Card spending falls in February

BusinessDesk: NZ credit, debit card spending falls in February from January; 'Trading conditions remain uncertain'

9th Mar 12, 11:52am

by Alex Tarrant

BusinessDesk: NZ credit, debit card spending falls in February from January; 'Trading conditions remain uncertain'

Want 100% finance? Come to Welly

Wellington apartment building owner and his bank offer 100% finance to Gen-Xers to buy three apartments; Offers "potential to avert years of hard saving"

9th Mar 12, 9:48am

by Alex Tarrant

Wellington apartment building owner and his bank offer 100% finance to Gen-Xers to buy three apartments; Offers "potential to avert years of hard saving"

RBNZ eyes housing market controls

RBNZ not expecting strong house price pressure, but eyes LVR, bank capital controls if market returns to boom times; 'Quake rebuild needs to be large-scale'

8th Mar 12, 5:24pm

by Alex Tarrant

RBNZ not expecting strong house price pressure, but eyes LVR, bank capital controls if market returns to boom times; 'Quake rebuild needs to be large-scale'