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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

RBNZ quizzed on quantitative easing
RBNZ tackles questions on quantitative easing, says wouldn't start until OCR at zero, and that it might lead to inflation as economy nears full capacity
8th Mar 12, 3:07pm
by Alex Tarrant
14
RBNZ tackles questions on quantitative easing, says wouldn't start until OCR at zero, and that it might lead to inflation as economy nears full capacity
Bagrie questions fixing 'hoop-la'
Recent 'hoop-la' around fixed mortgage rates at odds with Reserve Bank assessment, after RBNZ revises down interest rate outlook, ANZ says
8th Mar 12, 1:48pm
by Alex Tarrant
9
Recent 'hoop-la' around fixed mortgage rates at odds with Reserve Bank assessment, after RBNZ revises down interest rate outlook, ANZ says
RBNZ may cut OCR if NZ$ rises
High NZ$ keeping inflation in check, but detrimental to NZ economy, as global central banks print, RBNZ says; ‘Global easing may continue’
8th Mar 12, 9:23am
by Alex Tarrant
7
High NZ$ keeping inflation in check, but detrimental to NZ economy, as global central banks print, RBNZ says; ‘Global easing may continue’
RBNZ holds rates 'low for longer'
Reserve Bank keeps OCR on hold at 2.5%; slashes projected interest rate track; Hits out at high NZ dollar
8th Mar 12, 9:19am
by Alex Tarrant
50
Reserve Bank keeps OCR on hold at 2.5%; slashes projected interest rate track; Hits out at high NZ dollar
SFO eyes another failed finance co.
Serious Fraud Office assessing whether to investigate a recently-failed finance company; Will know in about two weeks whether to go ahead
7th Mar 12, 1:06pm
by Alex Tarrant
1
Serious Fraud Office assessing whether to investigate a recently-failed finance company; Will know in about two weeks whether to go ahead
'EQC managing post-quake inflation'
EQC managing Christchurch post-quake construction inflation through contract with Fletcher Building, chairman says
7th Mar 12, 12:13pm
by Alex Tarrant
25
EQC managing Christchurch post-quake construction inflation through contract with Fletcher Building, chairman says
Sensitive land sales in limbo at OIO
Overseas applications to buy sensitive land in limbo at OIO after Crafar court ruling; 41 applications for 16,200 hectares may have tighter conditions
7th Mar 12, 8:43am
by Alex Tarrant
2
Overseas applications to buy sensitive land in limbo at OIO after Crafar court ruling; 41 applications for 16,200 hectares may have tighter conditions
'Mums and Dads top priority,' Key says
New Zealand 'mum and dad' investors number one priority for PM Key when it comes to SOE share allocations, but may not get them all
6th Mar 12, 1:54pm
by Alex Tarrant
30
New Zealand 'mum and dad' investors number one priority for PM Key when it comes to SOE share allocations, but may not get them all
English confirms Solid Energy value 'issue'
Finance Minister Bill English confirms Solid Energy issues centre around NZ$1 bln disagreement over value between market and company
6th Mar 12, 1:30pm
by Alex Tarrant
3
Finance Minister Bill English confirms Solid Energy issues centre around NZ$1 bln disagreement over value between market and company
Where the shadow RBNZ sees rates
NZIER sets up shadow monetary policy board of economists, business leaders and academics; OCR to stay on hold this week, but lower rates in the picture
6th Mar 12, 12:00pm
by Alex Tarrant
5
NZIER sets up shadow monetary policy board of economists, business leaders and academics; OCR to stay on hold this week, but lower rates in the picture
Key defends growing Aussie exodus
PM Key defends govt over growing exodus to Australia, says Christchurch quakes, Aussie mining boom to blame; 'Starting to close that gap'
6th Mar 12, 8:15am
by Alex Tarrant
17
PM Key defends govt over growing exodus to Australia, says Christchurch quakes, Aussie mining boom to blame; 'Starting to close that gap'
Solid Energy value disagreement delays sale
Solid Energy has 'issues we need to work through' before share sale, Key says; Won't be drawn on specifics, but not safety or personnel concerns
5th Mar 12, 5:07pm
by Alex Tarrant
2
Solid Energy has 'issues we need to work through' before share sale, Key says; Won't be drawn on specifics, but not safety or personnel concerns
Low rates could make SOEs attractive
Low interest rate track could make shares from SOE sell-downs look more attractive by driving up values and prices
5th Mar 12, 2:37pm
by Alex Tarrant
1
Low interest rate track could make shares from SOE sell-downs look more attractive by driving up values and prices
Crafar sale not hurting National - Key
Pending Crafar farms sale to Chinese company Pengxin not hurting National Party support, PM Key says
5th Mar 12, 7:41am
by Alex Tarrant
11
Pending Crafar farms sale to Chinese company Pengxin not hurting National Party support, PM Key says
'Public servants should be revolting'
BusinessDesk: Treasury Secretary Makhlouf urges public servants to revolt if they see processes which make no sense
2nd Mar 12, 5:00pm
by Alex Tarrant
13
BusinessDesk: Treasury Secretary Makhlouf urges public servants to revolt if they see processes which make no sense
RBNZ may downplay OCR hike views
RBNZ's Bollard may hose down market expectations for Dec OCR hike, but may signal higher OCR peak later, economists say
2nd Mar 12, 3:46pm
by Alex Tarrant
4
RBNZ's Bollard may hose down market expectations for Dec OCR hike, but may signal higher OCR peak later, economists say
'We'd employ more Kiwis if they wanted work'
Horticulture NZ CEO says industry could employ 8,000 New Zealanders if they wanted the work and could do it; Foreign workers used instead
2nd Mar 12, 9:55am
by Alex Tarrant
37
Horticulture NZ CEO says industry could employ 8,000 New Zealanders if they wanted the work and could do it; Foreign workers used instead
'Auckland house prices may stop rising'
Auckland house prices to stop rising despite demand pressure as prices hit unaffordable levels, NZIER says; Rents may rise until supply comes back
1st Mar 12, 5:56pm
by Alex Tarrant
24
Auckland house prices to stop rising despite demand pressure as prices hit unaffordable levels, NZIER says; Rents may rise until supply comes back
'Here's 60% of the market for you'
Commerce Commission clears IAG bid to buy quake-hit AMI, giving IAG around 60% of home and car insurance markets
1st Mar 12, 11:13am
by Alex Tarrant
6
Commerce Commission clears IAG bid to buy quake-hit AMI, giving IAG around 60% of home and car insurance markets
Govt surplus hard without changes
NZIER says govt will struggle to hit 2014/15 surplus without significant policy changes; Still sees OCR on hold til mid-2013
1st Mar 12, 1:05am
by Alex Tarrant
19
NZIER says govt will struggle to hit 2014/15 surplus without significant policy changes; Still sees OCR on hold til mid-2013
English announces Budget 2012 day
Budget 2012 to be delivered on May 24, Finance Minister English says; 'There will be no big surprises'
29th Feb 12, 12:37pm
by Alex Tarrant
3
Budget 2012 to be delivered on May 24, Finance Minister English says; 'There will be no big surprises'
Treasury defends SOE accounting
Treasury defends accounting practice of not booking potential SOE dividend losses from SOE sell-down until after election
29th Feb 12, 11:32am
by Alex Tarrant
5
Treasury defends accounting practice of not booking potential SOE dividend losses from SOE sell-down until after election
Govt warns councils on debt levels
Local Govt Minister Nick Smith warns councils on increasing debt levels, hits back at figures from Local Government NZ on costs faced by councils
28th Feb 12, 5:21pm
by Alex Tarrant
43
Local Govt Minister Nick Smith warns councils on increasing debt levels, hits back at figures from Local Government NZ on costs faced by councils
WCC eyes options for quake strengthening
Welly Council eyes help for building owners to pay for quake strengthening; Could waive rates or ask for costs to be tax deductable; Banks keen on being paid via rates
28th Feb 12, 4:06pm
by Alex Tarrant
6
Welly Council eyes help for building owners to pay for quake strengthening; Could waive rates or ask for costs to be tax deductable; Banks keen on being paid via rates
'Stripping Graham of knighthood big call'
Stripping Sir Douglas Graham of knighthood over Lombard case a 'very big' and 'complex' call, PM Key says; Has sought advice
28th Feb 12, 10:55am
by Alex Tarrant
15
Stripping Sir Douglas Graham of knighthood over Lombard case a 'very big' and 'complex' call, PM Key says; Has sought advice