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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

Watchdog wants more time on AMI
Commerce Commission wants more time to consider IAG takeover of AMI, which would see IAG snaring around 60% of home and car insurance markets
17th Jan 12, 4:05pm
by Alex Tarrant
1
Commerce Commission wants more time to consider IAG takeover of AMI, which would see IAG snaring around 60% of home and car insurance markets
NZIER sees OCR hike from late 2013
NZ economy moderated in Dec qtr as QSBO survey shows firms grew more pessimistic, NZIER says; First OCR hike may now be later than mid-2013
17th Jan 12, 10:05am
by Alex Tarrant
19
NZ economy moderated in Dec qtr as QSBO survey shows firms grew more pessimistic, NZIER says; First OCR hike may now be later than mid-2013
Food prices up 2.9% in yr to December
Food prices up 2.9% in year to December, after 1.9% annual growth in November, Stats NZ says
16th Jan 12, 11:04am
by Alex Tarrant
6
Food prices up 2.9% in year to December, after 1.9% annual growth in November, Stats NZ says
'Cities even more sellers' markets'
Property supply in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch tightens heading into new year, realestate.co.nz property report shows
1st Jan 12, 1:34pm
by Alex Tarrant
120
Property supply in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch tightens heading into new year, realestate.co.nz property report shows
Energy companies keep value
Energy companies earmarked for govt sell-off keep 2010 values, as govt begins work on getting Mighty River Power ready for sale
23rd Dec 11, 1:21pm
by Alex Tarrant
2
Energy companies earmarked for govt sell-off keep 2010 values, as govt begins work on getting Mighty River Power ready for sale
'OCR lower for longer, despite GDP news'
BNZ says first OCR hike may be further away than current H2 2012 prediction; Deutsche Bank pushes back from June to September 2012
22nd Dec 11, 3:51pm
by Alex Tarrant
19
BNZ says first OCR hike may be further away than current H2 2012 prediction; Deutsche Bank pushes back from June to September 2012
GDP up 0.8%, more than expected
NZ economic growth 0.8% in September quarter, above economists' expectations for 0.6% rise; Led by manufacturing sector
22nd Dec 11, 10:56am
by Alex Tarrant
22
NZ economic growth 0.8% in September quarter, above economists' expectations for 0.6% rise; Led by manufacturing sector
NZ bailing out Portugal, St Kitts & Nevis
NZ lends NZ$87 million via IMF to bail out Portugal and St Kitts and Nevis; May have to help bail out Columbia and Serbia too; Total IMF bill could hit NZ$3.2 bln
21st Dec 11, 12:16pm
by Alex Tarrant
11
NZ lends NZ$87 million via IMF to bail out Portugal and St Kitts and Nevis; May have to help bail out Columbia and Serbia too; Total IMF bill could hit NZ$3.2 bln
Record net migration loss to Australia
NZ has largest ever annual net migration loss to Australia of 35,758 in year to November 2011, Stats NZ figures show
21st Dec 11, 11:04am
by Alex Tarrant
130
NZ has largest ever annual net migration loss to Australia of 35,758 in year to November 2011, Stats NZ figures show
Current account deficit worse than forecast
NZ current account deficit in September year 4.3% of GDP, worse than economists' expectations for 3.9% of GDP, Stats NZ figures show
21st Dec 11, 10:59am
by Alex Tarrant
7
NZ current account deficit in September year 4.3% of GDP, worse than economists' expectations for 3.9% of GDP, Stats NZ figures show
Govt unlikely to boost state house building
Govt unlikely to ramp up state house building this term, but will work with community sector on social housing programme, PM Key says
20th Dec 11, 10:18am
by Alex Tarrant
66
Govt unlikely to ramp up state house building this term, but will work with community sector on social housing programme, PM Key says
Labour's 'clean, green, innovative NZ'
Parker replaces Cunliffe as Labour finance spokesman; Cunliffe gets Parker's old economic development role, stays on front bench
19th Dec 11, 2:59pm
by Alex Tarrant
44
Parker replaces Cunliffe as Labour finance spokesman; Cunliffe gets Parker's old economic development role, stays on front bench
Key likes housing affordability report
PM Key likes affordability report, notes good points made on need to release more land, indicates not keen for more changes for rental investment
19th Dec 11, 7:48am
by Alex Tarrant
105
PM Key likes affordability report, notes good points made on need to release more land, indicates not keen for more changes for rental investment
'It's land supply, stupid'
All the Productivity Commission needed to say in its housing affordability report: 'Quit whining about tax; It's land supply, stupid'
16th Dec 11, 4:07pm
by Alex Tarrant
176
All the Productivity Commission needed to say in its housing affordability report: 'Quit whining about tax; It's land supply, stupid'
'Affordability a land issue, not a tax one'
Productivity Commission wants more land for home building, puts tax changes in 'too hard' basket in draft report on housing affordability
16th Dec 11, 11:59am
by Alex Tarrant
218
Productivity Commission wants more land for home building, puts tax changes in 'too hard' basket in draft report on housing affordability
Mighty River first SOE to be sold
Govt announces Mighty River first state owned enterprise to be floated on NZX; likely to be in third quarter of 2012; 10% ownership cap planned
15th Dec 11, 9:53am
by Alex Tarrant
35
Govt announces Mighty River first state owned enterprise to be floated on NZX; likely to be in third quarter of 2012; 10% ownership cap planned
Shearer, Robertson to lead Labour
David Shearer and Grant Robertson voted leader and deputy leader of the Labour Party
13th Dec 11, 11:22am
by Alex Tarrant
28
David Shearer and Grant Robertson voted leader and deputy leader of the Labour Party
Key announces new Cabinet
Key on unpopular asset sales policy: 'Govt needs to make the case to Kiwis about how it helps get budget back to surplus'
12th Dec 11, 8:02am
by Alex Tarrant
29
Key on unpopular asset sales policy: 'Govt needs to make the case to Kiwis about how it helps get budget back to surplus'
'Gradual housing market recovery'
REINZ reports 6,008 sales in November, up 17% from year ago and 20% from October; New record median price of NZ$367,500
9th Dec 11, 2:36pm
by Alex Tarrant
35
REINZ reports 6,008 sales in November, up 17% from year ago and 20% from October; New record median price of NZ$367,500
Retail spending sags after World Cup
Retail spending flat in Nov; Trend in core retailing flattens as Christmas nears, despite strong growth in retail spending over recent months
9th Dec 11, 11:28am
by Alex Tarrant
10
Retail spending flat in Nov; Trend in core retailing flattens as Christmas nears, despite strong growth in retail spending over recent months
Another deposit war brewing?
NZ banks likely to have to rely on domestic deposits in near term for stable funding, given EU mess, RBNZ says; Mortgage, business rates may rise
8th Dec 11, 9:07am
by Alex Tarrant
13
NZ banks likely to have to rely on domestic deposits in near term for stable funding, given EU mess, RBNZ says; Mortgage, business rates may rise
'Build houses to reduce landlord subsidy'
Accommodation Supplement: Landlord subsidy punching a big hole in govt books due to unaffordable housing, or an essential benefit?
7th Dec 11, 4:12pm
by Alex Tarrant
73
Accommodation Supplement: Landlord subsidy punching a big hole in govt books due to unaffordable housing, or an essential benefit?
Treasury cuts NZ growth forecasts
Treasury cuts NZ economic growth forecasts due to Euro crisis; GDP growth in yr to March 2013 closer to 3% than 3.4% forecast in PREFU
5th Dec 11, 3:06pm
by Alex Tarrant
22
Treasury cuts NZ economic growth forecasts due to Euro crisis; GDP growth in yr to March 2013 closer to 3% than 3.4% forecast in PREFU
Nats to look at Dunne's 'Flexi Super'
United Future's Dunne to be Minister of Revenue again; Nats will reinstate NZ$500m Income Sharing Bill to legislation process, look at 'Flexi Super'
5th Dec 11, 2:42pm
by Alex Tarrant
9
United Future's Dunne to be Minister of Revenue again; Nats will reinstate NZ$500m Income Sharing Bill to legislation process, look at 'Flexi Super'
Greens: Invest in state housing
Greens call for govt to ramp up state house building programme to cover for woeful NZ building activity ahead of quake rebuild
5th Dec 11, 12:38pm
by Alex Tarrant
34
Greens call for govt to ramp up state house building programme to cover for woeful NZ building activity ahead of quake rebuild