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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

ACT's Boscawen quits politics
ACT Parliamentary leader John Boscawen announces he is not standing at November 26 election; ACT leader Don Brash loses number two
24th Sep 11, 5:18pm
by Alex Tarrant
2
ACT Parliamentary leader John Boscawen announces he is not standing at November 26 election; ACT leader Don Brash loses number two
Alex's politico-economic blogroll
Alex's politico-economic blogroll: Why Cunliffe won't be the next Finance Minister (and Brash will); Nolan rips Greens' jobs policy to shreds, and what others think; NZ economically free; Cartoons
23rd Sep 11, 10:21am
by Alex Tarrant
41
Alex's politico-economic blogroll: Why Cunliffe won't be the next Finance Minister (and Brash will); Nolan rips Greens' jobs policy to shreds, and what others think; NZ economically free; Cartoons
NZ GDP growth below forecasts
NZ GDP up 0.1% in June quarter from March quarter vs 0.5% expected; Services, agriculture activity rises; Construction, manufacturing fall
22nd Sep 11, 10:52am
by Alex Tarrant
35
NZ GDP up 0.1% in June quarter from March quarter vs 0.5% expected; Services, agriculture activity rises; Construction, manufacturing fall
Kiwis leaving in droves for Australia
Net permanent migration loss to Australia 32,700 in year to August, highest since year to March 2009, Stats NZ figures show
21st Sep 11, 12:52pm
by Alex Tarrant
36
Net permanent migration loss to Australia 32,700 in year to August, highest since year to March 2009, Stats NZ figures show
Current account deficit deteriorates
NZ current account deficit NZ$921m in June qtr, compared to NZ$90m surplus in March; Worse than economist expectations of NZ$670-690m deficit
21st Sep 11, 11:00am
by Alex Tarrant
22
NZ current account deficit NZ$921m in June qtr, compared to NZ$90m surplus in March; Worse than economist expectations of NZ$670-690m deficit
AMI set to lose independence
AMI says cost of Canterbury earthquake claims to be about NZ$531 mln; Also taking an extra NZ$229 mln contingency; Annual loss NZ$705 mln
20th Sep 11, 10:23am
by Alex Tarrant
20
AMI says cost of Canterbury earthquake claims to be about NZ$531 mln; Also taking an extra NZ$229 mln contingency; Annual loss NZ$705 mln
Six month wait for reinsurance?
Key confident on private solution to Chch insurance impasse; Won't rule out concerns of 6 mth wait. Your experience?
20th Sep 11, 9:06am
by Alex Tarrant
9
Key confident on private solution to Chch insurance impasse; Won't rule out concerns of 6 mth wait. Your experience?
'We want to keep a lid on section prices'
Leader Phil Goff says Labour's pledge to buy land for 1,500 sections an attempt to help keep a lid on Christchurch land prices
20th Sep 11, 7:57am
by Alex Tarrant
18
Leader Phil Goff says Labour's pledge to buy land for 1,500 sections an attempt to help keep a lid on Christchurch land prices
'AMI financials to show plenty of cash'
AMI financial statements to be released Tuesday morning to show plenty of cash to meet current claims, update on future and recapitalisation
19th Sep 11, 5:59pm
by Alex Tarrant
1
AMI financial statements to be released Tuesday morning to show plenty of cash to meet current claims, update on future and recapitalisation
Higher NZ$ will hit export growth-NZIER
Growth in year to March 2013 won't be as good as previously thought due to higher NZ$ and weak exports, NZIER consensus forecasts show
19th Sep 11, 12:04pm
by Alex Tarrant
6
Growth in year to March 2013 won't be as good as previously thought due to higher NZ$ and weak exports, NZIER consensus forecasts show
'Labour will intervene in insurance market'
Labour says it would intervene in insurance market to get reconstruction moving in Christchurch as last resort, although subject to fiscal risks
19th Sep 11, 11:21am
by Alex Tarrant
28
Labour says it would intervene in insurance market to get reconstruction moving in Christchurch as last resort, although subject to fiscal risks
Key confident insurers will return to Chch
PM Key says insurers will return to Christchurch "more rapidly than you think" as Earthquake Minister Brownlee returns from reinsurance conference
19th Sep 11, 9:30am
by Alex Tarrant
2
PM Key says insurers will return to Christchurch "more rapidly than you think" as Earthquake Minister Brownlee returns from reinsurance conference
Key defends 65 retirement age again
PM Key says raising the retirement age not straightforward, as 65 a legitimate age for manual workers, while desk workers could go further
19th Sep 11, 7:55am
by Alex Tarrant
22
PM Key says raising the retirement age not straightforward, as 65 a legitimate age for manual workers, while desk workers could go further
Alex's politico-economic blogroll
Alex's politico-economic blogroll: Will the rebuild really create that much pressure? It's not the RBNZ's fault; Apathetic youth (non) voters; Peter Cook on job creation; Cartoons
16th Sep 11, 2:06pm
by Alex Tarrant
9
Alex's politico-economic blogroll: Will the rebuild really create that much pressure? It's not the RBNZ's fault; Apathetic youth (non) voters; Peter Cook on job creation; Cartoons
Govt set to slow ETS introduction
Govt looks set to slow down introduction of Emissions Trading Scheme following report to Environment Minister Nick Smith
15th Sep 11, 12:58pm
by Alex Tarrant
60
Govt looks set to slow down introduction of Emissions Trading Scheme following report to Environment Minister Nick Smith
RBNZ eyes 'bold Swiss experiment'
RBNZ interested in Swiss central bank's "bold" currency controls; says NZ$ persistently overvalued; concerned about larger central banks' policies
15th Sep 11, 12:33pm
by Alex Tarrant
16
RBNZ interested in Swiss central bank's "bold" currency controls; says NZ$ persistently overvalued; concerned about larger central banks' policies
Rate rises without OCR hikes?
Reserve Bank warns bank funding costs and interest rates could rise due to global market turmoil, but says NZ banks OK for now
15th Sep 11, 9:12am
by Alex Tarrant
4
Reserve Bank warns bank funding costs and interest rates could rise due to global market turmoil, but says NZ banks OK for now
RBNZ delays quake rebuild forecast
Reserve Bank pushes back expectation for quake reconstruction, as aftershocks hinder planning, building, and insurance
15th Sep 11, 9:12am
by Alex Tarrant
4
Reserve Bank pushes back expectation for quake reconstruction, as aftershocks hinder planning, building, and insurance
Will Jackson Hole pessimism affect Bollard?
Finance Minister English wonders what effect global central bankers' Jackson Hole pessimism will have on RBNZ Governor Bollard's growth forecasts
14th Sep 11, 3:41pm
by Alex Tarrant
6
Finance Minister English wonders what effect global central bankers' Jackson Hole pessimism will have on RBNZ Governor Bollard's growth forecasts
English: Risks build for NZ economy
English: Risks building for NZ economy due to EU crisis, Aussie jitters and US stalemate; 'Demand for exports could fall, funding lines at risk'
13th Sep 11, 3:36pm
by Alex Tarrant
10
English: Risks building for NZ economy due to EU crisis, Aussie jitters and US stalemate; 'Demand for exports could fall, funding lines at risk'
'NZ doesn't need deposit guarantee'
Govt still on track to get rid of little-used deposit guarantee scheme at end of year, despite Aussie scheme's extension, Finance Minister English says
13th Sep 11, 12:21pm
by Alex Tarrant
45
Govt still on track to get rid of little-used deposit guarantee scheme at end of year, despite Aussie scheme's extension, Finance Minister English says
Food prices fall 1.3% in August
Food prices sliced 1.3% in August due to big falls in tomato and banana prices, Stats NZ says; Annual 6.6% rise lower than in July
13th Sep 11, 11:07am
by Alex Tarrant
7
Food prices sliced 1.3% in August due to big falls in tomato and banana prices, Stats NZ says; Annual 6.6% rise lower than in July
'Real short-term reinsurance problems'
Real problems short-term for Christchurch reinsurance, although long-term prospects OK, Earthquake Minister Brownlee says
13th Sep 11, 8:19am
by Alex Tarrant
Real problems short-term for Christchurch reinsurance, although long-term prospects OK, Earthquake Minister Brownlee says
Goff: Chch land supply must meet demand
Labour's Goff calls on govt to ensure sufficient new land supply in Christchurch to meet demand from residents facing higher property prices than payouts
12th Sep 11, 3:30pm
by Alex Tarrant
54
Labour's Goff calls on govt to ensure sufficient new land supply in Christchurch to meet demand from residents facing higher property prices than payouts
'Next 6 mths crucial for global economy'
Global economy's performance over next six months crucial for seeing what impact international slowdown will have on NZ growth, Key says
12th Sep 11, 7:37am
by Alex Tarrant
7
Global economy's performance over next six months crucial for seeing what impact international slowdown will have on NZ growth, Key says