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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

Key: Interest rates may not jump
US spending cuts or even default won't necessarily push NZ interest rates up because NZ becomes more attractive, PM Key says
1st Aug 11, 7:53am
by Alex Tarrant
7
US spending cuts or even default won't necessarily push NZ interest rates up because NZ becomes more attractive, PM Key says
Alex's politico-economic blogroll
Alex's politico-economic blogroll: Dirty electorate deals; Labour's dreadful polling (but give them a chance); Why an OCR hike does not mean the NZ$ will jump; Cartoons
29th Jul 11, 3:37pm
by Alex Tarrant
15
Alex's politico-economic blogroll: Dirty electorate deals; Labour's dreadful polling (but give them a chance); Why an OCR hike does not mean the NZ$ will jump; Cartoons
Home building consents down 4.5%
Building consents for houses fall 4.5% to 965 in seasonally adjusted terms in June from May, after three months of rises, Stats NZ says
29th Jul 11, 11:03am
by Alex Tarrant
12
Building consents for houses fall 4.5% to 965 in seasonally adjusted terms in June from May, after three months of rises, Stats NZ says
Z Energy decides against bond issue
Z Energy decides against another bond issue for now, says timing not right after carefully looking at the market
29th Jul 11, 10:40am
by Alex Tarrant
13
Z Energy decides against another bond issue for now, says timing not right after carefully looking at the market
Kiwibank hikes variable mortgage cap
Kiwibank pushes up capped variable rate limit by 25 bps to 6.5% in first bank mortgage rate move after OCR decision
29th Jul 11, 9:15am
by Alex Tarrant
1
Kiwibank pushes up capped variable rate limit by 25 bps to 6.5% in first bank mortgage rate move after OCR decision
Govt could cover 35% of leaky losses
Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson to make leaky homes announcement around 2pm today
28th Jul 11, 11:15am
by Alex Tarrant
9
Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson to make leaky homes announcement around 2pm today
'It's all about Bollard's 'ifs''
Opinion: Interest rate outlook all about Bollard's 'ifs' - global situation not tanking, and NZ recovery firming. And quit this NZ safe-haven talk - that's Aussie
28th Jul 11, 11:04am
by Alex Tarrant
13
Opinion: Interest rate outlook all about Bollard's 'ifs' - global situation not tanking, and NZ recovery firming. And quit this NZ safe-haven talk - that's Aussie
'Hike OCR in September'
Reserve Bank should hike OCR in September, and would need to find a reason not to do so, National Bank chief economist Cameron Bagrie says
27th Jul 11, 3:41pm
by Alex Tarrant
13
Reserve Bank should hike OCR in September, and would need to find a reason not to do so, National Bank chief economist Cameron Bagrie says
English: NZ$ now a safe-haven
English: Kiwi's current 'safe-haven' status makes rebalancing tough, but puts us in elite 'positive economy' group with Germany, Aus, Canada
27th Jul 11, 9:26am
by Alex Tarrant
46
English: Kiwi's current 'safe-haven' status makes rebalancing tough, but puts us in elite 'positive economy' group with Germany, Aus, Canada
Avanti's outlook positive from stable
S&P revises outlook on Avanti Finance's BB- credit rating to positive from stable; Will upgrade to BB if Avanti can safely sustain ambition to grow portfolio
26th Jul 11, 9:17pm
by Alex Tarrant
S&P revises outlook on Avanti Finance's BB- credit rating to positive from stable; Will upgrade to BB if Avanti can safely sustain ambition to grow portfolio
NZ$ hits 87 USc after Obama warning
NZ$ hits new post-float high of 87 US cents after US President Obama warns deficit could do serious damage to US economy
26th Jul 11, 3:21pm
by Alex Tarrant
15
NZ$ hits new post-float high of 87 US cents after US President Obama warns deficit could do serious damage to US economy
Moody's warns on Aus housing market
Moody's warns on Aussie housing market, says mortgage default rates will rise, high mortgage debt levels point to financial system vulnerability
26th Jul 11, 12:46pm
by Alex Tarrant
5
Moody's warns on Aussie housing market, says mortgage default rates will rise, high mortgage debt levels point to financial system vulnerability
Trade surpluses continue in June
NZ merchandise trade surplus NZ$230 mln in June month, below market expectations of NZ$400 mln, Stats NZ figures show
26th Jul 11, 10:54am
by Alex Tarrant
12
NZ merchandise trade surplus NZ$230 mln in June month, below market expectations of NZ$400 mln, Stats NZ figures show
Labour tax policy gaining momentum?
Have your say: Internet pollster Horizon says more Kiwis support capital gains tax than oppose it following poll
26th Jul 11, 8:35am
by Alex Tarrant
15
Have your say: Internet pollster Horizon says more Kiwis support capital gains tax than oppose it following poll
Tony Alexander says open up the fringes
BNZ's Tony Alexander says 'open up the fringes' for affordable housing, but doesn't think Kiwis are likely to vote for the idea
25th Jul 11, 12:46pm
by Alex Tarrant
123
BNZ's Tony Alexander says 'open up the fringes' for affordable housing, but doesn't think Kiwis are likely to vote for the idea
Finance firm Bill to enter Parliament
Non-bank deposit taker law change that gives Reserve Bank more powers to be introduced to Parliament next week, English says
25th Jul 11, 11:44am
by Alex Tarrant
1
Non-bank deposit taker law change that gives Reserve Bank more powers to be introduced to Parliament next week, English says
Mortgage rates on the rise
Co-operative PSIS hikes two, three, four-year mortgage rates by 10-20 basis points
25th Jul 11, 9:02am
by Alex Tarrant
8
Co-operative PSIS hikes two, three, four-year mortgage rates by 10-20 basis points
Key increasingly confident on TPP
Key "increasingly confident" TPP deal will be done with the US following visit to Washington, meeting with Obama
25th Jul 11, 8:21am
by Alex Tarrant
7
Key "increasingly confident" TPP deal will be done with the US following visit to Washington, meeting with Obama
Alex's politico-economic blogroll
Alex's politico-economic blogroll: Labour's death tax; Hypocritical Greens; Joyce's uses wrong spreadsheet for debt claims; Shipley's payday; Cartoons
22nd Jul 11, 3:44pm
by Alex Tarrant
21
Alex's politico-economic blogroll: Labour's death tax; Hypocritical Greens; Joyce's uses wrong spreadsheet for debt claims; Shipley's payday; Cartoons
Selwyn & most of Waimak zoned Green
CERA zones Canterbury's Selwyn District and most of Waimakariri District green to avoid insurance confusion, Brownlee says
22nd Jul 11, 11:51am
by Alex Tarrant
CERA zones Canterbury's Selwyn District and most of Waimakariri District green to avoid insurance confusion, Brownlee says
Key: High NZ$ will hurt recovery
PM Key tells US audience rising NZ$ will dampen economic growth if it can't be brought under control
22nd Jul 11, 10:41am
by Alex Tarrant
103
PM Key tells US audience rising NZ$ will dampen economic growth if it can't be brought under control
PM says US future is exports to Asia
PM Key tells US business leaders their future is exporting to rising Asian middle classes, takes stab at Asian controlled exchange rate regimes
22nd Jul 11, 10:11am
by Alex Tarrant
5
PM Key tells US business leaders their future is exporting to rising Asian middle classes, takes stab at Asian controlled exchange rate regimes
RBNZ watches Aus bank note bribery case
Reserve Bank closely watching Aussie banknote company bribery charges as it announces upgrade to NZ's banknotes, Bollard says
21st Jul 11, 3:29pm
by Alex Tarrant
7
Reserve Bank closely watching Aussie banknote company bribery charges as it announces upgrade to NZ's banknotes, Bollard says
Dunne calls for Super at 60
United Future's Dunne calls for revamp of Govt Superannuation policy that would allow payments from 60 years of age
21st Jul 11, 1:29pm
by Alex Tarrant
49
United Future's Dunne calls for revamp of Govt Superannuation policy that would allow payments from 60 years of age
Net departures to Aus at 30yr high
Net permanent departures from NZ to Aus hit 30 year high of 3,147 in June month on back of Chch exodus, Stats NZ says
21st Jul 11, 10:57am
by Alex Tarrant
34
Net permanent departures from NZ to Aus hit 30 year high of 3,147 in June month on back of Chch exodus, Stats NZ says