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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

Trailer parks for Auckland's homeless?
Have your say: Auckland councillor who suggested creation of trailer parks would help fix city's housing shortage accused of being in 'la-la land'
21st Jul 11, 9:36am
by Alex Tarrant
37
Have your say: Auckland councillor who suggested creation of trailer parks would help fix city's housing shortage accused of being in 'la-la land'
NZ 'well placed' for any funding crisis
Govt, Reserve Bank more confident about ability to handle global funding crisis; 'Toolkit' can be rolled out 'very quickly'
20th Jul 11, 4:38pm
by Alex Tarrant
10
Govt, Reserve Bank more confident about ability to handle global funding crisis; 'Toolkit' can be rolled out 'very quickly'
'CGT would push house prices up'
BNZ's Tony Alexander says a capital gains tax imposed on NZ's under-supplied property market would cause house prices to rise
20th Jul 11, 2:51pm
by Alex Tarrant
6
BNZ's Tony Alexander says a capital gains tax imposed on NZ's under-supplied property market would cause house prices to rise
'EU crisis no Lehman II' - BNZ
BNZ economist seeks to calm fears Greek debt default could become new 'Lehman moment', saying NZ banks in better funding position than in 2008
19th Jul 11, 3:59pm
by Alex Tarrant
15
BNZ economist seeks to calm fears Greek debt default could become new 'Lehman moment', saying NZ banks in better funding position than in 2008
Z Energy considers another bond issue
Z Energy looking at another bond issue on back of strong demand for NZ$150 million issue
19th Jul 11, 1:26pm
by Alex Tarrant
32
Z Energy looking at another bond issue on back of strong demand for NZ$150 million issue
Regions advertise for more jobs in June
Job ads up 2.3% in June from May, boosted by regions, supports indications of growth, Dept of Labour says
19th Jul 11, 12:41pm
by Alex Tarrant
Job ads up 2.3% in June from May, boosted by regions, supports indications of growth, Dept of Labour says
Banknote review launch on Thursday
Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard to launch banknote upgrade project this Thursday
19th Jul 11, 12:21pm
by Alex Tarrant
6
Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard to launch banknote upgrade project this Thursday
Key to Bernanke: 'Stop printing'
PM Key says he wants to hear from US policy makers how they'll fix US economy; Will tell Bernanke third round of QE will hurt NZ
18th Jul 11, 3:23pm
by Alex Tarrant
12
PM Key says he wants to hear from US policy makers how they'll fix US economy; Will tell Bernanke third round of QE will hurt NZ
Inflation at 21 yr high of 5.3%
NZ CPI hits 21 yr high of 5.3% on rising petrol, food, housing prices, Stats NZ says; Even without GST hike, inflation above RBNZ band
18th Jul 11, 10:58am
by Alex Tarrant
99
NZ CPI hits 21 yr high of 5.3% on rising petrol, food, housing prices, Stats NZ says; Even without GST hike, inflation above RBNZ band
Key "very worried" about US economy
PM Key "very worried" about US economy in face of possible third round of US money printing; Will get gauge on next moves for fixing US economy
18th Jul 11, 7:44am
by Alex Tarrant
28
PM Key "very worried" about US economy in face of possible third round of US money printing; Will get gauge on next moves for fixing US economy
Alex's politico-economic blogroll
Alex's politico-economic blogroll: Why didn't Labour point to HK & Singapore?; How much tax wealthy households pay; The rich guy who isn't a selfish prick; Cartoons
15th Jul 11, 4:47pm
by Alex Tarrant
26
Alex's politico-economic blogroll: Why didn't Labour point to HK & Singapore?; How much tax wealthy households pay; The rich guy who isn't a selfish prick; Cartoons
Swan, English want own banking rules
Swan and English agree Australasian banking system strong and doesn't need same rules as Europe's weaker system
14th Jul 11, 4:58pm
by Alex Tarrant
4
Swan and English agree Australasian banking system strong and doesn't need same rules as Europe's weaker system
Labour unveils big tax package
Labour to run on capital gains tax, 39% top income tax rate, GST off fresh fruit and vegetables, tax cuts for majority of taxpayers
14th Jul 11, 2:59pm
by Alex Tarrant
168
Labour to run on capital gains tax, 39% top income tax rate, GST off fresh fruit and vegetables, tax cuts for majority of taxpayers
GDP up 0.8% in March quarter
NZ economy grew 0.8% in March quarter, GDP figures show, well above market expectations for 0.4% growth; 2nd half of 2010 not as bad
14th Jul 11, 10:51am
by Alex Tarrant
50
NZ economy grew 0.8% in March quarter, GDP figures show, well above market expectations for 0.4% growth; 2nd half of 2010 not as bad
'CGT rent hikes prove tax break'
Opinion: Don't rent increases because of a Capital Gains Tax show how favourable the tax incentive is now?
14th Jul 11, 8:48am
by Alex Tarrant
23
Opinion: Don't rent increases because of a Capital Gains Tax show how favourable the tax incentive is now?
What Tax Working Group recommended
What Tax Working Group said: CGT best way to broaden, but too complicated; Most support land tax; Don't give GST exemptions; Top personal rate should match trust rate
13th Jul 11, 5:07pm
by Alex Tarrant
8
What Tax Working Group said: CGT best way to broaden, but too complicated; Most support land tax; Don't give GST exemptions; Top personal rate should match trust rate
English complains to Bernanke on QE
NZ Finance Minister English told US Fed's Bernanke that US quantitative easing hurt NZ economy; "he thanked me for our point of view"
13th Jul 11, 12:11pm
by Alex Tarrant
22
NZ Finance Minister English told US Fed's Bernanke that US quantitative easing hurt NZ economy; "he thanked me for our point of view"
Leaky homes fix still leaky
Govt financial assistance package for leaky home owners passed by Parliament, but full details still not known
12th Jul 11, 4:29pm
by Alex Tarrant
3
Govt financial assistance package for leaky home owners passed by Parliament, but full details still not known
Cunliffe lets CGT cat out of the bag
Labour finance spokesman Cunliffe lets capital gains tax cat out of the bag in Parliament when asking English about SOE sales
12th Jul 11, 4:12pm
by Alex Tarrant
7
Labour finance spokesman Cunliffe lets capital gains tax cat out of the bag in Parliament when asking English about SOE sales
English keeps eye on Eurozone crisis
English has eye on Eurozone as sovereign debt crisis moves to Italy; says NZ less vulnerable to crisis than it was
12th Jul 11, 12:07pm
by Alex Tarrant
4
English has eye on Eurozone as sovereign debt crisis moves to Italy; says NZ less vulnerable to crisis than it was
72 farms sold to foreigners in 18 mths
Overseas Investment Office figures show 72 farms sold to foreigners in 18 months to June, two declined
12th Jul 11, 9:30am
by Alex Tarrant
7
Overseas Investment Office figures show 72 farms sold to foreigners in 18 months to June, two declined
'Why Key can't have it both ways on CGT'
Alex Tarrant reckons the PM can't argue Labour's CGT is a 'dagger through the heart of growth' and also say we already have a CGT
11th Jul 11, 7:04pm
by Alex Tarrant
65
Alex Tarrant reckons the PM can't argue Labour's CGT is a 'dagger through the heart of growth' and also say we already have a CGT
Most people's tax will fall - Goff
Goff says policy would see most people's tax payments fall due to NZ$5,000 threshold; Understands CGT doesn't raise much short-term
11th Jul 11, 3:06pm
by Alex Tarrant
10
Goff says policy would see most people's tax payments fall due to NZ$5,000 threshold; Understands CGT doesn't raise much short-term
'Retail spending recovering'
Stats NZ retail spending figures showing signs of recovery, but household deleveraging will weigh on growth, ASB says
11th Jul 11, 11:36am
by Alex Tarrant
1
Stats NZ retail spending figures showing signs of recovery, but household deleveraging will weigh on growth, ASB says
Key: NZ$ dependent on US economy
PM Key says stemming NZ$ rise effectively dependent on how long it takes for the US to sort out its economic woes
11th Jul 11, 10:51am
by Alex Tarrant
13
PM Key says stemming NZ$ rise effectively dependent on how long it takes for the US to sort out its economic woes