sign up log in
Want to go ad-free? Find out how, here.

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

Building consents turn around?
Building consents for temp Chch housing show through; National consents for new homes down 20% in May from yr ago
30th Jun 11, 10:59am
by Alex Tarrant
5
Building consents for temp Chch housing show through; National consents for new homes down 20% in May from yr ago
RBNZ looking at new policy tools
RBNZ releases statement of intent, will work on framework to implement new tools to help OCR, plans for new bank notes
30th Jun 11, 9:28am
by Alex Tarrant
5
RBNZ releases statement of intent, will work on framework to implement new tools to help OCR, plans for new bank notes
NZ economy 'in prime position'
Makhlouf says 21st century will be dominated by Chinese growth, putting NZ economy in prime position; Public needs to understand that reality
29th Jun 11, 4:23pm
by Alex Tarrant
38
Makhlouf says 21st century will be dominated by Chinese growth, putting NZ economy in prime position; Public needs to understand that reality
Floating currency 'advantageous'
NZ currency debate highlights importance of international competitiveness and productivity, new Treasury head says
29th Jun 11, 1:45pm
by Alex Tarrant
1
NZ currency debate highlights importance of international competitiveness and productivity, new Treasury head says
'More room for tax changes in NZ'
New Treasury head Makhlouf sees room for capital taxation, questions doomsayers' scenario for NZ if Greece defaults on debt
28th Jun 11, 4:47pm
by Alex Tarrant
17
New Treasury head Makhlouf sees room for capital taxation, questions doomsayers' scenario for NZ if Greece defaults on debt
Govt sells NZ$300 mln Treasury bills
Govt successfully sells NZ$300 million in short-term debt, stong demand for September 2011 bills
28th Jun 11, 2:41pm
by Alex Tarrant
1
Govt successfully sells NZ$300 million in short-term debt, stong demand for September 2011 bills
Makhlouf new Treasury Secretary
Gabriel Makhlouf new Treasury Secretary and chief executive for five years, replacing John Whitehead
28th Jun 11, 11:13am
by Alex Tarrant
8
Gabriel Makhlouf new Treasury Secretary and chief executive for five years, replacing John Whitehead
EQC court case due in August
Court case between EQC and Insurance Council to be held sometime in August, but those affected won't have to wait for money
27th Jun 11, 10:43am
by Alex Tarrant
1
Court case between EQC and Insurance Council to be held sometime in August, but those affected won't have to wait for money
'No significant downside to India FTA'
No significant downside from India FTA, Finance Minister English says; NZ manufacturers won't be competing directly with Indian peers
27th Jun 11, 8:21am
by Alex Tarrant
1
No significant downside from India FTA, Finance Minister English says; NZ manufacturers won't be competing directly with Indian peers
Alex's politico-economic blogroll
Alex's politico-economic blogroll: Tower's quake loophole; Rate your insurer; Farrar and Standard tax cut fight; Cactus says the SFO can't lose; Key's broken Aus promise
24th Jun 11, 4:08pm
by Alex Tarrant
6
Alex's politico-economic blogroll: Tower's quake loophole; Rate your insurer; Farrar and Standard tax cut fight; Cactus says the SFO can't lose; Key's broken Aus promise
Govt announces quake plan
Govt announces offer to buy 5,100 homes in worst-hit Christchurch suburbs
23rd Jun 11, 1:34pm
by Alex Tarrant
60
Govt announces offer to buy 5,100 homes in worst-hit Christchurch suburbs
More land may be released in Chch for homes
Environment Canterbury looks to release land on Christchurch fringes for up to 5,000 homes; up to Environment Court
23rd Jun 11, 11:27am
by Alex Tarrant
49
Environment Canterbury looks to release land on Christchurch fringes for up to 5,000 homes; up to Environment Court
'No building in Chch for 12 months'
Economist inflation, OCR hike expectations not dented by Brownlee comment that no rebuilding will happen in Chch for 12 months
23rd Jun 11, 9:46am
by Alex Tarrant
15
Economist inflation, OCR hike expectations not dented by Brownlee comment that no rebuilding will happen in Chch for 12 months
Housing affordability probe
Productivity Commission asks for submissions on housing affordability, looks at land supply, construction costs, taxes, credit availability
22nd Jun 11, 2:00pm
by Alex Tarrant
43
Productivity Commission asks for submissions on housing affordability, looks at land supply, construction costs, taxes, credit availability
Chch land announcement 1:30 Thurs
Brownlee says announcement on initial update on state of Christchurch land to be at 1:30pm Thursday
22nd Jun 11, 11:42am
by Alex Tarrant
27
Brownlee says announcement on initial update on state of Christchurch land to be at 1:30pm Thursday
Current account deficit 4.3% of GDP
NZ current account deficit widens to 4.3% of GDP in yr to March vs 4.4% expected as Stats NZ takes out insurance flows; Caveats placed on figures due to quakes
22nd Jun 11, 11:15am
by Alex Tarrant
1
NZ current account deficit widens to 4.3% of GDP in yr to March vs 4.4% expected as Stats NZ takes out insurance flows; Caveats placed on figures due to quakes
EQC boss speaks out
EQC says now paying twice as much for reinsurance, court case not delaying payments, EQC scheme has worked well
21st Jun 11, 1:43pm
by Alex Tarrant
11
EQC says now paying twice as much for reinsurance, court case not delaying payments, EQC scheme has worked well
Record net departures to Aus in May
Stats NZ says net 3,312 people left NZ permanently for Aus in May, record high for May month; Chch departures remain elevated
21st Jun 11, 11:04am
by Alex Tarrant
58
Stats NZ says net 3,312 people left NZ permanently for Aus in May, record high for May month; Chch departures remain elevated
Gift duty all but gone
Gift duty to be abolished after Select Committee recommends Parliament passes tax bill
20th Jun 11, 5:14pm
by Alex Tarrant
21
Gift duty to be abolished after Select Committee recommends Parliament passes tax bill
Manufacturing rises after 10yr low
NZ manufacturing sales rise 1.9% in March qtr from December after inflation, continue climb from 10 yr low, Stats NZ says
20th Jun 11, 11:12am
by Alex Tarrant
3
NZ manufacturing sales rise 1.9% in March qtr from December after inflation, continue climb from 10 yr low, Stats NZ says
Labour eyes tougher SOE sale rules
Labour wants 75% of Parliament to agree on SOE sell-downs or public mandate from referendum. Your view?
20th Jun 11, 10:42am
by Alex Tarrant
28
Labour wants 75% of Parliament to agree on SOE sell-downs or public mandate from referendum. Your view?
12,000 houses could go in Chch
Earthquake Minister Gerry Brownlee says 12,000 Christchurch homes could be demolished
20th Jun 11, 7:53am
by Alex Tarrant
13
Earthquake Minister Gerry Brownlee says 12,000 Christchurch homes could be demolished
Alex's politico-economic blogroll
Alex's politico-economic blogroll: Edwards says Brownlee's a lame-duck; Kerr on why KiwiRail shouldn't get train gig; Crampton caught in insurance court case; Nats' youth wage plans; Cartoons
17th Jun 11, 1:03pm
by Alex Tarrant
17
Alex's politico-economic blogroll: Edwards says Brownlee's a lame-duck; Kerr on why KiwiRail shouldn't get train gig; Crampton caught in insurance court case; Nats' youth wage plans; Cartoons
Govt may cover 25% of bank leaky losses
Banks sign up to govt's leaky homes deal, Dom Post reports. Agreement would currently see govt cover 15-25% of banks' losses for bad loans
16th Jun 11, 12:19pm
by Alex Tarrant
23
Banks sign up to govt's leaky homes deal, Dom Post reports. Agreement would currently see govt cover 15-25% of banks' losses for bad loans
SFO, FMA eye proportionate ownership schemes
Serious Fraud Office, Financial Markets Authority investigate proportionate ownership schemes as investors look for secure property investments
15th Jun 11, 1:21pm
by Alex Tarrant
3
Serious Fraud Office, Financial Markets Authority investigate proportionate ownership schemes as investors look for secure property investments