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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

16 years 9 months

Latest articles

May farm sales highest in 3yrs
REINZ says 130 farms sold in May, highest in 3 yrs; Rural confidence rising due to high commodity prices
by Alex Tarrant
10
REINZ says 130 farms sold in May, highest in 3 yrs; Rural confidence rising due to high commodity prices
Retail sales up 2% in March
Retail sales rise 2% in March qtr from Dec, as spending on fuel jumps 5.6%, Stats NZ says; Canterbury sales down 2.2%
by Alex Tarrant
Retail sales rise 2% in March qtr from Dec, as spending on fuel jumps 5.6%, Stats NZ says; Canterbury sales down 2.2%
Groser tries to calm Pharmac fears
Trade Minister Groser downplays Trans Pacific Partnership fears on Pharmac and hits out at US dairy lobbyists
by Alex Tarrant
12
Trade Minister Groser downplays Trans Pacific Partnership fears on Pharmac and hits out at US dairy lobbyists
'EQC acted quickly after Feb on reinsurance'
EQC acted quickly after Feb quake to get reinsurance in place, has sufficient reserves, Finance Minister English says
by Alex Tarrant
EQC acted quickly after Feb quake to get reinsurance in place, has sufficient reserves, Finance Minister English says
Farm interest payments to rise 27%
MAF forecasts interest payments for the agriculture sector to rise 27% over 4 yrs as rates rise; Ag profits to rise 53%
by Alex Tarrant
26
MAF forecasts interest payments for the agriculture sector to rise 27% over 4 yrs as rates rise; Ag profits to rise 53%
Vege prices up 21% from a yr ago
Vegetable prices rise 21% in May from a year ago, beef prices up 16%, milk prices up 9.3%, Stats NZ says
by Alex Tarrant
5
Vegetable prices rise 21% in May from a year ago, beef prices up 16%, milk prices up 9.3%, Stats NZ says
Eastern ChCh suburbs hit hard - Key
PM Key says significantly more land damage to Christchurch's eastern suburbs; Govt close to getting an idea on where rebuilding can't be done
by Alex Tarrant
9
PM Key says significantly more land damage to Christchurch's eastern suburbs; Govt close to getting an idea on where rebuilding can't be done
Should govt reveal lobbying?
Have your say: Green Party calls on government to reveal lobbyists, introduces Member's Bill to create lobby-list. Your view?
by Alex Tarrant
12
Have your say: Green Party calls on government to reveal lobbyists, introduces Member's Bill to create lobby-list. Your view?
Key approached SkyCity for centre
PM Key defends govt support for Sky City convention centre, says can't expect shareholders to invest for 6 years without certainty
by Alex Tarrant
37
PM Key defends govt support for Sky City convention centre, says can't expect shareholders to invest for 6 years without certainty
RBNZ should eye intervention - Labour
Labour says Reserve Bank should be considering intervention to signal its unease over high NZ$
by Alex Tarrant
13
Labour says Reserve Bank should be considering intervention to signal its unease over high NZ$
Alex's politico-economic blogroll
Alex's politico-economic blogroll: US doesn't want Pharmac precedent; Here comes Labour, can they stay over 30%?; NZ needs bigger firm focus; Cartoons
by Alex Tarrant
9
Alex's politico-economic blogroll: US doesn't want Pharmac precedent; Here comes Labour, can they stay over 30%?; NZ needs bigger firm focus; Cartoons
Labour/Green/NZF/Maori/Mana govt?
Now mathematically possible for a Labour-led govt if NZ First hits 5% of the vote, iPredict says
by Alex Tarrant
23
Now mathematically possible for a Labour-led govt if NZ First hits 5% of the vote, iPredict says
Card spending flat in May
Card spending flat in May as spending on big ticket items falls; Canterbury included in figures, Stats NZ says
by Alex Tarrant
3
Card spending flat in May as spending on big ticket items falls; Canterbury included in figures, Stats NZ says
Bollard not keen on NZ$ controls
RBNZ's Bollard watching other central banks' currency interventions, although has seen little success; Says can't change NZ$ direction
by Alex Tarrant
18
RBNZ's Bollard watching other central banks' currency interventions, although has seen little success; Says can't change NZ$ direction
RBNZ sees floaters staying floating
RBNZ happy with short-term borrowers, expects Kiwis to stay more short-term like Aussies meaning less need for OCR hikes
by Alex Tarrant
15
RBNZ happy with short-term borrowers, expects Kiwis to stay more short-term like Aussies meaning less need for OCR hikes
Govt banking contract costs NZ$4m a yr
Government's soon-to-be-tendered banking contract with Westpac costs taxpayers approximately NZ$4 mln a year, Treasury says
by Alex Tarrant
6
Government's soon-to-be-tendered banking contract with Westpac costs taxpayers approximately NZ$4 mln a year, Treasury says
RBNZ sees subdued house prices
RBNZ says consumer spending rises will be below retail banks' projections; House price rises to remain at or below inflation rate
by Alex Tarrant
25
RBNZ says consumer spending rises will be below retail banks' projections; House price rises to remain at or below inflation rate
'We understand consumer spending'
Govt optimistic about growth forecasts now Treasury has figured out how much consumers have altered spending habits, English says
by Alex Tarrant
2
Govt optimistic about growth forecasts now Treasury has figured out how much consumers have altered spending habits, English says
Key not keen on currency intervention
PM Key says currency intervention doesn't work, but doesn't think RBNZ Act should be changed
by Alex Tarrant
5
PM Key says currency intervention doesn't work, but doesn't think RBNZ Act should be changed
Treasury keen on property tax debate
Treasury still keen to look at savings vs property tax treatment debate
by Alex Tarrant
4
Treasury still keen to look at savings vs property tax treatment debate
Residential building activity drops
Residential building activity falls 2.1% in March qtr from Dec, third consecutive fall, Stats NZ says
by Alex Tarrant
8
Residential building activity falls 2.1% in March qtr from Dec, third consecutive fall, Stats NZ says
High NZ$ hits govt debt valuations
High NZ$ pushes gross Crown debt 4.2% above budget forecasts, but doesn't hit net debt, Treasury says in govt financials
by Alex Tarrant
9
High NZ$ pushes gross Crown debt 4.2% above budget forecasts, but doesn't hit net debt, Treasury says in govt financials
'Govt aware of debt impact on NZ$'
Govt fully aware its borrowing programme is creating demand for NZ$, potentially pushing currency up, English says
by Alex Tarrant
27
Govt fully aware its borrowing programme is creating demand for NZ$, potentially pushing currency up, English says
Alex's politico-economic blogroll
Alex's politico-economic blogroll: Why are Ministers different?; Quake insurance claim backlog; Why the Westpac hooha is off the mark; Bob Clarkson cartoons
by Alex Tarrant
13
Alex's politico-economic blogroll: Why are Ministers different?; Quake insurance claim backlog; Why the Westpac hooha is off the mark; Bob Clarkson cartoons
Home consent trend at new low
Trend for new home consents hits new low in April, but decline eases; Only 21 quake consents in 8 mths, Stats NZ says
by Alex Tarrant
64
Trend for new home consents hits new low in April, but decline eases; Only 21 quake consents in 8 mths, Stats NZ says