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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

Govt announces quake jobs plan
Govt to spend NZ$42 million for 1,500 additional skilled training places for Christchurch rebuild
12th May 11, 2:59pm
by Alex Tarrant
1
Govt to spend NZ$42 million for 1,500 additional skilled training places for Christchurch rebuild
What triggered AMI's bailout plea
AMI approached govt for possible support after reading about estimate that 10,000 Christchurch homes may need to be rebuilt or written off
12th May 11, 1:32pm
by Alex Tarrant
5
AMI approached govt for possible support after reading about estimate that 10,000 Christchurch homes may need to be rebuilt or written off
Milk prices up 9.3% in year to April
Milk prices up 9.3% in year to April; overall annual increase in food prices highest since July 2009 as GST hike pushes prices up
12th May 11, 11:03am
by Alex Tarrant
3
Milk prices up 9.3% in year to April; overall annual increase in food prices highest since July 2009 as GST hike pushes prices up
Key promises 30% debt ceiling to S&P
PM Key says govt essentially promised rating agencies net debt would not rise above 30% of GDP as NZ faces credit rating threat
11th May 11, 7:16pm
by Alex Tarrant
4
PM Key says govt essentially promised rating agencies net debt would not rise above 30% of GDP as NZ faces credit rating threat
Govt to cut KiwiSaver tax credits
Key announces cuts to government annual tax credit for KiwiSaver, but will leave NZ$1,000 kickstart unchanged. Your view?
11th May 11, 12:01pm
by Alex Tarrant
89
Key announces cuts to government annual tax credit for KiwiSaver, but will leave NZ$1,000 kickstart unchanged. Your view?
RBNZ says house prices ‘elevated’
RBNZ says house prices remain elevated and could fall further, warns banks lending on higher loan-to-value ratios
11th May 11, 9:06am
by Alex Tarrant
25
RBNZ says house prices remain elevated and could fall further, warns banks lending on higher loan-to-value ratios
Target to treble Indian trade in 3yrs
Govt looks at trebling bilateral trade with India in 3yrs to NZ$3 bln, says conclusion of FTA talks should be in 8-10 months
10th May 11, 4:55pm
by Alex Tarrant
Govt looks at trebling bilateral trade with India in 3yrs to NZ$3 bln, says conclusion of FTA talks should be in 8-10 months
Govt eyes ACC levy cuts
Govt eyes ACC levy cuts later this year due to "financial turnaround" of ACC's books
10th May 11, 2:22pm
by Alex Tarrant
3
Govt eyes ACC levy cuts later this year due to "financial turnaround" of ACC's books
Card spending up 1.7% in April
Spending with electronic cards up 1.7% in April, fuel retailing has lowest monthly rise since August, Stats NZ says
10th May 11, 11:16am
by Alex Tarrant
1
Spending with electronic cards up 1.7% in April, fuel retailing has lowest monthly rise since August, Stats NZ says
Deficit 15% worse than forecast
Government operating deficit before gains and losses 15% worse in nine months to March than forecast in December
10th May 11, 10:05am
by Alex Tarrant
55
Government operating deficit before gains and losses 15% worse in nine months to March than forecast in December
'KiwiSaver industry can cope' - Key
PM Key thinks KiwiSaver providers are well placed to deal with costs arising from KiwiSaver changes; Will make speech on Weds
10th May 11, 9:38am
by Alex Tarrant
10
PM Key thinks KiwiSaver providers are well placed to deal with costs arising from KiwiSaver changes; Will make speech on Weds
Govt eyes NZ$400 mln water fund
Govt finds an extra NZ$15 mln to put toward cleaning waterways, earmarks NZ$35 mln for irrigation; eyes NZ$400 mln irrigation plan
9th May 11, 4:04pm
by Alex Tarrant
25
Govt finds an extra NZ$15 mln to put toward cleaning waterways, earmarks NZ$35 mln for irrigation; eyes NZ$400 mln irrigation plan
Peters wants inflation proof bonds
NZ First leader Winston Peters attacks savings choices, wants govt guaranteed inflation proof bonds
9th May 11, 1:23pm
by Alex Tarrant
7
NZ First leader Winston Peters attacks savings choices, wants govt guaranteed inflation proof bonds
TSB cuts 1yr mortgage rate to 5.5%
TSB cuts 6 mth and 1 year mortgage rates; 1 year rate of 5.5% now lowest on market, as banks vie to expand lending
9th May 11, 9:30am
by Alex Tarrant
9
TSB cuts 6 mth and 1 year mortgage rates; 1 year rate of 5.5% now lowest on market, as banks vie to expand lending
Key defends KiwiSaver, WFF cuts
PM Key says he doesn't think govt changes to KiwiSaver in May Budget will discourage Kiwis from entering the scheme
9th May 11, 7:57am
by Alex Tarrant
PM Key says he doesn't think govt changes to KiwiSaver in May Budget will discourage Kiwis from entering the scheme
ACT to have 9 MPs next term?
Have your say: Latest iPredict snapshot has ACT getting 9 MPs into Parliament after November 26 election. Is that possible?
6th May 11, 2:46pm
by Alex Tarrant
4
Have your say: Latest iPredict snapshot has ACT getting 9 MPs into Parliament after November 26 election. Is that possible?
Alex's politico-economic blogroll
Alex's politico economic blogroll: Crampton on why a youth minimum wage was good; Brownlee's caravan failure; John 'rates hike' Banks a joke for ACT
6th May 11, 2:44pm
by Alex Tarrant
20
Alex's politico economic blogroll: Crampton on why a youth minimum wage was good; Brownlee's caravan failure; John 'rates hike' Banks a joke for ACT
'KiwiSaver certainty would be nice'
KiwiSaver industry calls on government to provide certainty on the scheme and to stop making constant and costly changes
5th May 11, 7:40pm
by Alex Tarrant
2
KiwiSaver industry calls on government to provide certainty on the scheme and to stop making constant and costly changes
Labour against savings indexation
Labour not keen on inflation indexation for interest earned on savings, as it benefits those who can already afford to save, Cunliffe says
5th May 11, 7:34pm
by Alex Tarrant
28
Labour not keen on inflation indexation for interest earned on savings, as it benefits those who can already afford to save, Cunliffe says
Unemployment falls in March qtr
Unemployment rate falls 0.1% to 6.6% in March qtr from revised 6.7% in December; Employment rises 30,000, Stats NZ says
5th May 11, 10:55am
by Alex Tarrant
71
Unemployment rate falls 0.1% to 6.6% in March qtr from revised 6.7% in December; Employment rises 30,000, Stats NZ says
'ACT prescription not hard-right'
ACT leader Brash says party's economic prescription not hard-right, just wants to get govt spending back to Labour's 2005 level
4th May 11, 5:28pm
by Alex Tarrant
70
ACT leader Brash says party's economic prescription not hard-right, just wants to get govt spending back to Labour's 2005 level
Quake victims leave for Australia
Jump in people leaving Christchurch, mainly for Australia, turns net permanent migration to NZ negative in March
4th May 11, 11:16am
by Alex Tarrant
17
Jump in people leaving Christchurch, mainly for Australia, turns net permanent migration to NZ negative in March
Building consent trend at record low
Trend for building consents for new homes hits record low in March since series began in 1982, Stats NZ says
4th May 11, 10:59am
by Alex Tarrant
30
Trend for building consents for new homes hits record low in March since series began in 1982, Stats NZ says
Govt spends NZ$55m on youth jobs
MSD puts NZ$55 mln towards youth jobs schemes; Reprioritises NZ$30 mln from current budget, NZ$25 mln new spending
4th May 11, 10:32am
by Alex Tarrant
2
MSD puts NZ$55 mln towards youth jobs schemes; Reprioritises NZ$30 mln from current budget, NZ$25 mln new spending
Govt won't look at Super eligibility
Govt not looking at Super eligibility despite report saying over 65s will increasingly stay in paid work
4th May 11, 9:36am
by Alex Tarrant
46
Govt not looking at Super eligibility despite report saying over 65s will increasingly stay in paid work