Alex Tarrant | interest.co.nz

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.

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Member for

15 years 6 months

Latest articles

'NZ's credit almost maxed out'

Savings Working Group looks at auto enrollment, fewer providers and a more wholesale approach to KiwiSaver

16th Dec 10, 3:04pm

by Alex Tarrant

Savings Working Group looks at auto enrollment, fewer providers and a more wholesale approach to KiwiSaver

Households spend more than they earn

Kiwis' still spending more than they earn, although dis-savings are declining, new Stats NZ measure shows

16th Dec 10, 12:59pm

by Alex Tarrant

Kiwis' still spending more than they earn, although dis-savings are declining, new Stats NZ measure shows

Credit reporting shake-up

More information including drivers licence numbers to be used in credit reports to 'help avoid mistakes'

16th Dec 10, 12:12pm

by Alex Tarrant

More information including drivers licence numbers to be used in credit reports to 'help avoid mistakes'

'Manufacturing better than we thought'

NZ's manufacturing sector could be stronger than thought, indicating positive GDP growth for Q3, BNZ says

16th Dec 10, 10:50am

by Alex Tarrant

NZ's manufacturing sector could be stronger than thought, indicating positive GDP growth for Q3, BNZ says

Confidence lowest in 18 months

Consumer confidence falls to lowest in 18 months as households remain cautious on spending, Westpac survey shows

16th Dec 10, 10:22am

by Alex Tarrant

Consumer confidence falls to lowest in 18 months as households remain cautious on spending, Westpac survey shows

Consumers see real house price falls

Consumer confidence falls in December, real house prices tipped to fall over next few years, ANZ says

15th Dec 10, 3:52pm

by Alex Tarrant

Consumer confidence falls in December, real house prices tipped to fall over next few years, ANZ says

Kiwibank cuts term deposit rates

Kiwibank cuts 6 month and 1 year term deposit rates by 10 basis points

15th Dec 10, 1:36pm

by Alex Tarrant

Kiwibank cuts 6 month and 1 year term deposit rates by 10 basis points

National still needs ACT or Maori party

National to lead next coalition government with ACT, United Future, iPredict says in latest election snapshot

15th Dec 10, 11:56am

by Alex Tarrant

National to lead next coalition government with ACT, United Future, iPredict says in latest election snapshot

Council rates up 8.3% in yr to Sept

Local authorities raise rates income by 8.3% in Sept quarter from year ago vs CPI inflation of 1.5%. Your view?

15th Dec 10, 11:05am

by Alex Tarrant

Local authorities raise rates income by 8.3% in Sept quarter from year ago vs CPI inflation of 1.5%. Your view?

Govt looks to keep workers on Coast

Govt to look at options to keep Pike River workers on West coast as Aussies try to poach them; Could include Solid Energy expansion, Arnold Hydro

15th Dec 10, 10:44am

by Alex Tarrant

Govt to look at options to keep Pike River workers on West coast as Aussies try to poach them; Could include Solid Energy expansion, Arnold Hydro

'Don't panic about budget,' Key says

PM John Key says New Zealanders should not panic over fiscal situation; Goff accuses Key of having no plan

14th Dec 10, 4:34pm

by Alex Tarrant

PM John Key says New Zealanders should not panic over fiscal situation; Goff accuses Key of having no plan

National MP Wong resigns

National MP Pansy Wong resigns, triggering by-election in Botany next year

14th Dec 10, 10:44am

by Alex Tarrant

National MP Pansy Wong resigns, triggering by-election in Botany next year

Key warns budget worse than forecast

PM John Key warns budget worse than forecast and 'at outer limits of what we'd regard as acceptable'

13th Dec 10, 3:57pm

by Alex Tarrant

PM John Key warns budget worse than forecast and 'at outer limits of what we'd regard as acceptable'

Alex's politico-economic blogroll

Alex's politico-economic blog roll: Raise the retirement age; 50% top tax rate; Public benefits of private ownership

10th Dec 10, 5:32pm

by Alex Tarrant

Alex's politico-economic blog roll: Raise the retirement age; 50% top tax rate; Public benefits of private ownership

'Urgent need to finalise leaky loan guarantees'

Government needs to finalise guarantee for banks on leaky home loans to break log-jam, home owner says

10th Dec 10, 5:22pm

by Alex Tarrant

Government needs to finalise guarantee for banks on leaky home loans to break log-jam, home owner says

Brash in a new right wing party?

Will Don Brash be part of a new right wing party for 2011 election? iPredict asks

10th Dec 10, 1:00pm

by Alex Tarrant

Will Don Brash be part of a new right wing party for 2011 election? iPredict asks

Opposition MPs go after Westpac CEO

Opposition MPs attack Westpac CEO George Frazis' NZ$5 million pay package in first reading of Westpac bill

9th Dec 10, 4:45pm

by Alex Tarrant

Opposition MPs attack Westpac CEO George Frazis' NZ$5 million pay package in first reading of Westpac bill

'Give FMA power to look after little guys'

Financial Markets Authority should have power to take civil action on behalf of smaller investors, NZSA says

9th Dec 10, 1:03pm

by Alex Tarrant

Financial Markets Authority should have power to take civil action on behalf of smaller investors, NZSA says

Card spending up 1.1% in November

Electronic card spending up 1.1% in November from October, Stats NZ says

9th Dec 10, 11:16am

by Alex Tarrant

Electronic card spending up 1.1% in November from October, Stats NZ says

RBNZ takes stab at govt deficit

RBNZ's Bollard says if govt gets structural deficit under control, interest rates could be lower, exchange rate will come down

9th Dec 10, 9:20am

by Alex Tarrant

RBNZ's Bollard says if govt gets structural deficit under control, interest rates could be lower, exchange rate will come down

Retirement talk OK, but Key won't budge

PM Key says conversation on retirement age OK, but won't budge despite Retirement Commission recommendation

8th Dec 10, 3:03pm

by Alex Tarrant

PM Key says conversation on retirement age OK, but won't budge despite Retirement Commission recommendation

ASB cuts Q3 growth forecast

ASB cuts 3rd quarter GDP growth forecast to 0.2% from 0.5% after weaker than expected manufacturing figures

8th Dec 10, 11:59am

by Alex Tarrant

ASB cuts 3rd quarter GDP growth forecast to 0.2% from 0.5% after weaker than expected manufacturing figures

Drought declared north of Auckland

Agriculture Minister David Carter declares medium level drought zone in all areas north of Auckland Harbour Bridge

8th Dec 10, 11:24am

by Alex Tarrant

Agriculture Minister David Carter declares medium level drought zone in all areas north of Auckland Harbour Bridge

Should electoral terms be changed?

Govt to review size of Parliament, length of electoral term in constitutional review. Your view?

8th Dec 10, 10:58am

by Alex Tarrant

Govt to review size of Parliament, length of electoral term in constitutional review. Your view?

Goff wants Tax Working Group comeback

Labour leader Goff calls for Tax Working Group to tackle tax avoidance to take pressure off middle classes

7th Dec 10, 5:24pm

by Alex Tarrant

Labour leader Goff calls for Tax Working Group to tackle tax avoidance to take pressure off middle classes