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 5 months

Latest articles

Call to put Climate Change targets into law
NZ needs to take next step in climate change fight and put targets into law, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment says
27th Jul 17, 2:30pm
by Alex Tarrant
27
NZ needs to take next step in climate change fight and put targets into law, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment says
Rising essentials, housing costs hit poor hardest
Beneficiaries and lower-income groups have been hit the hardest by typical cost rises over the past year as housing and other price increases make their mark
27th Jul 17, 11:42am
by Alex Tarrant
114
Beneficiaries and lower-income groups have been hit the hardest by typical cost rises over the past year as housing and other price increases make their mark
Our Paris climate change goals face a problem with agriculture the heifer in the room
NZ's climate change goals face a problem, with many eggs in the basket of waiting for agreement on an international carbon market, which has no guarantee of happening; 2030 may be closer than we think
27th Jul 17, 5:02am
by Alex Tarrant
53
NZ's climate change goals face a problem, with many eggs in the basket of waiting for agreement on an international carbon market, which has no guarantee of happening; 2030 may be closer than we think
A bit of mischief from Winston
Transpower sell-down claims: Credible, or bit of Winston mischief? Transpower says they met with UBS to discuss new technologies and the document was slipped in quietly - that's a common investment bank tactic
26th Jul 17, 5:15pm
by Alex Tarrant
13
Transpower sell-down claims: Credible, or bit of Winston mischief? Transpower says they met with UBS to discuss new technologies and the document was slipped in quietly - that's a common investment bank tactic
English wants ACT, UF, Maori team again
National unsurprisingly says it wants to carry on govt with ACT, Maori Party and UnitedFuture after 23 September to maintain "a stable and successful Government"
26th Jul 17, 11:40am
by Alex Tarrant
99
National unsurprisingly says it wants to carry on govt with ACT, Maori Party and UnitedFuture after 23 September to maintain "a stable and successful Government"
How NZ housing costs have risen relative to incomes
'Housing costs these days make up a much greater proportion of the household budget than they used to,' MSD incomes and inequality report finds
25th Jul 17, 4:50pm
by Alex Tarrant
9
'Housing costs these days make up a much greater proportion of the household budget than they used to,' MSD incomes and inequality report finds
BoJo on trade, OEs, NZ lamb, leadership & Brexit
UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says NZ at or near top of free trade negotiation list; Says no one can be worse off when asked about stance of Welsh sheep farmers; Also on NZers' access to UK, Brexit & Tory leadership
25th Jul 17, 1:12pm
by Alex Tarrant
4
UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says NZ at or near top of free trade negotiation list; Says no one can be worse off when asked about stance of Welsh sheep farmers; Also on NZers' access to UK, Brexit & Tory leadership
PM's migrant comments indicate low-skilled focus of tweaks
Bill English's responses to questions on how government might tweak its immigration policy point towards rowing back on lower-skilled Essential Skill migrant visa roadblocks
25th Jul 17, 8:02am
by Alex Tarrant
75
Bill English's responses to questions on how government might tweak its immigration policy point towards rowing back on lower-skilled Essential Skill migrant visa roadblocks
Will land costs fall more than infrastructure costs rise?
PM English says govt's targeted rates infrastructure experiment in Auckland seeking answer to question of whether land costs will fall more than infrastructure costs rise, hence making housing cheaper overall
25th Jul 17, 7:15am
by Alex Tarrant
107
PM English says govt's targeted rates infrastructure experiment in Auckland seeking answer to question of whether land costs will fall more than infrastructure costs rise, hence making housing cheaper overall
New govt housing infrastructure funds
National promises $600m for housing infrastructure investment alongside private sector for projects to be owned by SPVs, repaid through targeted rates and volumetric charges; Labour says this was its policy from 2015
24th Jul 17, 9:20am
by Alex Tarrant
21
National promises $600m for housing infrastructure investment alongside private sector for projects to be owned by SPVs, repaid through targeted rates and volumetric charges; Labour says this was its policy from 2015
Did Joyce just say he wants house values to fall?
Steven Joyce came very close last week to saying he wanted a big fall in Auckland house values. So would he take action after the election if government moves to boost housing supply come up short?
23rd Jul 17, 6:02am
by Alex Tarrant
182
Steven Joyce came very close last week to saying he wanted a big fall in Auckland house values. So would he take action after the election if government moves to boost housing supply come up short?
Social housing waiting list at new high as rents rise
Social Housing Register waiting list hits new record high in June; Amy Adams says rising rents partly to blame but AS boost could help; Labour's Twyford highlights NZ homelessness as worst in OECD
21st Jul 17, 12:38pm
by Alex Tarrant
92
Social Housing Register waiting list hits new record high in June; Amy Adams says rising rents partly to blame but AS boost could help; Labour's Twyford highlights NZ homelessness as worst in OECD
Home ownership matters (and about those mouldy rentals)
Home owners vs renters: Life satisfaction, living conditions, health and financial position differences laid bare by Stats NZ survey
21st Jul 17, 5:02am
by Alex Tarrant
204
Home owners vs renters: Life satisfaction, living conditions, health and financial position differences laid bare by Stats NZ survey
Robertson holds fast on bracket creep
Labour's Robertson holds fast on opposition to tax threshold changes to account for inflation bracket creep, even if 2016/17 tax take comes in above expectations; Says coalition talks could involve reprioritising spending plans
20th Jul 17, 5:02am
by Alex Tarrant
32
Labour's Robertson holds fast on opposition to tax threshold changes to account for inflation bracket creep, even if 2016/17 tax take comes in above expectations; Says coalition talks could involve reprioritising spending plans
Labour eyes $20bn spending boost through 2022
Labour fiscal plan includes $20bn spending boost, $10bn more in revenue over next four years while keeping Crown expenses steady and repaying debt; Gives itself $10bn for campaign policies
19th Jul 17, 11:00am
by Alex Tarrant
166
Labour fiscal plan includes $20bn spending boost, $10bn more in revenue over next four years while keeping Crown expenses steady and repaying debt; Gives itself $10bn for campaign policies
Labour to announce spending track
Labour to announce high-level spending projections Wednesday with focus on health; Work done on how to deflect 'tax and spend' and 'dodgy accounting' criticisms of previous years
19th Jul 17, 5:02am
by Alex Tarrant
16
Labour to announce high-level spending projections Wednesday with focus on health; Work done on how to deflect 'tax and spend' and 'dodgy accounting' criticisms of previous years
TOP proposes universal youth income
Gareth Morgan's TOP proposes universal income for 18-23 year-olds of $200 per week; Will scrap student allowances and living costs, and first $10,000 of annual benefits for the age group
18th Jul 17, 1:39pm
by Alex Tarrant
104
Gareth Morgan's TOP proposes universal income for 18-23 year-olds of $200 per week; Will scrap student allowances and living costs, and first $10,000 of annual benefits for the age group
The Judith Collins effect
Flat prices in June quarter bring annual inflation rate back to 1.7% as cheaper petrol, domestic airfares offset rising rent, food and electricity prices
18th Jul 17, 10:55am
by Alex Tarrant
27
Flat prices in June quarter bring annual inflation rate back to 1.7% as cheaper petrol, domestic airfares offset rising rent, food and electricity prices
Beware Ministers bearing affordability data
Two instances of the government wrongly defending its Auckland First Home Buyer track record has Alex Tarrant warning: Beware Ministers bearing affordability data
6th Jul 17, 10:29am
by Alex Tarrant
18
Two instances of the government wrongly defending its Auckland First Home Buyer track record has Alex Tarrant warning: Beware Ministers bearing affordability data
Greens eye Auckland Airport rail for 2021
Green Party says would prioritise light rail from Auckland CBD to airport for 2021; Would look to partially fund it through land value capture
5th Jul 17, 11:13am
by Alex Tarrant
50
Green Party says would prioritise light rail from Auckland CBD to airport for 2021; Would look to partially fund it through land value capture
'Nick Smith & his team are doing a great job'
Affordable housing front-and-centre in Parliament Tuesday: Amy Adams announces building programme in (marginal) Hutt Valley; English says Nick Smith and his team are doing a great job
5th Jul 17, 5:02am
by Alex Tarrant
27
Affordable housing front-and-centre in Parliament Tuesday: Amy Adams announces building programme in (marginal) Hutt Valley; English says Nick Smith and his team are doing a great job
Labour/Greens/NZF would be very good govt - Little
A Labour-Greens-NZ First coalition would be a 'very good government' for NZ, Andrew Little says; Attacks Maori Party, says he would rather have NZ First in the fold over them if choice was there
4th Jul 17, 11:57am
by Alex Tarrant
26
A Labour-Greens-NZ First coalition would be a 'very good government' for NZ, Andrew Little says; Attacks Maori Party, says he would rather have NZ First in the fold over them if choice was there
'Affordability in the eye of the beholder'
Nick Smith says housing affordability is in the eye of the beholder; Defends government’s track record on Auckland affordable housing supply; Says can't regulate prices in SHA developments, despite desire for 10% affordable
4th Jul 17, 9:36am
by Alex Tarrant
17
Nick Smith says housing affordability is in the eye of the beholder; Defends government’s track record on Auckland affordable housing supply; Says can't regulate prices in SHA developments, despite desire for 10% affordable
Auckland 2021 infrastructure planning 'a bit complex'
America's Cup, APEC in 2021 could make Auckland infrastructure planning "a little bit complex," PM English says. Possible to bring projects forward, but focus is on how much the funding gap has grown over past 12-18 months
4th Jul 17, 7:31am
by Alex Tarrant
5
America's Cup, APEC in 2021 could make Auckland infrastructure planning "a little bit complex," PM English says. Possible to bring projects forward, but focus is on how much the funding gap has grown over past 12-18 months
Maori Party pushes kingmaker credentials
Maori Party ready to put aside ‘old-school’ animosity towards Labour as it eyes alternative Kingmaker role; Alex Tarrant speaks to Marama Fox about coalitions, Labour’s treatment of its Maori MPs, policy lines & Grandad Winston
4th Jul 17, 6:08am
by Alex Tarrant
46
Maori Party ready to put aside ‘old-school’ animosity towards Labour as it eyes alternative Kingmaker role; Alex Tarrant speaks to Marama Fox about coalitions, Labour’s treatment of its Maori MPs, policy lines & Grandad Winston