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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 5 months

Latest articles

Auckland's infrastructure Mexican stand-offs
Does Auckland have the infrastructure capacity to host the America's Cup? Alex Tarrant reviews two of the Mexican stand-offs involving central government, the Auckland Council, the Airport and Watercare
2nd Jul 17, 7:02am
by Alex Tarrant
42
Does Auckland have the infrastructure capacity to host the America's Cup? Alex Tarrant reviews two of the Mexican stand-offs involving central government, the Auckland Council, the Airport and Watercare
Shane Jones to stand for New Zealand First
Former Labour Cabinet Minister Shane Jones to stand for New Zealand First in Whangarei; Winston Peters says Jones has full caucus backing
30th Jun 17, 1:40pm
by Alex Tarrant
8
Former Labour Cabinet Minister Shane Jones to stand for New Zealand First in Whangarei; Winston Peters says Jones has full caucus backing
RBNZ's harshest critics push out OCR hike pick
BNZ pushes OCR hike track from Q1 to mid-2018 with 'trepidation'; Says Governor change, election makes forecasting harder; Notes weak Q2 inflation guides, but maintains capacity pressure & growth mean tightening bias is needed
30th Jun 17, 9:21am
by Alex Tarrant
6
BNZ pushes OCR hike track from Q1 to mid-2018 with 'trepidation'; Says Governor change, election makes forecasting harder; Notes weak Q2 inflation guides, but maintains capacity pressure & growth mean tightening bias is needed
Working people aren’t sharing in prosperity – Labour
Labour promises minimum wage boost, aims to link it to two-thirds of average wage; Reveals employment relations proposals; Little says working people’s slice of the economy has shrunk under National
29th Jun 17, 12:55pm
by Alex Tarrant
104
Labour promises minimum wage boost, aims to link it to two-thirds of average wage; Reveals employment relations proposals; Little says working people’s slice of the economy has shrunk under National
National's tax cuts. Fair enough or bad idea?
Tax cuts. Good, because the individual knows better? Or bad, because it means less available for central government services for all?
28th Jun 17, 12:48pm
by Alex Tarrant
83
Tax cuts. Good, because the individual knows better? Or bad, because it means less available for central government services for all?
On Auckland first home buyers, burgers & Barclay
Nick Smith blames Labour for Auckland's housing problems, says National introduced most generous FHB scheme in a generation; English skips around Barclay Affair & ACT defends our freedom to eat a medium-rare burger
28th Jun 17, 8:30am
by Alex Tarrant
52
Nick Smith blames Labour for Auckland's housing problems, says National introduced most generous FHB scheme in a generation; English skips around Barclay Affair & ACT defends our freedom to eat a medium-rare burger
Little welcomes Winston's GST stance, less keen on student debt
Andrew Little says he's happy when Winston Peters agrees with Labour policy (tourist GST for the regions); Not so keen on those more costly ideas, though (multi-billion student debt write-off)
27th Jun 17, 12:50pm
by Alex Tarrant
24
Andrew Little says he's happy when Winston Peters agrees with Labour policy (tourist GST for the regions); Not so keen on those more costly ideas, though (multi-billion student debt write-off)
Police re-open Barclay investigation
Police re-open investigation into National MP Todd Barclay; Development could allow English to shut up shop on discussing the matter; All eyes on how it will affect National's polling
27th Jun 17, 12:38pm
by Alex Tarrant
34
Police re-open investigation into National MP Todd Barclay; Development could allow English to shut up shop on discussing the matter; All eyes on how it will affect National's polling
English dangles tax cuts as Peters targets regional NZ
English dangles tax cuts in front of party faithful while trying to work through Barclay Affair deflection play-book; Winston Peters targets regional economic development
26th Jun 17, 12:17pm
by Alex Tarrant
178
English dangles tax cuts in front of party faithful while trying to work through Barclay Affair deflection play-book; Winston Peters targets regional economic development
The OCR may be higher when you come off that 2-year rate
Sifting through the RBNZ tea-leaves: As banks encourage 2-year mortgage rates, borrowers may find they come off to a higher OCR, hiked earlier and potentially higher than expected, Alex Tarrant argues
25th Jun 17, 8:36am
by Alex Tarrant
50
Sifting through the RBNZ tea-leaves: As banks encourage 2-year mortgage rates, borrowers may find they come off to a higher OCR, hiked earlier and potentially higher than expected, Alex Tarrant argues
46: The most important number of the year
Forty-six: the key polling number for National and its current partners; Forty-three: the key number for Winston; Will the Barclay Affair permanently affect National's buffer? Can campaign chair Joyce come to the rescue? And watch for Hone
24th Jun 17, 7:08am
by Alex Tarrant
108
Forty-six: the key polling number for National and its current partners; Forty-three: the key number for Winston; Will the Barclay Affair permanently affect National's buffer? Can campaign chair Joyce come to the rescue? And watch for Hone
A great week for Winston
The Barclay Affair and Labour's international student migrant sweat-shops: The week isn't even over and Winston Peters already has maximum points. No one else is even on the winners' podium
22nd Jun 17, 1:13pm
by Alex Tarrant
66
The Barclay Affair and Labour's international student migrant sweat-shops: The week isn't even over and Winston Peters already has maximum points. No one else is even on the winners' podium
RBNZ leaves OCR at 1.75%; NZ$ jumps
Reserve Bank leaves OCR on hold at 1.75%; Keeps comment that monetary policy will remain accommodative for a considerable period
22nd Jun 17, 9:03am
by Alex Tarrant
32
Reserve Bank leaves OCR on hold at 1.75%; Keeps comment that monetary policy will remain accommodative for a considerable period
Little confident on regional work visas
Labour leader Andrew Little confident regional skills visa will keep migrants in specific regions, won't be abused; Not aiming to cut permanent residency targets
21st Jun 17, 5:02am
by Alex Tarrant
59
Labour leader Andrew Little confident regional skills visa will keep migrants in specific regions, won't be abused; Not aiming to cut permanent residency targets
PM: All affordability measures point to need to build more
All housing affordability measures have their drawbacks, but all point to one policy response required, PM English says. 'Build more houses'; Welcomes some Auckland land price falls, says materials costs need to be next
20th Jun 17, 5:02am
by Alex Tarrant
59
All housing affordability measures have their drawbacks, but all point to one policy response required, PM English says. 'Build more houses'; Welcomes some Auckland land price falls, says materials costs need to be next
Housing supply & demand vs housing market supply & demand
Alex Tarrant says we must cut the cost of supplying houses. And that must feed through to lower house prices. It's simple economics, but not simple politics
18th Jun 17, 8:37am
by Alex Tarrant
69
Alex Tarrant says we must cut the cost of supplying houses. And that must feed through to lower house prices. It's simple economics, but not simple politics
On per capita GDP, immigration & Auckland house prices
OECD: Yes, immigration has hit New Zealand’s per capita growth rate. But if you get it right, you’ll benefit later; Also: why Auckland house prices matter
16th Jun 17, 9:45am
by Alex Tarrant
80
OECD: Yes, immigration has hit New Zealand’s per capita growth rate. But if you get it right, you’ll benefit later; Also: why Auckland house prices matter
Joyce keeps away from Wheeler's beef with BNZ
Finance Minister Joyce says not getting involved in Reserve Bank Governor Wheeler's complaints about BNZ economist's criticism of Reserve Bank's monetary policy stance
15th Jun 17, 3:07pm
by Alex Tarrant
10
Finance Minister Joyce says not getting involved in Reserve Bank Governor Wheeler's complaints about BNZ economist's criticism of Reserve Bank's monetary policy stance
OECD to NZ: Get ready for adulthood
OECD warns on vulnerabilities from Auckland house prices; Calls for housing densification; Suggests raft of measures to improve NZ's dire labour productivity; Wants RBNZ to have DTI tool
15th Jun 17, 11:31am
by Alex Tarrant
23
OECD warns on vulnerabilities from Auckland house prices; Calls for housing densification; Suggests raft of measures to improve NZ's dire labour productivity; Wants RBNZ to have DTI tool
Dairy saves construction's blushes - GDP weaker than RBNZ pick
Dairy sector manufacturing (but not exports) covers for considerable fall in construction activity as GDP grows 0.5% in March qtr vs RBNZ pick for 0.9% growth
15th Jun 17, 11:00am
by Alex Tarrant
27
Dairy sector manufacturing (but not exports) covers for considerable fall in construction activity as GDP grows 0.5% in March qtr vs RBNZ pick for 0.9% growth
Current account heading the wrong way...again
Current account deficit widening faster than Treasury expected, as record imports boost quarterly gap between what foreigners earn from NZ vs what we earn from abroad to record since GFC
14th Jun 17, 11:00am
by Alex Tarrant
23
Current account deficit widening faster than Treasury expected, as record imports boost quarterly gap between what foreigners earn from NZ vs what we earn from abroad to record since GFC
'We'll shake up anything to get Auckland supply moving'
PM English says govt would look at shaking up anything to get Auckland housing supply moving; Says getting WaterCare around the table on land servicing a good idea
13th Jun 17, 8:02am
by Alex Tarrant
38
PM English says govt would look at shaking up anything to get Auckland housing supply moving; Says getting WaterCare around the table on land servicing a good idea
'Labour's immigration policy would stall economic growth'
Labour's immigration proposals would stall economic growth, PM Bill English says while arguing growth isn't migrant-dependent
13th Jun 17, 5:02am
by Alex Tarrant
88
Labour's immigration proposals would stall economic growth, PM Bill English says while arguing growth isn't migrant-dependent
'Time for a breather on immigration'
Labour's immigration policy targets KiwiBuild workers and apprentice boost; Aims to cut 20,000-30,000 work, study and post-study visas per year; Little says it's time to take a breather
12th Jun 17, 2:35pm
by Alex Tarrant
85
Labour's immigration policy targets KiwiBuild workers and apprentice boost; Aims to cut 20,000-30,000 work, study and post-study visas per year; Little says it's time to take a breather
National/Labour housing battle lines start to show
Differences between National and Labour on housing starting to show through as Adams readies 'rest-of-NZ' announcement and Labour works on explaining KiwiBuild & demand-side plans
11th Jun 17, 8:03am
by Alex Tarrant
148
Differences between National and Labour on housing starting to show through as Adams readies 'rest-of-NZ' announcement and Labour works on explaining KiwiBuild & demand-side plans