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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

OIO expects complex Jericho sale review
Overseas Investment Office expects ‘complex’ review of Landcorp’s Jericho Farm sale to Chinese bidder due to level of local third party interest
8th Jun 17, 1:44pm
by Alex Tarrant
9
Overseas Investment Office expects ‘complex’ review of Landcorp’s Jericho Farm sale to Chinese bidder due to level of local third party interest
When is a housing shortage a housing shortage?
Nick Smith vs Phil Twyford on housing shortage figures, episode 56. The one where advice isn't accepted, the market is king and no one can get it right. Not the RBNZ, not Auckland Council, not Shamubeel, not MBIE; No one
8th Jun 17, 7:22am
by Alex Tarrant
83
Nick Smith vs Phil Twyford on housing shortage figures, episode 56. The one where advice isn't accepted, the market is king and no one can get it right. Not the RBNZ, not Auckland Council, not Shamubeel, not MBIE; No one
Peter Dunne announces Rent-to-Own policy
UnitedFuture's Peter Dunne announces Rent-to-Own policy for 'generation of New Zealanders shut out of the market by prohibitive deposit requirements'
7th Jun 17, 6:00pm
by Alex Tarrant
20
UnitedFuture's Peter Dunne announces Rent-to-Own policy for 'generation of New Zealanders shut out of the market by prohibitive deposit requirements'
Wellington Mayor targets rental supply boost
Wellington Mayor targets rental supply boost with council-backed lease policy designed to enable private building owners to source financing for quake strengthening & refurbishment
7th Jun 17, 4:03pm
by Alex Tarrant
2
Wellington Mayor targets rental supply boost with council-backed lease policy designed to enable private building owners to source financing for quake strengthening & refurbishment
Auckland road pricing to target congestion, not revenue
Auckland 'smarter transport pricing' revenue would go towards replacing existing road taxes in effort to tackle congestion, not for raising extra revenue for city's transport needs - Bridges
7th Jun 17, 10:00am
by Alex Tarrant
73
Auckland 'smarter transport pricing' revenue would go towards replacing existing road taxes in effort to tackle congestion, not for raising extra revenue for city's transport needs - Bridges
Spencer's RBNZ policy targets same as Wheeler's
Finance Minister Joyce renews existing RBNZ Policy Targets Agreement for when incoming acting Governor Spencer takes over from Wheeler in September
7th Jun 17, 9:10am
by Alex Tarrant
1
Finance Minister Joyce renews existing RBNZ Policy Targets Agreement for when incoming acting Governor Spencer takes over from Wheeler in September
US has 'extraordinary record' on climate change - Tillerson
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson defends President Trump's move to pull US from Paris Climate Accord, says decision was in best interests of American people
6th Jun 17, 4:22pm
by Alex Tarrant
49
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson defends President Trump's move to pull US from Paris Climate Accord, says decision was in best interests of American people
Some post-Budget ramblings
Labour's poor performance & what it might do next; Auckland housing, infrastructure, transport and Watercare; Alex Tarrant's post-Budget thoughts
4th Jun 17, 6:02am
by Alex Tarrant
77
Labour's poor performance & what it might do next; Auckland housing, infrastructure, transport and Watercare; Alex Tarrant's post-Budget thoughts
Preserving financial resilience versus displacement of borrowers
Debt-to-income ratio limits might not have 'terribly big effects' on first home buyer sector, the RBNZ's macro-stability head tells interest.co.nz; But it depends on how tool is calibrated; Cost-benefit analysis 'not easy'
3rd Jun 17, 6:02am
by Alex Tarrant
30
Debt-to-income ratio limits might not have 'terribly big effects' on first home buyer sector, the RBNZ's macro-stability head tells interest.co.nz; But it depends on how tool is calibrated; Cost-benefit analysis 'not easy'
Keep an eye on those Auckland mortgagee sales...
Reserve Bank's Auckland house price correction warning: Why 5% is an important threshold for stressed, highly leveraged home-owners; And why the RBNZ needs that DTI tool
1st Jun 17, 8:29am
by Alex Tarrant
86
Reserve Bank's Auckland house price correction warning: Why 5% is an important threshold for stressed, highly leveraged home-owners; And why the RBNZ needs that DTI tool
'Govt doing what it can on Auckland land'
Adams defends govt's Auckland house building programme as doing what it can on 5% of land, says onus is on private land-owners; Labour's Twyford attacks National's credibility on number of 'affordable' homes to be built
1st Jun 17, 5:02am
by Alex Tarrant
18
Adams defends govt's Auckland house building programme as doing what it can on 5% of land, says onus is on private land-owners; Labour's Twyford attacks National's credibility on number of 'affordable' homes to be built
What on earth is going on with housing supply?
A tongue in cheek look at the broken record of housing supply not meeting demand in Auckland; What the RBNZ says in its Financial Stability Report and what it's really thinking
31st May 17, 12:53pm
by Alex Tarrant
17
A tongue in cheek look at the broken record of housing supply not meeting demand in Auckland; What the RBNZ says in its Financial Stability Report and what it's really thinking
Auckland house prices at heightened risk of sharp correction - RBNZ
Reserve Bank warns of risks if house price rises return, says current building activity below what's required given rapid population growth & existing shortage; 'Significant share of house lending at high DTIs'; Paper still in the works
31st May 17, 9:18am
by Alex Tarrant
144
Reserve Bank warns of risks if house price rises return, says current building activity below what's required given rapid population growth & existing shortage; 'Significant share of house lending at high DTIs'; Paper still in the works
Labour to present alternative Budget
Labour's alternative Budget to include 'families package'; Little defends against accusations of split Left, says Greens and NZF in line with Labour mostly; 'Everything on the table' for post-election tax fairness review
31st May 17, 6:02am
by Alex Tarrant
12
Labour's alternative Budget to include 'families package'; Little defends against accusations of split Left, says Greens and NZF in line with Labour mostly; 'Everything on the table' for post-election tax fairness review
'Welfare for the millionaires'
Bill English & Olly Newland defend Accommodation Supplement boost as Labour’s David Parker rips into it as subsidising millionaire Auckland landlords
30th May 17, 1:56pm
by Alex Tarrant
82
Bill English & Olly Newland defend Accommodation Supplement boost as Labour’s David Parker rips into it as subsidising millionaire Auckland landlords
So much for speeding up housing infrastructure funding
Budget document shows first $200m from govt's flagship $1bn Housing Infrastructure Fund expected to be paid out...in the year to June 2019, and only $600m to be lent by June 2021
30th May 17, 9:36am
by Alex Tarrant
5
Budget document shows first $200m from govt's flagship $1bn Housing Infrastructure Fund expected to be paid out...in the year to June 2019, and only $600m to be lent by June 2021
Cold water for property/savings tax fairness chances
PM English pours cold water on calls for tax treatment of 'other' forms of savings to be the same as for property; Also says case for corporate tax rate cut faces high hurdles
30th May 17, 5:02am
by Alex Tarrant
31
PM English pours cold water on calls for tax treatment of 'other' forms of savings to be the same as for property; Also says case for corporate tax rate cut faces high hurdles
Budget gives Labour election roadmap
Labour has been handed a campaign roadmap by Joyce's election year Budget; Alex Tarrant on the political fallout from the Greens and NZF supporting the 'families package'; And is there a gap there for National's coalition buddies?
28th May 17, 7:00am
by Alex Tarrant
20
Labour has been handed a campaign roadmap by Joyce's election year Budget; Alex Tarrant on the political fallout from the Greens and NZF supporting the 'families package'; And is there a gap there for National's coalition buddies?
Budget 2017: Winners & losers
What Budget 2017 spending promises look like when adjusted for inflation and population growth; Defence, education, health, welfare and law & order to fall; Super costs to rise through 2021
26th May 17, 10:02am
by Alex Tarrant
68
What Budget 2017 spending promises look like when adjusted for inflation and population growth; Defence, education, health, welfare and law & order to fall; Super costs to rise through 2021
'Budget a bribe for the wealthy'
Labour, Greens & New Zealand First attack Steven Joyce's first Budget as 'the One Dollar Budget', and a bribe for the wealthy
25th May 17, 5:11pm
by Alex Tarrant
43
Labour, Greens & New Zealand First attack Steven Joyce's first Budget as 'the One Dollar Budget', and a bribe for the wealthy
Migration & low interest rates to keep house prices up
House prices to rise 5-8% next two years before residential investment growth kicks in to boost supply, Treasury says; Picks earlier OCR hikes than RBNZ, Current account deficit to widen
25th May 17, 2:01pm
by Alex Tarrant
49
House prices to rise 5-8% next two years before residential investment growth kicks in to boost supply, Treasury says; Picks earlier OCR hikes than RBNZ, Current account deficit to widen
Budget boost for landlords
Budget 2017 ‘families package’ includes Accommodation Supplement boost, more Auckland suburbs into top bracket; WFF payments raised; Bottom two income tax thresholds up
25th May 17, 2:00pm
by Alex Tarrant
124
Budget 2017 ‘families package’ includes Accommodation Supplement boost, more Auckland suburbs into top bracket; WFF payments raised; Bottom two income tax thresholds up
We need to talk about tax
Capital gains, wealth & progressive income taxes: How to make New Zealand's tax settings fairer, reduce inequalities and provide a broader base for funding public services
25th May 17, 8:25am
by Alex Tarrant
79
Capital gains, wealth & progressive income taxes: How to make New Zealand's tax settings fairer, reduce inequalities and provide a broader base for funding public services
Budget won't be election year lolly scramble - Joyce
Thursday's Budget won't be election year lolly scramble, Joyce says; Discusses prospects for 'families package' amid rumour bottom 2 income tax brackets will be raised & WFF, Accommodation Supplement boosted
23rd May 17, 1:59pm
by Alex Tarrant
19
Thursday's Budget won't be election year lolly scramble, Joyce says; Discusses prospects for 'families package' amid rumour bottom 2 income tax brackets will be raised & WFF, Accommodation Supplement boosted
English: No reason to change migration settings
No reason to change migration settings for construction, English says; Defends inability to announce larger Auckland housing programme due to skills shortages; Labour defends KiwiBuild & migration policies
23rd May 17, 5:02am
by Alex Tarrant
52
No reason to change migration settings for construction, English says; Defends inability to announce larger Auckland housing programme due to skills shortages; Labour defends KiwiBuild & migration policies