The Front Page

The years-long saga of Julian Assange could finally be at an end – in a decision crucial not only to what happens next for the infamous whistleblower – but for press freedom as we know it.

14 years after his site, Wikileaks, published hundreds of thousands of classified US military and security documents online, and 12 years after the first warrant was issued for his arrest.... judges at London’s High Court could finally decide his fate -- and whether he will be extradited to the United States.

Following the long legal battle is Alan Rusbridger, former editor in chief for The Guardian newspaper in the UK, who worked alongside Assange to publish those documents in 2010.

Now editor of The Prospect magazine, Rusbridger joins The Front Page to discuss Assange’s case and what it means for journalism and press freedom.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Major earthquakes may not be a regular occurrence in New Zealand, but the threat of them is often in the back of our minds.

With a major faultline running through the middle of the country, you only have to look to the events in Christchurch and Kaikoura to know the risk they pose.

Now, new modelling has highlighted the impact a catastrophic quake could have on this country, and if we’re prepared for what that means.

Today on The Front Page, Dr Bill Fry and Dr Matt Gerstenberger from GNS Science discuss the latest research on our seismic threat.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a new movement on social media in response to celebrities’ views – or lack thereof – on the war in Palestine.  

“Blockout 2024” started with an inconspicuous video of a TikTok influencer posed outside the glamorous Met Gala with the sound bite “let them eat cake”.

Now, an online movement to unfollow and block celebrities is gaining momentum – with the likes of Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner losing hundreds of thousands of followers.  

It's raised questions like: Will this effort have any effect? Why do we look at celebrities as our moral compass? And what about the celebrities who are escaping being ‘cancelled’ all together?

Today on The Front Page, University of Otago researcher, Dr Sabrina Moro is with us to dive into the latest social media firestorm.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National-led Government is continuing its crackdown on gangs.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell this week announced New Zealand will get its own National Gang Unit and district Gang Disruption Units.

The announcement follows a rise in gang violence, including the fatal shooting of a man on Auckland’s Ponsonby Rd by a Killer Beez gang member.

It comes off the back of anti-gang legislation that continues to make its way through Parliament – which will see non-consorting laws and gang patch bans introduced.

Today on The Front Page, Mark Mitchell joins to explain this Government’s push to make gang life as uncomfortable as possible.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the world becomes increasingly online, the lines between work life and home life are becoming increasingly blurred.

When you can check your emails on the same device you use to stream TV or talk to friends, avoiding that late night question from your boss is becoming harder to do.

Now many are calling for the ‘Right to Disconnect’ to be enshrined in law to save us from becoming perpetually available 24/7.

Today on The Front Page, Dr Amanda Reilly, Senior Lecturer in Law at Victoria University of Wellington, joins to explain how this law could help you achieve a better work life balance.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The conversation around New Zealand's power supply is heating up again, just before winter.

Last week Kiwis were told to conserve electricity amidst a cold snap, over concerns there was not enough power to supply the country.

This is not the first time such a warning has been issued, and has prompted debate about where we get our energy from, and how we should be powering our national grid.

Today on The Front Page, Major Electricity Users Group Chair John Harbord joins us to explain what the issues with our power grid are – and how we can potentially fix them.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Council’s financial situation has been under the spotlight for months now.

With costs rising, the council has been trying to find some ways to save money without cutting back on services.

Those decisions have ranged from removing rubbish bins around the city, to a since U-turned proposal for a long-term lease for Port of Auckland.

And while the Government has offered hope on water prices, Mayor Wayne Brown and his councillors still have some tough choices to make.

Today on The Front Page, Herald senior writer Simon Wilson joins us to discuss the challenges coming for our Super City.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Head injuries and sports players have been a hot topic of debate in recent years.

While the risk of concussions and long-term injuries has been well known for decades, recent concerns have arisen about how those injuries can turn into long term issues like dementia, and that’s despite efforts to reform the game to limit those concerns.  

As global legal cases and suspected illnesses mount, multiple researchers here in New Zealand are part of a global effort to identify the causes and the risks.  

Today on The Front Page, we speak with two of them from the University of Auckland – Professor Maurice Curtis and Dr Helen Murray – about the latest research in this high concern area.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To tax sugar, or not to tax sugar – that's the debate that’s raged on for years.

More than 100 countries worldwide have taxed sugary drinks, but New Zealand hasn’t made the plunge yet.

As the number of countries making the move to tax sugar increases, so has the data into how well it's worked, or not.

So how do we delve through this information to make an informed decision on what would be best for New Zealand?

Today on The Front Page, Professor of Population Nutrition and Global Health at the University of Auckland, Boyd Swinburn, joins us to explore the ongoing debate.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, former Green Party co-leader James Shaw delivered his valedictory speech, marking the end of his decade in politics. 

But, rather than a smooth transition to a new era, just a few hours later, Green MP Julie-Anne Genter sparked outcry across the aisle after she stood over and shouted at Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey during a Parlimentary debate. 

It’s the fourth scandal to hit the Greens in under a year, prompting questions about the party's future as the Shaw era ends and a new one begins under his replacement co-leader, Chloe Swarbrick. 

Today on The Front Page, Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls joins us from Parliament to discuss what the future holds for the Green Party.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rate of women killed by an intimate partner in Australia has increased by nearly 30% in the year 2022-23, compared to the previous year.

And the deaths of dozens of women across the country this year alone has prompted mass protests – with thousands taking to the streets rallying against gender-based violence.

But the issue isn't one that isn’t limited to our trans-Tasman neighbours. In New Zealand, between 2009 and 2020, 178 women and girls were killed in family violence-related killings.

Today on The Front Page, Chelsea talks first to Australian journalist Sherele Moody, who founded the Australian Femicide Watch and the Red Heart Campaign, and then Dr. Nicola Atwool - the chairperson of the Family Violence Death review here in New Zealand.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has put improving education as one of its top priorities.

Yesterday, Education Minister Erica Stanford announced plans to refocus education around ‘structured literacy’, with that teaching style winning the so-called ‘reading wars’ against ‘balanced literacy’.

It marks the end of a big week for the Minister, with the nationwide cellphone ban at schools coming into effect on Monday, the same day she announced the new top priorities for education in New Zealand.

Erica Stanford joins us on The Front Page to discuss her plans to fix education.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the weeks since Warner Bros Discovery and TVNZ announced cutbacks in their newsrooms, much of the focus has been on what this means for journalism in this country.

The moves come amid wider belt-tightening across the television sector, as falling terrestrial TV ratings means companies are now competing against global giants more than ever to hold our attention.

And that means it's not only newsrooms that could soon be fighting for survival.

This episode, Chelsea talks with Kelly Martin, CEO of South Pacific Pictures, about the impacts on the production sector, and with Lauren Whitney, chief executive of the Comedy Trust, about why this could limit opportunities for the comedy sector. 

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Youth crime has been a hot topic over the last two years, particularly when our youngest offenders are involved in brazen robberies and violent ram raids across the country.

NZ Herald senior crime reporter Anna Leask has been travelling across Australia, witnessing first-hand what groups there have been doing to try and help their troubled youth.

She joins us today on The Front Page to discuss her research and what New Zealand can learn from our closest neighbours.

Reporting costs for the series Breaking 'Bad' were covered by the University of Canterbury’s Robert Bell Travelling Scholarship in Journalism, received by Herald senior reporter Anna Leask in 2023."

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s time to put away your shorts and sunhats and start getting out your winter coats.

Temperatures are dropping across the country as winter makes its mark on Aotearoa.

And the big news here is that El Nino is starting to fade, and La Nina is set to take its place. But does that actually mean for weather in the coming months, and just how cold and wet will it be?

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald reporter Jamie Morton joins us to run us through the weather maps for the months ahead.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The concept of 15-minute cities is the idea that all daily necessities – like work, shopping, education, healthcare, and leisure – can all be reached with a 5-minute walk, bike ride, or by public transit.  

While the idea has been embraced by many countries, some conspiracy theorists have described the notion as an instrument of government repression. 

Today on The Front Page, University of Auckland school of architecture and planning lecturer Bill McKay joins to explain 15-minute cities and discuss whether we should be worried.  

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox and Evan Paea
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian government has found themselves in a battle with billionaire Elon Musk and his legions of supporters.  

Australia’s eSafety commissioner last week ordered Musk’s social media platform X – formerly known as Twitter – to remove images of the alleged stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, which was captured on a live stream earlier this month. 

X only blocked the images to Australian users, prompting a further legal challenge that was upheld temporarily by an Australian federal court.

Parallels with this case can be drawn with New Zealand’s own efforts to remove videos of the Christchurch terror attack from social media.

Former Chief Censor David Shanks made that decision to permanently censor that video. He joins us now on The Front Page to reflect on that move, and this fight happening across the ditch.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pressure continues to pile up on the systems intended to support our military veterans.

The government agency charged with meeting veterans’ needs is cutting services and has a year-long waiting list.

The VIP scheme, until now, had been seen as a way of acknowledging service and offering support to those otherwise excluded from our veterans’ welfare system.

So, as we come together to remember the fallen – is it about time we start thinking more about those who survived?

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald senior writer David Fisher joins to discuss Veterans’ Affairs – and how to better support those who served.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Coalition Government has seen its first cabinet reshuffle. 

Melissa Lee has lost her Broadcasting Minister portfolio and has been demoted out of Cabinet. 

Meanwhile, Penny Simmonds has lost her Disability Commission portfolio.  

To discuss this, Chelsea Daniels is joined by the host of the On the Tiles podcast, and NZ Herald deputy political editor, Thomas Coughlan. 

Follow The Front Page and On The Tiles on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For eight months, New Zealand Rugby’s biggest test has been happening behind the scenes.

NZR has been at loggerheads with the provincial unions about how to reform governance for the country’s most popular sport.

The battle could be nearing an end, with a meeting to take place in the coming weeks that could resolve it, but will the two sides reach an agreement, and will it be enough to help rugby bounce back from its recent woes?

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald sports writer Gregor Paul joins to explain the games going on in rugby’s boardrooms.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rarely a week goes by without some sort of headline proclaiming the woes of New Zealand’s ‘low productivity’.

It’s a phrase that has been discussed by economists and politicians for years, and was a particular bug-bear of Sir John Key.

The Herald’s very own Liam Dann is the latest columnist to highlight it as a potential cause for some of our economic problems.

But what exactly does low productivity mean, how does it impact your back pocket, and why do we struggle to do anything about it?

Today on The Front Page, Liam Dann joins us to explain the issue, and what we might be able to do about it.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has spent the last week in South East Asia.

His first overseas trip beyond the Tasman Sea saw Luxon visit Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, joined by several MPs and a delegation of business leaders for a trip largely focused on “reinvigorating” New Zealand’s relationships across Southeast Asia.

So did he make much of a splash there, and does he have any wins to bring back home?

NZME Managing Business Editor and managing director of NZ Inc Ltd Fran O’Sullivan has been part of the business delegation, and joins The Front Page from the Philippines for her thoughts on how it’s all gone.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Minister for Space has been working overseas promoting New Zealand’s space industry over in the US.

Judith Collins has returned from the US where she spoke at the Space Symposium -- putting us on the global stage – and she met with senior US government space officials.

According to Deloitte, in 2018 and 2019 New Zealand's space industry contributed $1.7 billion to the economy – but, our Space Minister thinks by now it should be three or more times larger than that.

Today on The Front Page, Judith Collins joins us to discuss what opportunities New Zealand has beyond our horizons.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Unproductive and unwilling to change" - a scathing report from outgoing Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has slammed our country’s prison system.

He told the government’s Justice Committee he’ll “leave the job with disappointment” that he hasn’t made “any impact in having the Department of Corrections as an organisation we can be proud of.”

A report from the Office of the Inspectorate released just yesterday shows that prisoners in three units at Auckland Prison were not able to leave their cells every day, for many months.

Today on The Front Page, Deputy Commissioner of Prisons, Neil Beales joins us to respond to the Ombudsman’s comments.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are growing fears the Middle East could be on the brink of war.

Over the weekend, Iran launched hundreds of missiles towards Israel, in retaliation for what is believed to have been an Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic complex in Syria last week.

It comes after six months of fighting in Gaza, which has drawn the ire of Muslim-majority countries in the region.

With no end in sight for the Gaza conflict, there are now fears that Israel may seek revenge against Iran, sparking a region-wide war that will further divide the world.

Later in this episode, we’ll hear from aid workers working across Gaza for the latest on the humanitarian crisis there, but first on The Front Page, University of Otago Professor of politics and international studies, Robert Patman, joins us to dissect the latest on Israel, Iran and Palestine.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, US time, marks the beginning of Donald Trump’s slew of criminal trials.  

In what’s been coined the ‘hush money’ case, the former President is being accused of falsifying his company’s business records in connection to a payment to an adult film star in the run-up to the 2016 election.

After a judge just last week dismissed Trump’s motion to toss out the indictment altogether, or delay the trial further, the 45th President will now must fight a criminal trial and an election campaign at the same time.

Today on The Front Page, Politico magazine senior writer and former federal prosecutor Ankush Khardori joins us from New York to discuss the trial that could define the US election.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At least six people are dead and many more injured after a lone attacker stabbed shoppers at a Westfield shopping mall in Sydney’s Bondi Junction on Saturday. 

40-year-old Joel Cauchi was killed at the scene by Police but not until he had upended countless lives in his brutal attack.  

In this bonus episode of The Front Page, Sydney-based ABC News reporter Penny Timms joins to give an update on this horrific attack.  

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new docu-drama has revisited the horrors of Dilworth.

The Auckland boarding school was intended to help disadvantaged boys, but over the decades multiple teachers have been charged and found guilty of sexual abuse – with the number of victims believed to be more than 200.

On The Front Page, Open Justice editor Elizabeth Binning joins to discuss the background to this shocking abuse, and co-directors of TVNZ’s The Lost Boys of Dilworth, Mary Durham and Peter Burger, go behind the scenes of their docudrama. 

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

School holidays kick off tomorrow, and hundreds of families are set to take to the roads and skies to head off on vacation.

For those of us travelling internationally though, the main hope is that the ongoing renovations at Auckland Airport won’t lead to the usual ‘travel chaos’ many of us have come to expect.

So how are those developments going, and is the travel industry as a whole on the road to recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic?

Today on The Front Page, business travel editor Grant Bradley is with us to discuss the latest in travel.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newshub is officially closing down.  

Despite hopes of a last-minute lifeline, Warner Bros Discovery has confirmed all news operations will shut up shop from July 5th.  

It comes as TVNZ also confirms its Midday and Tonight bulletins will end in mid-May, while Fair Go will shift to digital only.  

So, with so many jobs going over the next three months, what does the future hold for news in New Zealand – particularly as trust falls to a new low?  

Today on The Front Page, Media Insider Shayne Currie joins to give us the latest on an industry fighting for survival.  

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Government ministries are on a mission to cut spending by 6.5 to 7.5 per cent before the coalition Government’s first Budget next month.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has asked all departments to look for savings to “restore discipline” to taxpayer spending.

For some agencies, cutting costs means cutting jobs – and that number is already at about a thousand roles, give or take.

Today on The Front Page, Newstalk ZB reporter Azaria Howell discusses the challenges facing our public sector as departments race to cut spending.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The coalition Government’s signalled “everything’s on the table” when it comes to a major shake-up of New Zealand’s gun laws.  

The world praised us when we took swift action following the Christchurch terror attack – banning semi-automatic firearms and assault rifles.

But now a coalition agreement between National and Act could see semi-automatics make a return to gun ranges.

In the US, this month marks 25 years since the Columbine high school massacre – where two teenagers murdered 12 students and a teacher.

15-year-old Daniel Mauser was one of those killed in the school’s library.

Daniel’s father, Tom, has spent the last 25 years advocating for gun control in America – and he joins us on The Front Page to discuss why New Zealand shouldn’t be complacent when it comes to firearms.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new social media policy is being described as having a chilling effect on politics, and by extension the health of democracy.

Meta, the global behemoth that owns Facebook and Instagram, is putting a stranglehold on recommendations in user feeds that contain political content.

The move, signalled in February, applies to Instagram and Threads, and will eventually extend to Facebook.

Today on The Front Page, Senior writer Derek Cheng joins us to look at what’s happening, why it’s happening, and how it changes the game for politicians.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’ve never met a person who actually knows anything about Daylight Saving Time, just that at some point we lose an hour, and at another point of the year we gain one.

And no, it’s not Daylight Savings Time, either.

We first introduced it nearly a hundred years ago in 1927 – and the current times have been fixed since 2007.

In spring, we change our clocks forward 1 hour to New Zealand Daylight Time (NZDT). In autumn, we change our clocks back 1 hour to New Zealand Standard Time (NZST).

Today on The Front Page, Take Back the Clocks spokesperson Connor Malloy joins us to discuss where Daylight Saving Time came from, and how we might be able to get rid of it.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since its inception, it’s safe to say the Three Strikes law has faced its fair share of criticism. 

Academics have condemned it for promoting penal populism and disproportionately targeting Māori and Pasifika communities. 

Despite this, the return of the controversial law has made its way onto the Government’s next action plan.

So, does Three Strikes only stand as a symbol of a Government’s ‘tough on crime’ approach? Or, will it garner better results a second time around?

Today on The Front Page, Auckland University of Technology criminal law professor Warren Brookbanks joins us to discuss.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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The Government has honed in on rebuilding the economy as a priority for the coming months. 

Amongst several promises in a new action plan, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has promised to deliver a budget that reduces wasteful spending, delivers tax relief to hardworking New Zealanders, and invests in frontline services. 

Yet this promise comes days after his Finance Minister once again highlighted the fragile state of the economy. 

So how bad are things looking, and should we still be looking at tax cuts?  

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny joins to take a look at the state of our economy.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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CEOs in New Zealand continue to get paid more than ever.

While not as high as the 15 per cent increases seen in 2022, remuneration packages for NZX-listed chief executives increased on average by 3.58 percent in the 2023 financial year.

And despite a stagnant local share market, one CEO has set a new record for the largest ever pay packet in the history of the Herald’s CEO pay survey.

To run us through the trends and the seven figure salaries, we’re joined today on The Front Page by BusinessDesk investigations writer Murray Jones.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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The Government’s flicking the off switch on EV owners.

From today, road user charges will have to be paid for light electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.

Bringing EVs in line with other vehicles has been a priority for this government, but little else in the plans so far have suggested what their strategy is for the environment and climate change.

Today on The Front Page, Newstalk ZB political and climate reporter Demelza Jackson joins to discuss if this government is making the right moves for the planet’s future.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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The financial year is coming to an end.  

While that may not mean a lot for the average Kiwi, when the new financial year kicks off on April 1st, many of us could see a little more money in our back pockets. 

This is when the Annual General Adjustment takes place, with things like benefits and the minimum wage rising to account for inflation or wage growth. 

It’s also one of the dates when tax changes or new fees come into effect – and this year, that means changes for EV drivers and those with a family.  

To discuss what these changes mean for you, today on The Front Page, we’re joined by NZ Herald business editor at large and author of BBQ Economics, Liam Dann. 

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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Today marks 40 years since Ernie Abbott went to work at Wellington’s Trade Hall, and never returned home.

On March 27, 1984, the caretaker was locking up for the day when he spied a discarded light-green suitcase on the ground behind a wall.

Curious, he picked it up by its cloth-wrapped handle - triggering a mercury switch hidden inside. He was killed instantly as the force tore through the passageway of the Vivian St building.

The Police investigation to find the man who was seen carrying the suitcase into the building just before 7.30am that day has garnered more than 550 suspects and thousands of exhibits.

Today on The Front Page, Detective Sergeant Sam McKenzie joins to discuss whether police are any closer to closing this cold case.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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Labour is going back to the drawing board - and tax is on the table.

Party leader Chris Hipkins has delivered his first major speech in Opposition, six months after Labour were kicked out of government.

He has taken aim at the country’s tax system as being inequitable, and laid blame for the current financial woes at National’s feet.

Today on The Front Page, Hipkins joins to discuss what his party plans to offer the country at the next election, as well as to respond to recent criticism of the past government's actions on race and crime, and if he will run again in 2026. 

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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For over 50 years, the secretive Christian community of Gloriavale has fascinated New Zealanders.

While the community has long been discussed by former members who have left Gloriavale behind, in the last few years, multiple official investigations and Employment Court proceedings have shone more light on what's happening behind the scenes.

Now, a new TVNZ documentary, Escaping Utopia, is looking back at the community’s chequered history and its recent problems.

Today on The Front Page, co-director Justin Pemberton joins us to explain this fresh look at historic concerns.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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Catherine, the Princess of Wales, has been diagnosed with cancer. 

She revealed the news in a video released this weekend, after months away from the public eye following abdominal surgery. 

The public was told that surgery was not related to cancer – but subsequent tests revealed the Princesses condition, and she is now undergoing chemotherapy. 

So what does this mean for the Royal Family that’s now facing two cancer battles at the same time? 

For this special bonus episode, UK correspondent Gavin Grey joins The Front Page from London to discuss this latest royal shocker.  

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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The Government earlier this month made it through its first 100 days after a few ups and downs, but the months ahead could be a little rougher.

Questions continue to be asked about how the coalition can fund its much-promised tax cuts amid reports of a growing fiscal hole and criticism from international financial agencies, with just two months left until this National-led government delivers its first budget.

To talk us through the state of the economy, the public’s feedback on the government, and the state of his other portfolios, today on The Front Page we’re joined by Associate Finance Minister and Act Party leader, David Seymour.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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Boeing - one of the world’s largest airplane manufacturers and once its most well respected - has seen  a string of concerning incidents have tarnished that reputation.  

This year alone, we’ve seen a door plug blow off mid-flight on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 in January, while closer to home, a LATAM Airlines flight from Sydney to Auckland plunged mid-air – injuring at least 50 passengers, some seriously. 

It comes only a few years after two fatal crashes involving Boeing 737 Max plans only five months apart. 189 people died when Lion Air Flight 610 crashed into the Java Sea in October 2018, and in March 2019, an Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed, killing 157 people.

One of those people was Graziella de Luis y Ponce, a United Nations interpreter.  

Her brother is Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics lecturer, Javier de Luis. He was then asked to serve on the US Federal Aviation Administration’s panel that reviewed Boeing’s safety practice last year.  

He joins The Front Page today to discuss the ongoing issues with Boeing. 

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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Two brothers have been arrested in Thailand this week after an alleged roadside tussle with a police officer.

Video appears to show Hamish and Oscar Day wrestling with an officer for his gun, after reportedly being pulled over for speeding.

They are just the latest in a very long line of Kiwis who have run afoul of the law overseas – but what exactly are your rights if you clash with cops while on holiday?

Today on The Front Page, we discuss this with Waikato University international law expert, Alexander Gillespie.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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New Zealand’s rolling out the red carpet for China’s foreign minister -- with Wang Yi’s visit marking the highest-level diplomatic engagement with New Zealand’s largest trading partner on our soil in at least seven years.

It comes as China continues advocating for its ‘One China’ policy with Taiwan, while our coalition government explores expanding our trading horizons.

So is our relationship with China still strong, and can it survive China’ slowing economy?

Today on The Front Page, NZ Contemporary China Research Centre director and Victoria University associate professor Jason Young joins us to discuss our relationship with China, how it’s blossomed, and where it’s headed.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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Five years have passed since the Christchurch mosque terror attack, the country’s first ever terror attack, but it only took another two and a half years for another one to occur at a New Lynn supermarket.

A year ago, top security and intelligence officials revealed they had foiled three further terror threats.

So, five years on from our darkest day, how concerned should be about threats going forwards?

Today on The Front Page, Massey University distinguished professor Paul Spoonley joins to discuss his decades of research into this area.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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Chloe Swarbrick has this week become the new co-leader of the Green Party

Her rapid rise to become the youngest current party leader in New Zealand comes a little over six years since she entered Parliament, and seven years since she made national headlines for running for the Auckland mayoralty.

So, what does the 29-year-old want to do when she takes the reins of the third biggest party in Parliament?

Today on The Front Page, Chloe Swarbrick joins us to discuss her rise to the top of the Greens.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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Photoshop fails are hardly a new thing – but rarely, if ever, do they involve members of the British Royal Family.

A seemingly harmless photo of the Princess of Wales and her three children has turned into a major embarrassment, after eagle-eyed followers saw noticeable edits had been made to the photo.

It has reignited not only a debate about the Royal Family’s secrecy, but also on photo manipulation as AI tools gain more prominence.

Today on The Front Page, New Zealand Herald deputy lifestyle editor Emma Gleason digs into the mystery behind the photo, and AI expert Dr Paul Duignan joins later to discusst how worried we should be about this. 

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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The Government has announced it will restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. 

But it is not as much tax relief for these property investors as National promised Act in the parties’ coalition agreement.  

So, what’s changed? And does that mean other policies in their agreement are also up for renegotiation?  

And, is this government prioritising landlords over renters - a group that’s a growing part of the population.  

Today on The Front Page, New Zealand Herald deputy political editor Thomas Coughlan joins us to discuss whether this is a political win for the Government. 

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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TVNZ has become the latest media company to cut back on its news programming.

The state-owned broadcaster has proposed to shut down current affairs shows Sunday and Fair Go later this year amid cost savings measures.

With Newshub also on the chopping block, local news is facing a true crisis, and many are wondering if there’s a way back from the edge.

Today on The Front Page, Auckland University of Technology journalism lecturer Dr Greg Treadwell joins to analyse the state of local media.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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When Government talks about cracking down on crime, they often refer to gangs and retail crime that leave a visible mark behind. 

But, for a growing number of New Zealanders, online scams are becoming the most common crime many of us deal with. 

It’s estimated that we’re losing around 200 million dollars a year to cyber crime – but given many of those affected may be too embarrassed to report a crime, some think that figure is closer to 2 billion.  

So is there anything that can be done to stop these crimes, and is the government putting enough focus on this issue? 

Today on The Front Page, Banking Association chief executive Roger Beaumont joins us as part of the Herald’s new Scambusters series to discuss this rapidly growing area.  

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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National has unveiled their plan for transport over the next term and it includes some new fees coming your way. 

Getting a Motor Vehicle Registration is about to become a lot more expensive, while promises not to raise fuel taxes are being kept – but only just. 

All of this is to fund a revival of the National Party’s Roads of National Significance, but are voters going to care when it means higher costs to drive on them?  

Today on The Front Page, New Zealand Herald senior political journalist Derek Cheng joins to analyse the Government’s big transport shakeup.  

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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The Government has set every part of the public service a target to find savings between 6.5 and 7.5 per cent before the Budget is delivered in May. 

These cuts have been discussed since the campaign trail, but what impact they are set to have is yet to be seen. 

Now, thanks to the Official Information Act, we have some idea of how 11 Ministries are trying to tackle this – and it has led to a lot of concern within the departments that run the country. 

Today on The Front Page, Newstalk ZB Wellington reporter Azaria Howell joins to discuss what we’ve learned about the cost crunch happening behind the scenes in our ministries.  

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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After two trials, David Charles Benbow has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Michael McGrath in 2017.

Benbow will spend at least 17 years behind bars for McGrath’s death in a case that has garnered national attention.

And that’s because McGrath’s body has never been found.

New Zealand Herald senior crime reporter Sam Sherwood has been following this case for seven years, and even served as a witness for the Crown during the first trial.

He joins The Front Page to discuss this captivating case.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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As the cost of living crisis drags on, it seems even some of the country’s top educators can’t avoid the woes of inflation.

An analysis by the Herald has revealed school fees for many of the country’s top private schools have risen drastically in the last two years.

So what’s driving those costs – and do these schools results justify the fees?

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald senior journalist Alex Spence talks us through the rising cost of going to the country’s most exclusive schools, and later, Head of Data Chris Knox looks at the results for these schools.

You can read both pieces by Alex and Chris here:

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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The Reserve Bank last week announced the Official Cash Rate would stay at 5.5 per cent.

But while things are looking positive for a cut sooner than expected, the Bank has warned inflation is still sitting above where it needs to be.

So, in the wake of our major publicly listed companies reporting their half-year results, how is the economy holding up, and can we expect a sunny or stormy outlook for the coming months? 

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann joins us for his take on the state of our economy.  

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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The deaths of Sydney couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies have gripped both sides of the Tasman for the last week. 

After a nearly week long search, Police on Tuesday said they have found their bodies in Bungonia in southern New South Wales. 

While the search may be over, questions remain over the response of New South Wales police, particularly as one of their own is alleged to have committed this crime. 

ABC News reporter Isaac Nowroozi was at the scene in Bungonia earlier this week. He joins The Front Page today to discuss the case that has shocked Australia, and the world.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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Later today, Fa’anānā Efeso Collins will be laid to rest. 

The former Auckland Councillor and mayoral candidate turned Green MP, died suddenly last week after participating in a charity event.  

His funeral is expected to draw a massive crowd in Manukau, a sign of the massive respect he was held in by the wider South Auckland community he so passionately advocated for. 

Vaimoana Mase, the editor of the Herald’s Pasifika section, Talanoa, first met Collins as a teenager 21 years ago, and has followed his growth and career during her own. 

She joins The Front Page to discuss the outpouring of grief and love for the late Efeso Collins.  

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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Newshub – the news brand of Warner Bros Discovery-owned TV network Three – is due to close in June. 

The shocking news was delivered to staff earlier today, with many of them now expected to lose their jobs. 

So what led to the end of a news brand that has been around in various forms since 1989? And does it speak to broader worries about the local industry?  

In this bonus episode of The Front Page, Media Insider and editor at large Shayne Currie joins to discuss the tragic end of another major news giant.  

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Producer: Ethan Sills
Editor: Evan Paea

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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The Government has moved forward with plans to table a bill to disestablish the Maori Health Authority, tabling a bill this week that would see the authority shuttered after less than two years of operation. 

It follows through on a campaign promise by all three coalition partners, and is a part of their 100-day plan. 

So why is the authority being shut down after less than two years of operation – and, as the health system struggles with staffing shortages and high waiting times, where does this sit within the government’s other health priorities?  

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald health reporter Isaac Davison joins to discuss how the government plans to turn around an under-pressure health system.  

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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While Kiwis can celebrate an extra day of summer thanks to 2024 being a leap year, the good weather times may not last much longer. 

With autumn nipping at our heels, it’s nearly time to swap out the togs and towels out for scarves and sweaters. But just what do the cooler months have in store for us?  

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald science reporter Jamie Morton joins to dig into our strange end of summer weather, and whether the rest of the years’ systems are heading the same way.  

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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While hundreds of people go missing in New Zealand every year, most of the time it only takes a few days or weeks before they return or Police track them down. 

However, sadly for some families, their loved ones never return home. 

And dozens of these missing persons cases from 1957 to 2023 remain open and active across Aotearoa. 

Senior crime and justice reporter Anna Leask has covered many of these files in her podcasts, A Moment in Crime and Chasing Ghosts, and has gone through the records to detail many of the country’s current active inquiries.  

She joins us today on The Front Page to explain what constitutes a missing person, and what happens when a body is never found.  

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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Two years have passed since Russia invaded Ukraine, but there is still no end in sight for the conflict. 

As Ukraine desperately seeks funding and support from its global allies, the war continues in an effective stalemate, with both sides struggling to make ground.  

However, could the suspicious death of incarcerated Russian opposition leader, Alexei, Navalny spur Western forces to take more of a stand against Vladimir Putin? 

For much of the last two years, Kiwi journalist Tom Mutch has been following the conflict on the ground in Ukraine. He joins The Front Page today from Kyiv for the latest on this war. 

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Former deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Grant Robertson announced earlier this week he is leaving politics.

He is the latest member of the Labour Party who has chosen greener pastures over three years of being back in Opposition.

So with Grant Robertson out the door, where does that leave Labour as it looks to rebuild, and are the remaining MPs strong enough to hold the Government to account?

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald political editor Claire Trevett joins to dig into Robertson’s legacy and Labour’s future.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Georgina Campbell
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Yet another fire has burnt through hundreds of hectares of vegetation on Christchurch’s Port Hills.

It would’ve been deja vu for residents – for those who experienced the 2017 fire – as the blaze forced hundreds to evacuate their homes and required round the clock action by firefighters to try and contain it.

The fire has largely been contained – but as the planet gets hotter, how common could these types of wildfires become in years to come? And as we reconsider building on floodplains and cliffsides, do we also need to look at the fire risk when building homes?

Today on The Front Page, we're joined by director of climate change consultancy Climate Prescience, Dr Nathaneal Melia, to discuss the fire risk of our changing climate, and University of Auckland lecturer in Urban Planning, Dr Iresh Jayawardena, joins to explore if that risk should make us reconsider where we build. 

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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New stats out last week drove home the message that New Zealand is in a population boom.

While a record number of us departed our shores, New Zealand still added an additional 145,000 people - the largest population growth we’ve seen this century.

So what’s driving this influx of people, and is it sustainable for a country that seems to be running out of money to grow further?

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann joins to answer the question – is New Zealand growing too fast?

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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Custody battles are always complex and require courts to balance the needs of the child with both parents’ wishes.  

When different legal jurisdictions are in play, that process becomes far more complicated.  

The Hague Convention is a powerful international treaty signed by over 100 countries, which assumes the courts in the country where the child usually lives are best placed to make decisions about their welfare.  

This treaty is supposed to make things easier, but as some recent cases have shown, it’s not the golden solution it should be. 

Today on The Front Page, University of Auckland law professor Mark Henaghan joins to explain how the Convention works and if after 40 years it's still fit for purpose.  

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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A horror half-year result has exposed major issues for Fletcher Building.

One of/The largest construction companies in New Zealand reported a 120-million-dollar loss earlier this week, causing their share prices to plummet and forcing multiple key resignations.

Fletcher Building is not the only organisation in the industry reeling from losses, as a grim outlook of declining consents and rising building costs suggests a tough time ahead.

So, what is driving these woes, and how widespread is the issue around the country?

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald’s Property Insider Anne Gibson weighs in on Fletcher’s losses and who might be next.

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The country’s infrastructure woes became very clear for commuters in our biggest city earlier this week.  

Aucklanders were stunned after dozens of trains were delayed or cancelled right at rush hour, due to speed restrictions enforced by KiwiRail to combat overheated rail lines. 

It’s yet another example of our aging infrastructure, and the dire need for us to invest in replacing and upgrading failing parts of the national network. 

So how much would it cost to get the trains running on time – and is there the political will to meet the price tag?  

Today on The Front Page, we’re joined by Infrastructure New Zealand chief executive Nick Leggett to discuss the costly issues facing the Government.   

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Georgina Campbell
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2023 was a year of dashed hopes for sports fans, with New Zealand missing the mark at four separate world cups.  

Now, with a new All Blacks coach, stadium proposals for downtown Auckland, and the Olympics on the horizon, our athletes will be dusting themselves off and looking towards the future. 

So will Scott Robertson be able to make his mark on the All Blacks? Can the Up the Wahs phenomenon take the Warriors further than last year? And who is going to bring home the Olympic gold? 

To preview the year ahead for Kiwi sports, we’re joined on The Front Page by Newstalk ZB sports journalist and co-host of the Rugby Direct podcast, Elliott Smith.  

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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Later this year when Americans return to the polls for their next Presidential election, they are likely to experience a bit of deja vu. 

Number 46 Joe Biden is likely to face Number 45 Donald Trump in a rematch of 2020, and as we slowly edge closer to election day, both men find themselves facing intense criticism for very different reasons. 

So will Biden be able to overcome concerns about his age and memory to hold onto the White House, or could Trump make a return despite a series of criminal cases? 

Today on The Front Page, Newshub US correspondent Mitch McCann joins from New York to weigh in on the upcoming election in the land of the free. 

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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Tension between Auckland Council and the Government has flared up once again.

Mayor Wayne Brown is unhappy with the coalition Government’s decision to axe the Auckland fuel tax, arguing that transport projects are going to have to be cancelled – as he has ruled out increasing rates to pay for the funding shortfall.

It comes as Auckland Transport faces criticism for eye-watering costs for level pedestrian crossings and lengthy delays with road works on a key commuter route.

So does the city need more Government support to pay for its projects, or a rethink of how it pays for what it’s already doing?

Today on The Front Page, we’re joined by New Zealand Herald Super City reporter Bernard Orsman to quite literally dig into the saga of pedestrian crossings.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Georgina Campbell
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Taylor Swift is the most famous person in the world right now. 

Whether she is shattering records with her globe-trotting world tour and accompanying movie, or using award show wins for one album to announce another, Swiftmania is unavoidable. 

And that’s not going to change in the next few weeks, with her expected appearance at the Super Bowl alongside her sports star boyfriend, Travis Kelce, before bringing her Eras Tour to Australia.  

So how has Swift gone from being a country popstar to world domination, and is she immune from another backlash like the one that nearly brought her down previously? 

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald deputy lifestyle editor Emma Gleason joins to discuss why this is Taylor’s world and we’re just living in it. 

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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Aotearoa’s model for stubbing out cigarette use became world-renowned in 2022 when the Government passed legislation banning the sale of tobacco to anyone born after January 2009.

However, some fear that progress has gone up in smoke after the coalition Government announced late last year it would repeal the smokefree laws.

The plan was labelled ‘completely backwards’ by some public health experts at the time, and in the months since more controversy has followed.

Today on The Front Page, Herald deputy political editor Thomas Coghlan joins us to unpack the new Government’s plan for a smokefree future and why it's been so contentious.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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Buckingham Palace stunned the world this week by announcing that King Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer.  

The King had already made headlines after being treated for an enlarged prostate, a procedure that has led to this new and more serious diagnosis.  

Only 17 months into his reign, what does this health crisis mean for our Head of State, and for the wider monarchy that now has two senior royals off duties for very different health reasons.

Today on The Front Page, we’re joined from London by UK correspondent Gavin Grey for the latest on this new royal shock.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
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Wellington has found itself at odds with the new Government.  

Residents of the capital city last year voted to send two Green MPs to Parliament, joining Green Party-endorsed Mayor Tory Whanau in representing the city. 

While National swept to power in a blue wave in other parts of the country, the election result in Wellington was not exactly an endorsement of the new Government’s policies.  

So, where does this leave Wellington? How does a city council that desperately needs more money navigate a right-leaning Government? And is Tory Whanau the right person for the job?  

Today on The Front Page, NZME’s Wellington head of news Katrina Bennett and playwright Dave Armstrong join Georgina Campbell to discuss the challenges facing our capital city.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Georgina Campbell
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Interpretations of the Treaty of Waitangi – or Te Tiriti o Waitangi – have been some of the most important discussions in Aotearoa's history, but tensions over the documents have reached a fever pitch in recent months after the coalition Government agreed to support a Treaty Principals Bill to the select committee phase.

Friction over its meaning is expected to be front and centre today, as politicians, academics and Maori leaders converge on the site where the documents were signed in 1840.

Since publishing the 1987 book, The Treaty of Waitangi, Dame Claudia Orange has widely been recognised as one of the country’s leading treaty experts. 

She joins The Front Page today from Waitangi to discuss how perceptions of the Treaty have changed in recent years, and what that means for a modern Aotearoa.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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Dancing, DJs and day drinking... A classic summer festival combo.

But hand in hand with the music and partying comes a lesser-known festival favourite – waste.

Be it beer cans, empty chip pottles or portaloos, events have a habit of creating waste, and in some cases leaving the whenua in a bad state.

This was laid bare last month when dozens of tents and piles of garbage was abandoned at the Northern Base festival.

Today on The Front Page, Josh Brownlow from Clean Event joins to discuss how festivals can become more sustainable, and how Kiwi festival waste management measures up to our European counterparts.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Katie Harris
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For years, the last Government faced constant criticism and attack from National that it wasn’t doing enough to deal with an apparent crime wave spreading across the country.

Now, the burden of keeping law and order in check rests with National and their coalition partners.

This week, Police Minister Mark Mitchell has had to respond to smash and grab robberies and a supermarket stabbing, but also faced controversy as the government’s promise to get 500 new cops on the beat in two years came under the microscope.

So what does the Government have planned for delivering on their respective campaign promises to get on top of crime?

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald senior writer Derek Cheng joins to give his insights into what can actually be done at a political level.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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Defence Minister Judith Collins will be meeting with her Australian counterpart today as both sides of the Tasman look to move towards ‘interoperability’ and working as one. 

This meeting comes after more details were revealed about the poor state of our military by the Herald this week.  

The NZSAS and the wider Defence Force are losing people in droves, and officials are doing their best to throw cash at the situation to prevent our security apparatus from grinding to a halt.  

So, what exactly is going wrong on our military frontlines, and is Judith Collins the Minister to fix the problem? 

NZ Herald investigative reporter David Fisher has been looking into this crisis for months, and joins us The Front Page today to discuss just how dire the situation is.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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Over the last three decades, six people have disappeared from the Piha area on Auckland’s west coast, all never to be seen again.

While none of the bodies have been found, coroners have ruled most of the cases likely to be accidents or self-inflicted, and Police have treated them all separately.

Yet for some, three men and three women vanishing from the same area feels like too much of a coincidence.

Now, mystery documentary on ThreeNow, Black Coast Vanishings, has examined all six cases, and the effects they’ve had on those left behind.

Today on The Front Page, co-directors Megan Jones and Candida Beveridge join to unpack the series that has got the country talking.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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The cost-of-living crisis has come for the world’s biggest streaming services. 

Neon earlier this month became the first service in New Zealand to include ads on the platform, after Netflix and Disney Plus kick started the trend internationally last year.  

It comes as what was a major growth industry a few years ago slows, with the services starting to slash budgets, and in some cases wiping underperforming shows to save on taxes. 

So with prices rising and content slowing, what does the future hold for streaming in New Zealand and around the world?  

Today on The Front Page, Duncan Greive, founder and writer at The Spinoff, joins to discuss a once promising sector with a now uncertain future.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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It’s a year on from the Interislander’s terrifying Kaitaki incident.

The ferry lost power in Cook Strait with 864 people on board and issued a mayday call as it drifted towards Wellington’s rocky south coast.

Luckily, disaster was narrowly avoided, and there was some comfort that KiwiRail had new mega ferries ordered and on the way to replace the ageing Interislander fleet.

But fast-forward to today and KiwiRail’s mega ferry project has been canned after Finance Minister Nicola Willis refused to fund the latest budget blowout of $1.47 billion.

So what’s the new plan to replace the ageing ferries and what does this mean for this critical supply chain link in the meantime?

Today on The Front Page, Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Craig Harrison and BusinessDesk infrastructure editor Oliver Lewis discuss the decisions behind the cancellation and what needs to happen next. 

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Georgina Campbell
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Last year, Auckland was shaken by a weather event on the city’s anniversary weekend that seemingly no one saw coming.

Four people lost their lives in the shock weather event, while countless other homes were flooded or destroyed, with those affected still picking up the pieces a year later.

Auckland Council and then-freshly elected mayor Wayne Brown came under fire for their handling of the crisis.

Now, NZ Herald deputy head of news Tom Dillane has revisited the events of January 27th 2023 to find out just how unprepared council authorities and emergency management teams were for this event.

He joins The Front Page to dig into the fresh revelations from this weather disaster.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced this week that New Zealand is sending a six-person team to Yemen to provide maritime security in the Red Sea.

It comes after weeks of attacks by Houthi rebels on commercial ships navigating the route, and subsequent retaliatory air strikes by the US and UK.

All of this is unfolding against the backdrop of the ongoing Gaza conflict, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejecting international calls for a two-state solution to end the war.

So why is New Zealand getting involved in the Red Sea, and how much longer can the bombardment of Gaza continue?

Today on The Front Page, University of Auckland international relations professor Stephen Hoadley joins us to discuss the latest in the ongoing conflict.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
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High inflation, job insecurity, and interest rates through the roof have been plaguing New Zealanders over the last few years.

While it looks like we are turning a post-Covid corner, new threats are on the horizon as global conflicts continue, and questions remain over what the new Government's plans for fixing the economy actually are.

From house prices and rental costs to migration woes, this year is shaping up to be a big year for the economy. 

Today on The Front Page, we're joined by Kiwibank senior economist Mary Jo Vergara, and Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan, to discuss the economic year ahead.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Katie Harris
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The National-led coalition has only been in office for two months, but already its work around Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Te Reo Maori has prompted backlash across Aotearoa. 

Last Friday a Ministry of Justice paper was leaked warning the Government’s proposed legislation to define the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi could be “highly contentious”. 

Part of the document suggested this was due to the “fundamental constitutional nature of the subject matter” and “lack of consultation with the public on the policy development prior to select committee”. 

The leak also came on the eve of a national hui, organised by the Māori King, at Tūrangawaewae Marae in Ngāruawāhia to unify Māori and discuss the potential impact of the policies. 

Among the ten thousand attendees was University of Auckland professor of Māori Studies, Margaret Mutu. She joins us today on The Front Page to discuss what went down at the hui, what to make of the government’s plans, and the importance of the little known document He Whakaputanga. 

You can read Act leader David Seymour's argument about the bill here: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kahu/act-leader-david-seymour-why-a-conversation-on-te-tiriti-o-waitangi-is-important-for-our-nation/IY4IMUEBEJDOXKG3HAHUJS3HAY/ 

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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This week, our politicians are heading back to work... not that there has actually been much of a break.

International crises like the Gaza conflict have needed the Government’s attention over the summer, and while we’ve been soaking up the sun, ministers have been back at their desks for a while now, sifting through reports and cancelled projects as the coalition looks to advance its 100 day plan.

So, as everyone heads back to the Beehive, what are the top issues on the Government’s agenda, how likely is it that they will be achieved, and what about those parties that now find themselves in Opposition?
 
Today on The Front Page, we’re joined by New Zealand Herald deputy political editor and On the Tiles co-host Thomas Coughlan to preview the year ahead in politics.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Georgina Campbell
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Producer: Ethan Sills

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Just when you thought Wellington’s water woes couldn’t get any worse, they have.  

The city is facing severe water shortages with warnings residents may have to boil their drinking water and some suburbs could run completely dry.  

People have queued for hours to get their hands on emergency water tanks.  

It comes as the city is losing 44 per cent of its treated drinking water to leaks, making for a communications nightmare when it comes to telling locals to conserve water.  

So, how did it get to this point and why did councils let the situation get so bad before acting?  

Today on The Front Page, Greater Wellington Regional Council chairman Daran Ponter joins us to discuss the looming crisis.  

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Georgina Campbell
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The skylines of our cities are starting to change. Slowly but surely, new high-rise housing developments are cropping up all over Auckland. 

From built-to-rent schemes, to luxury hotels, to developer-iwi partnerships, there’s a wide variety of projects underway, all with different markets in mind. 

Something they all have in common, though, is that they signal a move away from suburban sprawl, to a new type of city living. 

So what are the main projects opening this year, how affordable will they be, and in a booming market, why are some struggling to make it to their open homes?  

NZ Herald property editor Anne Gibson joins The Front Page to look at how apartment developments could dominate the property market in 2024.  

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
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Parliament has not even returned for 2024 yet, but we’ve already got our first political scandal of the year. 

Green Party MP Golriz Ghahraman has quit Parliament after multiple allegations of shoplifting surfaced over the last few weeks. 

Citing mental health concerns in her statement, it has once again raised questions about the stress placed on MPs and their suitability to serve, while the Green Party again faces scrutiny over their handling of the case.  

NZ Herald deputy political editor and host of the On the Tiles podcast, Thomas Coughlan, joins to dissect what to make of this scandal.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
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Auckland Light Rail is finally dead. 

The National-led Government has killed off the scheme first proposed by Labour on the 2017 campaign trail. Millions were spent on the project, which went through multiple iterations but never quite managed to get on track. 

The failure of the project has raised questions about how our Government’s approach to infrastructure will work, and why these schemes are so expensive and difficult to get off the ground.  

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald senior writer Simon Wilson joins us to discuss why we need to rethink our approach.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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Shark sightings have dominated Kiwi headlines this summer, with Surf Life Saving New Zealand recording several dozen reports over the holiday period.  

While some may view this as summer hysteria, the sightings did prompt water evacuations at certain beaches, and one woman suffered significant injuries to her leg after being attacked by a shark while walking through an estuary.  

So is global warming playing a hand in bringing these sharks close to shore, and what, if anything, can Kiwi water users do to keep safe? 
 
Today on The Front Page, shark scientist Dr Riley Elliott joins to discuss the sightings and what we get wrong when talking about these sea creatures.  

Host: Katie Harris
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While we’re on our summer break, The Front Page has been taking a look back at some of the biggest news stories and top-rated episodes from the podcast this year.

Back in April, two record drug busts within Aotearoa’s borders prompted us to take a look at why more and more drugs were passing through our borders. 

In the months since, more stories have landed in the NZ Herald newsroom of record hauls, including 140 kilograms of cocaine seized at the Ports of Auckland, 25 kilograms of meth found inside a Canadian man’s suitcase, and 25 million dollars worth of cannabis seized in Auckland. 

With so many drugs passing through our borders – or at least trying to – we're revisiting our chat on The Front Page with NZ Herald senior crime writer Jared Savage to find out why these busts are getting bigger.

New episodes return January 15th.

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While The Front Page is taking its summer break, we are shining a spotlight on some of the biggest podcasts and news events from the NZ Herald network over the last year.  

For years, Kiwis have pondered the identity of the ‘prominent businessman’, who, after several eventful court cases, was found guilty of sexually assaulting three men over a number of years. 

In 2023, he was unmasked as James Wallace, at the time a knight recognised for his services to the arts as one of our country’s biggest patrons.  

In a three-part special series of A Moment in Crime - the country’s top local true crime podcast - Anna Leask re-examined the case, looking at whoWallace was, the victims whose lives he ruined, and how he got away with it for so long. 

In this excerpt from the first episode of The Patron, you can learn who James Wallace is, and how Leask was the first journalist to report his crimes.  You can listen to the full episode and series in the A Moment in Crime feed on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.  

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While we’re on our summer break, The Front Page is looking back at some of the biggest news stories and top rated episodes from the podcast this year.  

One of the big talking points in Aotearoa for years has been the state of our education.  

Concerns over falling test results, and dropping numeracy and literacy rates have worried parents, educators and politicians for some time – and this all became worse during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.  

The new National-led government has vowed to tackle education head on, but what exactly is needed to achieve this? 

Back in March, the Herald’s Making the Grade series, in collaboration with the New Zealand Initiative, explored what we need to do to repair this damaged system. 

Damien Venuto caught up with NZI Senior Fellow Michael Johnston to discuss what it will take to get our education sector back on track.  

New episodes return January 15th.   

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While The Front Page is taking its summer break, we are shining a spotlight on some of the biggest podcasts and news events from the New Zealand Herald network over the last year.  

Cold cases are relatively few and far between in Aotearoa. And that’s what makes the case of Donald Fraser stand out. 90 years after Fraser was shot dead in his bed at the Racecourse Hotel in Christchurch, questions linger about who was responsible, and why no one was ever brought to justice.

Open Justice journalist Ric Stevens has been looking into this case for over a decade, and in this special series for the Herald’s Chasing Ghosts podcast, does hehave an answer to this nearly century-old cold case? 

Listen to the first episode of Chasing Ghosts: Murder at the Racecourse Hotel now, and find the full season in the Chasing Ghosts feed on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts. 

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