The Front Page

Inside the $2.75 million gang rehab experiment

20 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A Mongrel Mob-run meth rehab programme ended up at the centre of a fierce political fight. After being funded by Jacinda Ardern’s government, th...

How much would you pay to sit in Auckland traffic?

19 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve spent any time on Auckland’s motorways, you’ll know the city’s traffic problem is no joke – and one of the big...

Can Peters' BNZ plan actually work, or is it just campaign theatre?

18 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

New Zealand First will campaign on buying back the BNZ bank and making KiwiSaver enrolment compulsory at birth.  Winston Peters’ appearance...

The hidden costs of AI: Labour, data, and the race to dominate

15 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Artificial intelligence is being sold to us as the future.   Faster, smarter, more efficient, maybe even world changing.  But...

Bridge or tunnel? Auckland’s second harbour crossing decision looms

14 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Auckland’s long-running second harbour crossing debate is back in the spotlight. It’s a project that politicians love to talk about but ha...

Should New Zealand raise the age of NZ Super?

13 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

On paper, New Zealand Super is one of the simplest parts of our welfare system.  Most people become eligible at 65, it’s not means tested, ...

Cruise ship hantavirus outbreak tests global health response post-Covid

12 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You may have heard there’s a new virus making headlines.  Three people have died and several others have fallen ill aft...

Is Winston Peters doing the heavy lifting for National?

11 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If an election were held today, the coalition Government would likely be returned to power and not by a narrow margin. A new NZ Herald–Motu Rese...

Stolen daughters - the policy that tore Chinese families apart

08 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Barbara Demick has spent her career telling the stories of people living under some of the world’s most repressive and dangerous regimes. From N...

What's keeping NZ youth up at night?

07 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A new Youthline ASB report is shining a light on the mounting pressures facing young Kiwis. The 2026 State of the Generation report includes Gen Alpha...

Salvation Army warns lack of housing driving ex-prisoner reoffending

06 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A new Salvation Army report is putting a spotlight on why an alarming number of ex-prisoners go on to reoffend. In New Zealand, more than 43% of peopl...

The oil shocks just keep coming - how much more can we take?

05 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

New Zealand businesses are running on fumes, with cash reserves dwindling amid surging fuel prices and KiwiSaver costs... all while the full shockwave...

Stagflation warning: Why a flat unemployment rate may still spell trouble ahead

04 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

New Zealand’s unemployment rate is expected to hold steady - at least on paper - when new data is released this week.  But beneat...

Barry Soper on what makes a good PM (and what doesn't)

01 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Barry Soper is a name and certainly a voice that’s recognisable across New Zealand. After decades in the Beehive, Soper put pen to paper outlini...

What NZ can learn from the Trump attack

30 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A man has been charged with attempting to assassinate US President Donald Trump after trying to storm the White House correspondents’ dinner. Th...

The rapid shift that could reshape New Zealand’s winter

29 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

El Niño is set to hit New Zealand this winter.  Global climate models show there’s a greater than 60% probability that thi...

Demographic time bomb: Report urges cross-party population strategy

28 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A new report suggests that New Zealand’s rapidly changing demographic make-up has reached a critical point.   Within decades, a quarte...

How Iran’s war and oil shock could hit inflation, interest rates and jobs

24 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Finance Minister is adamant that New Zealand’s economic recovery has been delayed, but not derailed, by the war in Iran.  Nic...

NZ house sales keep falling as first-home buyers drive demand

23 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Sales volumes have continued to decline across New Zealand’s housing market. It marks a third consecutive monthly fall and extends the subdued s...

The new age of car buying: EVs, hybrids and the end of old myths

22 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It’s safe to say our last episode on EVs amid the current fuel crisis sparked some lively debate. Our last guest’s take on unreliable EVs ...

Luxon survives confidence vote, but questions remain

21 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Prime Minister has initiated and survived a motion of confidence as National Party leader.  After about a three-hour cauc...

Government quietly moves to cut Treaty principles from some laws

20 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Government has quietly agreed to repeal several references to Treaty principles within laws.  The move – which wasn’t publicly an...

Are we buying the wrong cars in the fuel crisis EV boom?

17 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It seems the ongoing uncertainty of whether pumps will dry out has got people thinking greener. As at April 12, there were 5,137 EVs registered this y...

Is the Red Sea the world's next major trade chokepoint?

16 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Iranian military has threatened shipping in the Gulf, Red Sea, and the Gulf of Oman if the US naval blockade continues. The threats made by genera...

How illicit tobacco quietly grew to a quarter of all cigarettes sold here

15 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Illicit tobacco is quietly taking hold across New Zealand. A Retail NZ report warns the country could soon face the same violent black-market spiral s...

Why Trump’s Iran blockade could backfire at sea

14 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The US blockade of Iranian ports has begun. President Donald Trump is warning any ships that try to disrupt US efforts will be eliminated. Earlier, Ir...

Inside the push to fix Luxon’s media image

13 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It’s 208 days until Kiwis hit the polls and vote for the next Government. And despite campaigning not officially starting, the Prime Minister&rs...

The New Zealanders sitting in some of the world’s worst prisons

10 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

There are more than 70 Kiwis banged up abroad, according to new data. But, the true figure is likely higher, with many detainees choosing not to tell ...

Cyclone Vaianu: Why category downgrade could be misleading

09 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Cyclone Vaianu is currently tracking toward the top of the North Island with forecasters warning it could make landfall between Auckland and the Corom...

Did the US just prove military power doesn’t work anymore?

08 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump has backed down again on threats towards Iran. In a social media post, the President said he has agreed “to suspend the bombing and...

Is New Zealand backing a bully? Concerns over Peters’ visit to Trump’s US

07 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Iran has rejected a proposed ceasefire with the US and Israel.  It’s after an expletive-ridden post from President Donald Trump &ndash...

Savea's wake-up call to NZ rugby and the All Blacks

02 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been revealed that Ardie Savea’s future with the All Blacks hung in the balance. His push to quit was amid whispers of player discont...

How new financial year rules will hit your pay, benefits and household costs

01 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The financial year is coming to an end.  It means we’ll see a whole bunch of policies and adjustments from April 1...

Could working from home be the answer to rising fuel prices?

31 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With the word ‘crisis’ now comes talk about working from home. As oil prices rise and the cost of petrol surges towards $4 a litre, it&rsq...

'They’ve got a plan': Expert says US, Israel misread Iran’s strength

30 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Iran is warning against US ground invasion as regional leaders ramp up diplomatic efforts. It comes as the USS Tripoli – carrying 3,500 US servi...

The good, the bad and the ugly in Auckland’s city centre

27 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Look around Auckland, and you’ll see a spattering of planned, under-development, or moth-balled building projects. The city’s ever-changin...

New NCEA plan, tight deadline: What the overhaul leaves teachers still asking

26 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Government's confirmed it's going ahead with scrapping the current NCEA system. Cabinet's agreed to an overhaul of secondary school qualifications...

As fuel concerns grow, Act and NZ First rise while National slips

25 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It’s a trying time for the Government, with fuel prices and the Iran War affecting just about every Kiwi. It’s something the Opposition kn...

Fuel price shock: Who misses out under tax credit boost

24 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Every New Zealander at the moment is feeling the impact of the price of fuel.   It’s something Finance Minister Nicola ...

Could NZ be dragged into a war over the Strait of Hormuz?

23 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Iran has vowed to close the Strait of Hormuz indefinitely -- if the US follows through on President Donald Trump’s threats. It’s after Tru...

GDP is up in New Zealand, so why does the economy still feel flat?

20 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Yesterday, Stats NZ released New Zealand’s GDP performance for the last quarter of 2025, and the government tells ...

How ketamine has become the new party drug of choice for students

19 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A new study is shedding light on the changing landscape of New Zealand’s ‘party drug’ scene. The annual New Zealand Drug Trends Surv...

Private lives, public fallout: Where should we draw the line for politicians?

18 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Labour Leader Chris Hipkins has acknowledged he considered his future in politics, in the wake of his ex-wife's allegations.   She made a se...

How high could fuel prices go, and what help could be on the way?

17 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Inflation could hit 3.7% under Treasury’s ‘worst-case’ inflation scenario.  It’s while petrol prices have risen abou...

How pets are keeping victims trapped in violent homes

16 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A major barrier to escaping family violence, is the heartache of leaving your pet behind to get out.   Every day, pets are used as tool to c...

From carless days to EV push: The fuel crunch options on the table

13 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re old enough, then you’ll remember there was a time when every Kiwi household had to pick a weekday where they wouldn’t driv...

Air NZ is cutting flights. When should we start to worry?

12 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Air New Zealand is set to cut 1100 flights – affecting about 44,000 customers.  CEO Nikhil Ravishankar has cited “unpr...

How vulnerable is New Zealand to a global oil shock?

11 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A global oil giant is warning of a looming catastrophe unless the Strait of Hormuz reopens soon. The US and Israel war on Iran is wreaking havoc on gl...

Covid inquiry: Report slams cost of long lockdowns, urges future changes

10 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Covid-19 has been released. Deciding that the first phase of the inquiry was inadequate, the ...

Trade Me drops seller fees – now it has to win back users

09 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Trade Me is bidding farewell to some of its marketplace fees. From March 10, sellers won’t have to pay a 7.9% success fee when they sell things ...

National plunges to lowest poll as governing party in decades

06 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A new poll out today spells a storm brewing for National. The Taxpayers’ Union Curia poll has shown National drop nearly three-points to 28.4% -...

How Rennie’s people-first style could reshape the All Blacks

05 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Dave Rennie is the new coach of the All Blacks. The former Chiefs and Wallabies mentor will succeed Scott Razor Robertson, and take charge through unt...

Iran strikes: Is it time for New Zealand to take a stronger stance?

04 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The US and Israel are escalating attacks on Iran - which has launched counterattacks on neighbouring Gulf states. All the while, the push and pull on ...

Iran and the Strait of Hormuz: What rising oil prices mean for New Zealand

03 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Iran has cut off one of the world’s most strategically important choke points. About a fifth world’s total oil consumption passes through ...

How US-Israel assault on Iran could repeat 20 years of failed wars

02 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The US and Israel have launched a massive assault on Iran. Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the strikes will increase over the coming days. Donald Tru...

“Other things I know about” – Seymour suggests Air NZ issues beyond reported financial downturn

27 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The debate over asset sales has reared its head again, this time after a very grim result for our national carrier. Air New Zealand has reported an af...

Why are young women less likely to own the home they live in?

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

New figures show New Zealand women are significantly under-represented in property ownership.  More than half (53%) of Gen Z men and tw...

Is cash still king, or should New Zealand go cashless?

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Is cash really still King? For years, more stores are no longer accepting cash as payment and it’s easy to see why, with 94% of transactions in ...

What will it take for dog laws to change in wake of another fatal attack?

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

There are calls for urgent action – after yet another fatal dog attack. The death of a 62-year-old woman in Northland marks the fourth fatal dog...

Do move-on orders fix homelessness, or just push people out of sight?

23 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Move-on orders are being pitched as a way to “reclaim” town and city centres. The Government is proposing a law which would allow Police t...

Royal reckoning: Inside Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s public humiliation after arrest

20 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

UK police have arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of committing misconduct in public office. It comes after allegations the former princ...

Auckland's housing plan is changing again. What will happen over your fence now?

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A step forward for housing capacity in our largest city – or a step back on housing affordability? ...

How a Kiwi TV producer made a Hollywood escape amid fraud charges

18 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What does New Zealand and David Hasselhoff have in common? The answer, is TV producer Alex Breingan. He has been hit with a raft of Serious Fraud Offi...

National infrastructure plan: Too much new, not enough maintenance

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Fixing the leaks, not just buying bigger mops. That’s the theme of the National Infrastructure Plan released today. It looks at 17 sectors cover...

More concerts, Origin coming: What Eden Park’s big shift means for Auckland

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Eden Park’s gearing up for more gigs, more goals, and more growth. The number of concerts allowed each year at Auckland’s Eden Park stadiu...

High wind, high stakes: Black Foils back on home water after Perth crash

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A fleet of 13 F50 foiling catamarans will tear around the Waitematā Harbour this weekend in SailGP’s return to New Zealand....

Can NZ cash in on critical minerals and still stay wary of mining?

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

New Zealand’s been making some big trade moves on the world trade stage recently. One of them is a possible minerals deal with the United States...

How to stop rising power prices hitting your wallet this year

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Consumer NZ expects power prices to increase by about 5% this year.  It’s after households were already hit with a 12% increase to pow...

‘Flush and forget’: Is Moa Point a warning for other wastewater plants?

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Wellington’s Moa Point wastewater plant has flooded and shut down, dumping raw sewage into the south coast – this untreated discharge...

Could your home become uninsurable, unbankable and worthless?

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Insurers have begun their retreat as climate change bites. Back-to-back disasters in recent years have pushed insured loss into the billions and force...

‘A different vibe’: How Waitangi has changed amid election heat

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It’s no surprise the upcoming election is a hot topic at Waitangi. But, the axing of the Treaty Principles Bill has eased tensions this year. Al...

Why our unemployment rate is still 'pretty lousy'

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

New jobs data out today spells worry for New Zealand’s economy.  The unemployment rate was 5.4% in the December 2025 quarter &nda...

How new licence rules could reshape young Kiwis' driving culture

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It’s about to become cheaper, and easier, to get your driver’s license in New Zealand. Changes include scrapping the second practical test...

Epstein files likened to Watergate as global power links emerge

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's files have exploded back into the headlines with millions of newly released documents exposing elite networks and power...

NZ Post store cuts leave seniors at risk

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

NZ Post is removing services from 142 partner stores this year. It follows a long line of postal groups around the world scaling back as we enter a ne...

Why are kids are still going to school hungry in 2026

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As children across New Zealand head back to school, many will be arriving without the basics. 58 schools are starting 2026 on the waitlist for KidsCan...

From scandal to survival: The political life and legacy of Judith Collins

28 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

After 24 years, former National Party leader Judith Collins has called time on her career in politics for a new role as head of the law commission. Co...

Mount Maunganui landslide: Current risks, future inquiries and the ongoing heartache

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The recovery operation at the Mt Maunganui landslide continues with police warning it could take days or even weeks. Tauranga City Council has launche...

Should the taxpayer fund weight loss medications?

25 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From celery-juice cleanses to infomercial ab-busting gadgets, society has always been on a diet. It’s a global, multi-billion-dollar powerhouse ...

What stubborn inflation could mean for your mortgage this year

23 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Reserve Bank has revealed that the annual inflation rate for 2025 was 3.1%. It puts the inflation rate outside the bank’s target band of 1 t...

How a Christchurch Mum's cancer con unravelled

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A Christchurch woman told friends she was dying of cancer. They grieved and gave thousands to help her. But then, the unthinkable happened. It was all...

What Australia's new hate laws mean for NZ's free speech debate

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Australia’s Parliament has been called back two weeks early to push through new gun and hate speech legislation in the wake of the Bondi Attack....

Heavy rain, thunderstorms and flooding: Where is summer?

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It’s all rain and no shine this week across the country. Warm, tropical air sitting north of New Zealand has brought with it thunderstorms and r...

How a fight over Greenland could put Pacific nations in the firing line

19 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

European leaders are baffled, as Trump digs his heels in over Greenland. The US President has threatened to impose tariffs on eight allies who remain ...

Why the RMA is being scrapped (again) and what it means for your backyard

16 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Last year ended with a promise of the largest economic reform in a generation. It's when the Government unveiled its radical overhaul of resource mana...

What next for the All Blacks after Scott Robertson cut?

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

All Blacks head coach Scott 'Razor' Robertson is out of the role just two years into his four-year contract. After reports of widespread frustration f...

Talent and takeovers: Media giants face year of sales, mergers and battles

14 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From takeovers and sales to mergers and disputes, 2026 is lining up to be quite the year for the media world. We might just start seeing some of the b...

The one word shaping this year's political battle for the Beehive

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

New Zealand politics kicks off this year under the shadow of a looming general election. From a continued cost of living crisis and economic recovery ...

Manage My Health: What we know about hacker and ransom demand

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A major online security breach has raised questions about how safe our private information is online. Manage My Health’s health portal systems w...

Reissue: Mark Mitchell on police trust, protests, and protecting minorities

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Mitchell has heralded the government’s promise to be tough on crime. He’s been incredibly clear from the get-go that his primary goal...

Reissue: David Seymour talks Opposition, regulation and backlash as he becomes Deputy Prime Minister

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Act Party leader David Seymour will become New Zealand’s deputy prime minister tomorrow, taking over from Winston Peters. He will be the 19th pe...

Reissue: Chris Hipkins on Labour's policies, coalition attacks, MMP and Covid regrets

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From entering Parliament in 2008 – to leading the country in 2023 – Chris Hipkins is no stranger to the spotlight. During Covid’s be...

Reissue: ‘It won’t happen in my lifetime’: Shane Jones on renewable energy goal

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A self-described “Prince of the Provinces” - there are few politicians like Shane Jones. He’s Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, Regi...

Reissue: Chlöe Swarbrick on the Green's economic plans and why NZ should consider a tax on the ultra-rich

04 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Should the ultra-wealthy pay more tax? It’s a debate that’s continued for decades, even centuries. From Ancient Athens to present day, the...

Reissue: “We know the family, we know the cop”: Mayor speaks of close-knit Marokopa community

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the early hours of Monday morning, a man police were hunting for nearly four years was shot and killed in a stand-off on a rural Waikato road. That...

Reissue: Mother calls for tougher boy racers laws, 12 years after daughter's death in street race

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It was February 19, 2013. Maree Schafer was excited to start a hairdressing course at the Eastern Institute of Technology the next day. That night, th...

Reissue: Five years missing: Eloi Rolland’s family holds onto hope for answers

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

French exchange student, Eloi Rolland, was last seen five years ago, today. The then-18-year-old's disappearance has baffled authorities ever since......

Reissue: Costco, then Ikea: What could be the next megastore and why do we care?

26 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

New Zealanders will finally get to experience the labyrinth that is an IKEA store from December 4. The new Sylvia Park site in Auckland is one of the ...

Reissue: From villain to icon: Why the Grinch is everywhere this Christmas

25 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The mistlestoe's hung, the bells are a'ringing  And all through the malls Mariah Carey is singing  It's the same old story, told year after ...

Reissue: Marsden Point's potential to be 'world-leading' in sustainable aviation fuels

24 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Marsden Point operated as New Zealand’s only oil refinery for nearly 60 years. At its peak in the 80s, it employed around 1700 people – wh...