The Front Page
Episodes
What's behind the latest Cook Strait ferry drama?
08 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ferry services across the Cook Strait are one of Aotearoa’s most vital transport links. They’re also one of the most prone to failure. Recent ...
How we fail to encourage women to reach their potential
07 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Even at the ground level, women can struggle to break into the work force or restart their careers after taking some time off. So why do things con...
Mortgage shock: Homeowners & renters to pay hundreds more
06 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Half of mortgage holders will take a hit of hundreds of dollars when they need to refix their interest rates within the next 12 months. This will hea...
Slash and crash - how forestry enraged so many following wild weather
05 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Forestry waste plowing through homes, destroying farmland and piling up on east coast beaches during recent storms has angered the public. The Gove...
How did veteran chairman Rob Campbell shoot himself in the foot?
02 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A series of posts have come back to bite the former Te Whatu Ora and Environmental Protection Authority chairman Rob Campbell. On LinkedIn, he attacke...
Why Auckland's draft budget is already controversial
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The draft budget for Aotearoa’s super city is already whipping up worries. The proposal suggests selling the council’s shares in Auckland Intern...
How TikTok is contributing to spiralling mental health
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
WARNING: This episode features content dealing with self-harm, suicide, and related mental health topics. Scroll through TikTok and you’re likely t...
How much more wild, rainy weather will we get?
27 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today marks the last day of summer, but North Islanders can be forgiven for not noticing. Relentless downpours have rendered this summer one the wet...
The census is back - here's why it's incredibly important
26 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The arduous task of counting all the people who live here is fast approaching. March 7th is Census Day – meaning that each of us will have to ...
War in Ukraine - one year on is there any hope in sight?
23 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this day in 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, escalating their ongoing conflict in a move that sent shockwaves around the world. 12 months on, the w...
Is there an easy fix for our broken immigration system?
22 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Massive worker shortages across numerous industries have led to calls for more immigration, on other side of the debate there are concerns about infra...
What is really behind Auckland's endless traffic woes?
21 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Every year, in the lead-up to March, the traffic grinds to halt as motorways in Auckland back up with bumper-to-bumper cars. The media has dubbed t...
Cyclone Gabrielle: East Coast attempts to recover after deadly weather
20 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Cyclone Gabrielle has left a trail of destruction across the North Island, but the East Coast has been hit particularly hard. Thousands of people ...
After devastating weather, James Shaw wants us to get serious about climate change
19 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The combination of the Auckland floods and the impact of cyclone Gabrielle served as forceful reminder that climate change is here. Lives have been ...
The tragic cost of the destructive earthquake in Turkey and Syria
16 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Aotearoa may be cleaning up from our natural disaster, but we’re not the only country struggling right now. More than a week after a devastating ...
How can our cities change to handle extreme weather?
15 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The intense weather over the last month has caused devastation across the North Island. But how much of this damage was avoidable? From entire c...
The lasting impact Cyclone Gabrielle will have on New Zealand
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Cyclone Gabrielle has started to move away from Aotearoa, but we are likely going to feel her impact for months to come. From Northland down to Auck...
Cyclone Gabrielle: How this storm formed and why it is so unusual
13 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Cyclone Gabrielle was predicted to be the biggest storm of the century – and it certainly has made its mark. Strong winds have already knocked o...
'Cliff dwellers': After storm surges, how safe is it living on the edge?
12 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The appeal of having a vista overlooking the city can come at cost. Dramatic photographs of a cliff slide under a Stanley Point home captured the ful...
Cyclone Gabrielle approaches: Everything you need to know
10 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The upper North Island is due to be hit by Cyclone Gabrielle this weekend, only weeks after horrendous weather caused widespread damage last month. ...
Why does housing remain such a problem in New Zealand?
09 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
From Kaitaia to Bluff, the one thing all New Zealanders need is a place to call home. But that’s not such a sure bet these days. Despite years of ...
Will we do anything about the looming superannuation crisis?
08 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New Zealanders have been able to rely on the security of a state pension for decades. In the 1970s, this scheme kicked in from the age of 60 before st...
The business of health - are we getting value for money?
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Healthcare has always been one of the battleground issues in New Zealand politics. MPs love to sling mud over what the other party has or hasn’t don...
Does New Zealand need a capital gains tax?
06 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For years a capital gains tax has been a taboo political subject, avoided by politicians afraid to lose votes. Tax experts have stressed time and a...
What is co-governance and why is it dividing and confusing politicians?
05 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The issue of co-governance has become a lightning rod over the last 12 months. New Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has acknowledged a backlash agains...
How the 2023 election is shaping up to be the tightest race in years
02 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has had a chaotic start to his time in office, with the flooding in Auckland adding to the growing list of woes the G...
After the storm - Chloë Swarbrick & Josephine Bartley on Auckland's flood response
01 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The damage inflicted upon Auckland during a week of record-breaking weather is expected to cost over one billion dollars to repair. From red sticke...
Pride and prejudice - the challenges facing the rainbow community in 2023
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Aotearoa’s biggest Pride Festival kicks off today. Auckland Pride runs for the next four weeks as a city-wide celebration of the rainbow community...
Auckland floods - the stats, the damage and the communications disaster
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
An unprecedented weather event has completely saturated the upper North Island over the last few days. Record-breaking amounts of rain have submerge...
What can be done about abuse directed at female politicians?
30 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New Zealand is facing up to the abuse and misogyny faced by politicians. In the wake of Jacinda Ardern’s shock resignation as Prime Minister in J...
The year of the world cups - a look at 2023's major sports events
29 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New Zealand is set for a blockbuster year of sport, with four world cups being held. The big one will no doubt be the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which...
What legacy does Jacinda Ardern leave behind - and how will history remember her?
26 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After five and a half years, the Jacinda Ardern premiership has come to an end. Following her shock resignation, Ardern has officially vacated the ...
Why Paul Henry is speaking out now about Scott Watson's case
25 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For the last 25 years, the disappearances of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope has been a constant source of speculation and controversy. The two disappeare...
After string of crashes and near-misses, do helicopters need more regulations?
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Helicopter safety has been a simmering debate in New Zealand for years. It’s one that’s returned to the spotlight after several accidents and ...
Unpacking the debate around moving Auckland's port
23 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Wayne Brown has long been an advocate for moving the Ports of Auckland up to Northland. Now that he is Auckland’s mayor, it’s a goal that Brown...
What to expect from new Prime Minister Chris Hipkins
22 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Labour Party has a new leader, and the country a new Prime Minister. Chris Hipkins, best known for serving as the Covid-19 Response Minister, is...
Jacinda Ardern resigns as Prime Minister - what happens next?
19 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In a shock announcement Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said that she will be stepping down on February 7th. This means she will not be standing ...
Can New Zealand handle the recession we know is coming?
18 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The economy is widely anticipated to be 2023’s election-defining issue. With the country forecast to enter a recessionary period, a cost of livin...
From key policies to a tight election - looking at the political year ahead
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After a few weeks off for their summer break, our politicians will soon be returning to Wellington to gear up for what is expected to be a close elect...
Will Prince Harry's memoir permanently damage the British monarchy?
16 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The news cycle this year has so far been dominated by one man and his long-running family feud. Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has finally relea...
A stormy start to 2023 - what's caused our wet summer?
15 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After a rough 2022, we all could have used a nice summer break to help us recharge for the year ahead. But the weather had other ideas. A constant...
How Andrew Barnes took the four-day work week worldwide
12 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, The Front Page is showcasing several high-profile New Zealanders who stood out in their field in 2022. The business community has been roc...
How Make It 16 triumphed at the Supreme Court
11 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, The Front Page is showcasing several high-profile New Zealanders who stood out in their field in 2022. Aotearoa’s voting age could be lo...
How Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and Nico Porteous made Olympic history
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, The Front Page is showcasing several high-profile New Zealanders who stood out in their field in 2022. Aotearoa saw multiple sporting highl...
How Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau took her city by storm
09 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In politics, the end of 2022 was dominated by a swing to the right, with Labour stumbling down the polls, and the local elections saw many councils an...
How Patrick Gower learned to embrace being an entertainer
08 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, The Front Page is showcasing several high-profile New Zealanders who stood out in their field in 2022. For years, journalists and newsread...
Why Princess Diana's tragic death still echoes today
05 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Front Page is revisiting some of the major stories we covered in 2022. August marked 25 years since Diana, Princess of Wales died in a car crash...
What can be done to improve our kids' falling literacy?
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Front Page is revisiting some of the major stories covered in 2022. At the start of this century, New Zealand was considered one of the most lite...
The case for Aotearoa becoming New Zealand's official name
01 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Front Page is revisiting some of the major stories covered in 2022. In June, Te Pāti Māori launched a petition to officially rename New Zeala...
The polls have him on top - but does Chris Luxon have what it takes to be PM?
29 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Front Page is revisiting some of the major stories of 2022. After a tumultuous period of upheaval, leadership coups and scandals, the National P...
Does Labour have enough stardust to nab a third term?
27 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Over the next few weeks, we will be revisiting some of the major stories covered in 2022. Labour has celebrated five years in government, but recent p...
Why Chlöe Swarbrick took on the alcohol lobbyists
25 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Over the next few weeks, we're revisiting some of the major stories covered in 2022. Aotearoa has had a bit of a reckoning with its drinking culture...
What a documentary on Alexei Navalny can teach us about Putin's warmongering
22 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Over the next few weeks, The Front Page is revisiting some of the major stories we covered in 2022. No story has been bigger this year than Russia’s...
How a Country Calendar episode sparked a national debate
20 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Over the next few weeks, The Front Page is revisiting some of the major stories we covered in 2022. Over the last year, the divide between rural an...
Why is New Zealand's shocking road toll getting worse?
18 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Over the next few weeks, The Front Page is revisiting some of the major stories we covered in 2022. Today, we look at the road toll, which has aga...
2022 in review - from economic turmoil to the death of a monarch
15 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is the last new episode of The Front Page for 2022 – and what a year it has been. Since the podcast launched in March, we have seen a range o...
Kiwi journalist on experiencing Ukraine's year from hell firsthand
14 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As the year comes to an end, there’s no sign yet of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine reaching a conclusion any time soon. The Ukrainian people rema...
Covid is spiking again - will it ruin our summer holidays?
13 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Covid-19 has continued to be a dark shadow hanging heavy over everything that has happened in 2022 - and it seems that this disease is not yet done wi...
Year in Politics - how the parties performed, and what's in store for 2023
12 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The political year is coming to an end, and what a year it has been. Rogue MPs, shock resignations, and legislative controversies have dominated he...
Kiwis are being scammed at record levels - what can you do if you fall victim?
11 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Sophisticated online scams are costing New Zealanders millions of dollars every year, and the problem is only becoming worse. Scammers operate in tea...
New film marks Whakaari/White Island disaster, three years on
08 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today marks three years since the Whakaari/White Island disaster, which saw 22 people lose their lives after being caught up in an eruption on the isl...
Will Harry and Meghan's controversial show implode 'The Firm'?
07 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A new Netflix series is set to shake the Royal Family once again. Harry and Meghan will follow the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and document their ne...
Will TVNZ-RNZ merger actually happen - and is it fit for purpose?
06 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Government’s long mooted merger of TVNZ and RNZ into a new state broadcaster is coming closer to fruition. The new entity is only three mont...
What's behind the Government's Three Waters u-turn?
05 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Three Waters has again made headlines for all the wrong reasons. This time the Government has had to back down on an entrenchment clause that would ha...
Rebuilding Better - How can we unite our divided society?
04 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The NZ Herald has kicked off the next stage in its project, The New New Zealand – Rebuilding Better. This time, as chosen by readers, the focus is o...
Who is New Zealand's first person to be convicted of sabotage?
01 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Aotearoa has its first convicted saboteur. 62-year-old Graham Philip was sentenced to just over three years in jail for an attack on the National Gr...
It's the holiday season - are we financially ready for it?
30 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's December, which means the festive shopping season has just officially kicked off. Many people may want to treat themselves and their loved ones, ...
Who is Simon Henry? An insight into the millionaire behind 'Eurasian fluff' drama
29 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Six months ago, few people in New Zealand had a clue who Simon Henry was. He was just an anonymous millionaire running his successful business. But th...
Employment Relations Authority: What is it and how does it work?
28 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Almost every week another story emerges about an employer behaving badly and having to make a significant payout to an employee. Most of the stori...
Theresa Gattung on why we fail to pay women as much as men
27 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s been four decades since the Equal Pay Act was first released, but women still do not earn as much as men. The average gap is so significant th...
Why New Zealand struggles with big infrastructure projects
24 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The endless discussion about a second Auckland Harbour Crossing is back. The Government is consulting Aucklanders on if they want a bridge or tunne...
Chris Hipkins talks ram raids, gangs and crime in NZ
23 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ram raids, gang wars, random attacks, school lockdowns, domestic violence – the news cycle has been endless, and it has rarely painted Government cr...
From Twitter to FTX - what's going on with big tech and their big egos?
22 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The last few weeks have not been good to the superstars of the tech industry. Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has dominated headlines for week...
Covid in NZ - will the next Omicron wave knock us over?
21 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Covid is on the rise in New Zealand once again. Reports around the country point to an uptick of cases, sparking concern that we could be facing yet a...
Chris Luxon nears a year as National's leader - how has he performed?
20 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s been nearly one year since Christopher Luxon took over the reins at the National Party. Since Luxon took over, the party has become more stable...
The state of Russia-Ukraine conflict after Poland missile strike
17 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As Europe heads into the cold winter months, there still no indication of the war between Russia and Ukraine coming to an end. The Ukrainian army has ...
Water safety - what's behind New Zealand's high drowning death toll?
16 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Drownings are making headlines, again. It’s an ominous warning for our summer months, the time when New Zealanders head to the waves to seek relief ...
After Black Ferns victory, what's next for women's sport in Aotearoa?
15 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Black Ferns have solidified their place as Aotearoa’s most successful national sports team, claiming a record sixth World Cup title. Despite the...
Qatar World Cup - why is the event causing such controversy?
14 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The 2022 Men's Football World Cup in Qatar has been drenched in scandal from the moment it was announced. That controversy has only grown as the sma...
What it's like to live with bipolar: 'I didn't sleep for six nights'
13 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The way we talk about mental health in Aotearoa is changing for the better. But we often don’t realise that those we deal with every day, even some ...
US mid-terms: What it means for Biden, Trump and the future of democracy
11 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Americans have headed to the polls to make their voices heard in their mid-term elections. Most anticipated a red wave to sweep over the nation, with ...
Who's who in the Hamilton West by-election?
10 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The residents of Hamilton West will soon be heading to the polls. A by-election was sparked last month after Dr Gaurav Sharma resigned from Parliame...
Bank profits are rising - what's the cause and will Government act?
09 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
New Zealand’s major banks have posted billions of dollars in profits. This has led to criticism from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who said it was ...
How did Rotorua become the centre of an emergency housing crisis?
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Frustrations are growing in Rotorua about the state of emergency housing. On the city’s famous motel strip, Fenton Street, the tourists have been...
How The Crown and true crime are blurring the lines between fact and fiction
07 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Netflix’s royal family drama The Crown returns this week, and is facing more controversy than ever. The series has been attacked by the British pres...
Why is Three Waters so divisive and why is Labour sticking with it?
06 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There has been no political issue in New Zealand more divisive in recent months than Three Waters. The Government’s plan to centralise water managem...
Rebuilding Better - what does New Zealand need to do to prepare for the future?
03 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
New Zealand has seen a lot of upheaval in recent years, from Covid-19 to economic and social turmoil. The silver lining to the struggles is we now hav...
Callaghan Innovation, Manaaki and the controversy dividing the business community
02 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
New Zealand LinkedIn has blown up with accusations of smear campaigns, bullying and corporate villains. This string of accusations has its genesis in ...
Are Xi Jinping's power moves in China a warning to the West?
01 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
China’s President Xi Jinping was recently voted in for an unprecedented third term. He has also strengthened his grip on the Communist Party, pu...
Free speech and the difficulties Elon Musk and Government face regulating it
31 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After months of back and forth, Elon Musk is officially the new owner of social media giant Twitter. The world’s richest man has sought to reassur...
The inside story of how close the All Blacks came to a new coach
30 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The last few months have been a tumultuous period for the All Blacks. A string of poor results had fans baying for the blood of coach Ian Foster, w...
Health system hit by growing wait times - is there an easy fix?
27 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
New Zealand’s health system is facing yet another crisis. Figures show that some people are waiting over six hours for emergency treatment at hosp...
Why is New Zealand reluctant to address family and domestic violence epidemic?
26 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s no secret that the media loves to focus on crime, with robberies and violence grabbing easy headlines across the nation. But there’s a bigger...
Why 'incels' have sparked concern from NZ's intelligence agency
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Concerns have been raised about so called ‘involuntary celibates’. Incels, as they are better known, aren’t choosing to abstain of their own vol...
Can any minor parties break into Parliament in 2023?
24 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Winston Peters has made it clear he is determined to return New Zealand First to Parliament in 2023. Two years after departing as their coalition pa...
How can you get the most out of your employer?
23 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The economy has gone through a rough time over the last few years, but one of the positives is that employees have been able to take control. Figure...
Chaos in UK as Liz Truss resigns after 45 days as PM - what happens now?
21 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Forty-five days is a long time in politics, but probably not long enough if you are trying to lead a country. But that’s how long Liz Truss lasted...
Looking at the state of the Labour Party after five years in power
20 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On October 19th 2017, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters threw support behind the New Zealand Labour Party, making Jacinda Ardern our 40th Prime ...
How a Shakespeare funding decision made global headlines
19 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
New Zealand has cancelled William Shakespeare. At least, that’s what you’d believe if you read some of the headlines this week. The latest ro...
Global recession predicted for 2023 - how hard will economic storm affect you?
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The economic mood around the world is turning gloomier. Economists and bankers have conceded that the fight against inflation is going to take long...