The Front Page
Episodes
Auckland Anniversary floods: What council and emergency services got wrong
25 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 i...
Red Sea conflict: Who are the Houthis and why is NZ sending personnel to Yemen?
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 Se...
The economic issues set to impact your wallet this year
23 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Why Māori are not onboard with proposed Treaty principles bill
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 back...
What does 2024 have in store for the Government?
21 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 h...
Wellington's water woes: How the issue turned into a crisis for the capital
18 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Just when you thought Wellington’s water woes couldn’t get any worse, they have. The city is facing severe water shortages with warnings reside...
The apartment, hotel and high-rise projects coming to Auckland
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The skylines of our cities are starting to change. Slowly but surely, new high-rise housing developments are cropping up all over Auckland. From bui...
Golriz Ghahraman resigns: What led to the Green MP leaving politics?
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Auckland Light Rail is dead - so what are National's infrastructure priorities?
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Auckland Light Rail is finally dead. The National-led Government has killed off the scheme first proposed by Labour on the 2017 campaign trail. Mill...
Summer of sharks: Why has NZ seen so many near our shores this season?
14 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shark sightings have dominated Kiwi headlines this summer, with Surf Life Saving New Zealand recording several dozen reports over the holiday period. ...
Why NZ keeps seeing more and more record drug busts
11 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 podc...
NZ Herald presents: A Moment in Crime - The Patron
10 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Making the Grade: How can we fix the state of NZ's education?
09 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 yea...
NZ Herald presents: Chasing Ghosts - Murder at the Racecourse Hotel
08 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 Heral...
Family Court: What's gone wrong with a key part of our legal system?
07 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
While we’re on our summer break, The Front Page is taking a look back at some of the biggest news stories and top rated episodes from the podcast th...
NZ Herald presents: The Little Things
04 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
The storied history of the Waiwera Thermal Resort's descent into ruin
03 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
While we’re on our summer break, The Front Page is taking a look back at some of the biggest news stories and top rated episodes from the podcast th...
NZ Herald presents: Chasing Ghosts - Below the Surface
02 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
While The Front Page is taking its summer break, we will be shining a spotlight on some of the biggest podcasts and news events from the New Zealand H...
Nation of Debt: How much does New Zealand really owe?
01 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
While we’re on our summer break, we’re taking a look back at some of the biggest news stories and top rated episodes from the podcast this year. ...
NZ Herald presents: Chewing the Facts
31 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Why Paul Henry waited 25 years to weigh in on the Scott Watson case
28 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While we’re on our summer break, The Front Page is taking a look back at some of the biggest news stories and top-rated episodes from the podcast th...
NZ Herald Presents: No Such Thing as Normal
27 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While The Front Page is taking its summer break, we will be shining a spotlight on some of the biggest podcasts and news events from the New Zealand H...
Today FM: Inside the chaos of the station's final hours
26 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While we’re on our summer break, we’re taking a look back at some of the biggest news stories and top rated episodes from the podcast this year. ...
NZ Herald Presents: Tangiwai - A Forgotten History
25 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While The Front Page is taking its summer break, we will be shining a spotlight on some of the biggest podcasts and news events from the New Zealand H...
NZ Herald presents: The Māori in Me
24 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While The Front Page is taking its summer break, we will be shining a spotlight on some of the biggest podcasts and news events from the New Zealand H...
Crime in NZ - the cases that shocked us in 2023, and what the stats say about them
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Despite headline-grabbing ram raids becoming less common, crime was clearly still on many New Zealander's minds and a key part of many political parti...
Floods and cyclones - the extreme weather that came to define the year
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
2023 was a year dominated by extreme weather. In late January, some heavy rain in Auckland quickly turned into a city-wide disaster that caught ev...
Jacinda Ardern's resignation: Barry Soper, Audrey Young weigh in on her legacy
19 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of the year’s biggest shocks came only a few weeks into the new year. Back in January, Jacinda Ardern stunned the world when she used her first ...
Wars, coups and quakes - what happened in world news this year?
18 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What a year. In 2023 there seemed to be no end to turmoil and conflict around the world. Wars, coups and disasters – natural or otherwise sprang u...
Royals revisited: How 'Spare' and the coronation shaped the monarchy this year
17 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The early weeks of 2023 were dominated by an ugly family feud on a global scale. Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, gave an unprecedented glimpse at ...
2023 in review: A year of cyclones, elections, AI - and political comebacks
14 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Where to begin with 2023? The year started in a big way, with the resignation of Jacinda Ardern and two once-in-a-century weather events in a row....
Weather, traffic and live events - What summer has in store for NZ
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
2023 has been quite a year, and many of us are ready and waiting for our summer break to begin. With music festivals and other entertainment on of...
Trans-Tasman migration: What's drawing Kiwis to Australia?
12 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of the biggest talking points of 2023 has been migration – not just who is coming to New Zealand, but how many of us are leaving the country. ...
How the future of the Gaza, Ukraine conflicts could be decided by US politicians
11 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For the last two months, the world has been watching as the bloodshed in the Gaza Strip continues with no end in sight. Over 18,000 Palestinians hav...
Is the National-led Government ready for three years of Māori-led protests?
10 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The new Government is only a week in but there have already been some fiery exchanges. National’s Christopher Luxon and Labour’s Chris Hipkins ...
What are the foreign policy issues facing Winston Peters as Minister?
07 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New Zealand has a new Government – and this means a new Minister for Foreign Affairs. Winston Peters will take over from Nanaia Mahuta in a role tha...
Could unlimited leave be the way of the future?
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The thought of a job with unlimited leave might seem splendid. You could ostensibly take weeks off whenever you feel like it and have a work-life bal...
Royal racism row: Will latest allegations further damage the monarchy?
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the two years since Harry and Meghan sat down with Oprah, one question has hung over the Royal Family. Just who in the family raised concerns abo...
Heart health: Why are cardiac patients struggling to get the right treatment?
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us have had the unfortunate experience of witnessing the delays in New Zealand’s health system first hand. For some, that may simply mea...
Do Tory Whanau's problems warrant a resignation - or a wider debate?
03 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has admitted to having a drinking problem. This comes after two incidents in which she has been seen visibly intoxicat...
Will the new Government's policies help or hurt the economy?
30 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Reserve Bank has kept the Official Cash Rate at 5.5 per cent – and has stressed that our fight against inflation is not yet done. This comes...
NZ now has a Minister for Space - what potential does our aerospace industry have?
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Space – The Final Frontier. But for the new government, it’s being seen as an area ripe for expansion. Judith Collins has been appointed as New ...
How education will change under the new government
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Education was a major battleground this election. Evidence showed decades of decline in the quality of the education system, with literacy and num...
The new Government has been sworn in - what are their top priorities?
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It has been over six weeks since Election Day, but finally, Christopher Luxon has been sworn in as Prime Minister. Weeks of negotiations have delivere...
Four World Cups, no wins - did NZ sport lose its edge in 2023?
26 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A massive year of four world cups has left Aotearoa empty-handed. Kiwi teams fell short in rugby, cricket, football and netball, leaving some question...
On the Campaign: Inside the National-Act-NZ First deal, the new Cabinet and policy priorities
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After 40 days, New Zealand has a new government. National, Act and NZ First have signed their agreements to form the country's first-ever three-party ...
Future of music: How the collapse of coverage is limiting Aotearoa
23 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Musicians are facing a deathly silence. With the gutting of the magazine industry now well-bedded in, many of the specialised titles that once reli...
State of Threat - Is our national security enough of a priority?
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The last time tensions were this high was during the Cold War. That’s the staggering premise of State of Threat, a new book published by Massey...
$8 billion a year: How can we stop buying goods linked to modern slavery?
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s never been easier to find a good deal online. But when you’re Christmas shopping this year, some deals might seem too good to be true. But th...
Will Wayne's Brown's congestion charges save your commute or break Auckland?
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anyone who has faced a morning commute on our largest city’s roads knows that Auckland has a truly painful traffic problem. Mayor Wayne Brown has os...
AI revolution: Is a universal basic income the answer to job losses?
19 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Artificial intelligence is the buzzphrase of 2023. The building blocks for this technology have long been in the works, but we have now reached the ...
Will the ever-rising cost of rents push Kiwis overseas?
16 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rental prices in have skyrocketed over the last year. These high rental prices are giving young Kiwis yet another incentive to take their skills elsew...
Anarchy in the UK: How David Cameron's surprise comeback shocked the world
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Westminster is echoing with accusations of betrayal. The source of this indignation is former UK home secretary Suella Braverman. Braverman has been...
Did the actors' strike stop bots from becoming Hollywood stars?
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hollywood is moving again. When the writers' strike ended after 148 days there was a hope that the actors’ union and studio representatives would be...
What next for Māori and Pasifika post-election?
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The finer details of the next Government are still being decided around the negotiating table. But two things are clear at this stage. We will have an...
160 years of NZ Herald: Birthday messages from Key, Hipkins and more
12 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today is officially the 160th anniversary of the New Zealand Herald. Listen in to hear a bevy of birthday well-wishers including Chris Hipkins, John ...
Air travel: What does the future hold for a changing but troubled industry
09 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Expensive flights, grounded planes, and chaos at airports. The return of travel and tourism has not gone as smoothly as we might have hoped. But amid ...
Is video refereeing improving calls or killing the fun in sport?
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Match officials are battling to stay out of the headlines these days. Whether it’s rugby or football, most games are followed by furious debate – ...
Why Siouxsie Wiles' legal case against Auckland Uni could make history
07 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of the country’s most recognisable scientists has taken her employer to court. Microbiologist Dr Siouxsie Wiles alleges the University of Auckla...
Teenage hacker on how he hacked UN, and improving your cybersecurity
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A new study shows that 132,000 small businesses across Aotearoa have been hit by cybersecurity issues. Of those, 29% of bosses claim they have suff...
Are we nearing a media meltdown?
05 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The media sector has been rocked by some tough news this year. We’ve seen the closure of Today FM, the canning of The Project, restructuring at majo...
On The Campaign: What do the final votes mean for the new government?
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After three weeks, the final vote count is in, and while some parties have lost seats, others are enjoying their largest caucuses ever. So who's on to...
NZ-Armenians explain the pain behind the invasion of Artsakh
02 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Artsakh is a ghost town. The disputed territory, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh, was once home to around 120,000 ethnic Armenians. Artsakh is official...
The struggles facing the KiwiSaver market as it approaches $100 billion
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In 16 years, the value of KiwiSaver has hit a staggering $96.2 billion dollars. While that sizeable nest egg is good news for savers longer term, rece...
What does Winston Peters want and will Christopher Luxon give in to him?
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After a three-year absence from the halls of power, NZ First leader Winston Peters is set to make a grand return. As the country awaits the final vote...
What threat do cyclones and strong winds pose over the coming months?
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tropical cyclone. Hurricane. Typhoon. They go by many names, but these storms can have a devastating impact when they hit. Instead of enjoying sunny...
What does the future hold for the All Blacks after the Rugby World Cup?
29 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The All Blacks’ comeback story has reached its end. The team have missed out on their chance to make history at the Rugby World Cup, falling short ...
The Great NZ Road Trip: What's the mood of the nation post-election?
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s been a rough three years for Kiwis from the south to the north. But as we gear up for the summer, NZ Herald editor at large Shayne Currie is s...
Property Insider on the changes and challenges coming to the sector
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Property is the biggest investment most of us will make in our lives – and it’s often the biggest expense we face on a monthly basis. With a chang...
The worsening state of the Israel-Hamas war
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Since a brutal attack on an Israeli music festival on October 7th, relentless conflict has raged across Gaza. Thousands have already lost their lives...
Why is our homegrown beer and wine industry struggling?
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Aotearoa loves to have a drink, but that doesn’t mean all is well in the business of booze. We’ve seen major craft brewers and wine companies batt...
How will Christopher Luxon and David Seymour run New Zealand?
22 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With the election over and coalition talks in the air, it’s worth taking the time to look back at what two of the key players had to say about party...
Gangs and politicians: Will new government fix the problem - or make things worse?
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The incoming Government has promised to come down hard on gangs. This comes after several years of increased illegal activity, driven by the arriv...
Does National have any hope of fixing the cost of living?
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
During the election campaign, the National Party vowed it would tackle the cost of living crisis. Well, having won the election, they now have to deli...
On The Campaign: How important are the special votes?
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
October 18th: In this final episode of On the Campaign for the moment, we hear from NZ Herald head of data Chris Knox about why the special votes are ...
How does Labour come back from massive defeat?
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The six years of the sixth Labour government have come to a close. Only three years after Jacinda Ardern led her party to a historic landslide, Chris ...
What will a National - Act - NZ First coalition look like?
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While special votes are still to be counted, and a by-election needs to be held, it looks like National and Act are set to form the next government. ...
On The Campaign: The campaign is over - but when will the new government be sworn in?
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
October 16th: The campaign is over and the coalition negotiations have begun. NZ Herald deputy political editor Thomas Coughlan joins to discuss what ...
When healthcare goes wrong: What you can do when medical staff make mistakes
15 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Doctors failing to catch blood clots. Cancer being missed. Medicine given to patients who are allergic to it. Surgical equipment left inside patients....
Election 2023 results: Inside National's blue wave and Labour's wipeout
14 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In a special crossover episode, the hosts of On The Campaign and The Front Page discuss the results of Election 2023. As the polls predicted poll nigh...
On The Campaign: Which party, politician and policy has performed the best?
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
October 13: With only a day of voting left, and hours left of the actual campaign, for this last episode before Election Day, Hamish talks to NZ Heral...
Why politicians need to be careful about adding to a rise in disinformation
12 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tomorrow, after nearly two months of campaigning, and countless press conferences, policy announcements and interviews, New Zealand will choose the ne...
On The Campaign: The penultimate day of campaigning - how close is the race?
12 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
October 12: There is a little over 48 hours to go until polling booths close, and the parties are still out in force as advanced voting suggests a hug...
Rachel Smalley on Pharmac, emails, and if anyone can fix our drug-buying agency
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For the past few years, former broadcaster and journalist Rachel Smalley has been advocating for change in how our country funds medicine. Currently...
On The Campaign: The Auckland electorates seeing National and Act go head to head
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
October 11: Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon have faced the Herald's PM Job Interview to test their skills for the country's top job, as they conti...
How parties plan to deal with weather bombs and infrastructure troubles
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Aotearoa is still picking up the pieces from Cyclone Gabrielle, and with a long dry summer ahead, 2023 will surely be remembered as the year climate c...
On The Campaign: How a by-election and overhang could increase the size of Parliament
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
October 10: A shock death on the campaign trail has revealed some of the more interesting elements of our electoral law, sparking a by-election to tak...
Israel-Hamas war highlights politicians' lack of foreign policy focus
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For much of the election campaign, the focus has been solely on domestic issues, with questions around foreign policy during televised debates quickly...
On The Campaign: Could there really be a second election?
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
October 9: We are just five sleeps away from Election Day, but some parties are already discussing a second election. Thomas Coughlan joins to dissect...
Do Kiwis really need $193,000 a year to find happiness?
08 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The old saying goes that money can’t buy you happiness – but it turns out, if you do rely on what’s in your wallet to keep you happy, you're goi...
On The Campaign: The minor parties make their case - can TOP join them in Parliament?
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
October 6: NZ Herald political reporter Adam Pearse joins the podcast to discuss the latest debate between the minor parties, and the growing tension ...
What could happen to benefits and superannuation after the election?
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Billions of dollars are spent on our benefit system every year. And every election, politicians debate fiercely about where we should be cutting or i...
On The Campaign: The Wellington electorates the Greens want to win
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
October 5: The battle over National's tax policy came up again today thanks to new analysis, while allegations of candidates being targetted resurface...
What Aotearoa can learn from Australia's 'The Voice' referendum
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On October 14th it won’t just be the people of Aotearoa heading to the ballot box. Australians will be taking part in a referendum over whether thei...
On The Campaign: The many sides of the race for Northland
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
October 4th: As the main parties move on from the debate over a debate, the tension turns towards National's promise to cut the Regional Fuel Tax in A...
Landlords vs tenants - how this election could sway the balance of power
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nearly 600,000 rental properties across New Zealand are home to 1.3 million tenants. The relationship between those renters and landlords hangs in t...
On The Campaign: Inside the races for Auckland Central and Mt Albert
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
October 3: The political discourse today was dictated by the ongoing argument about The Press debate, and who has said what from both parties. And NZ ...
The politics of crime: What are the different parties promising around law and order?
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Crime in Aotearoa has dominated our political debate in the lead-up to the election. Every party has a view on what should be done about law and order...
On The Campaign: Debate squabbles, Covid tests, and campaign safety concerns
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
October 2nd: There are less than two weeks to go until Election Day, and one of our leaders is down with Covid. NZ Herald deputy editor Thomas Coughla...
Inside the financial mess facing Auckland and Wellington
01 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Two of our biggest cities are facing tough budget decisions. Both Auckland and Wellington need to save money and raise more funds to pay for everythin...