The Front Page

Inside the Government's transport plans and what they mean for you

07 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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

Documents reveal public service 'unsettled' by Government's calls for big savings

06 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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. ...

David Benbow: The trial that captivated the country and its remaining mystery

05 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 y...

Are private schools worth their increasingly rising fees?

04 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 Her...

From the OCR to reporting season - is our economic outlook looking good?

03 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ex...

The deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies: Inside the case that has shocked Australia

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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, Po...

Fa’anānā Efeso Collins remembered: Why his legacy is already being felt

28 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Later today, Fa’anānā Efeso Collins will be laid to rest.  The former Auckland Councillor and mayoral candidate turned Green MP, died suddenly la...

Newshub to close: Inside another huge loss for the media industry

28 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ear...

Does the Government have the rights plans to fix a health system in crisis?

27 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 au...

How hot has our summer been - and what's to come in autumn?

26 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 nipp...

The stories behind New Zealand's missing people

25 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 t...

What's next for the Russia-Ukraine war after two years of fighting?

22 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 su...

What does the future hold for Labour as another senior MP calls it quits?

21 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Former deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Grant Robertson announced earlier this week he is leaving politics. He is the latest member of the L...

After Port Hills: What is NZ's fire risk and what does that mean for rural communities?

20 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Record migration figures spark worries New Zealand is growing too quickly

19 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

The Hague Convention - Is this treaty designed to protect children still fit for purpose?

18 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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

Inside Fletcher Building's big loss - and wider worries for the construction industry

15 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A horror half-year result has exposed major issues for Fletcher Building. One of/The largest construction companies in New Zealand reported a 120-mill...

Auckland's overheated rail network - What will it cost to fix it?

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The country’s infrastructure woes became very clear for commuters in our biggest city earlier this week.   Aucklanders were stunned after dozens of...

Razor rises, stadium wars and Olympic dreams: What's on the cards for local sport in 2024?

13 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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, s...

Joe Biden vs Donald Trump: Will failing memory and court cases overshadow US election?

12 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 J...

No fuel tax and cost blowback: Can Wayne Brown sort out Auckland Transport?

11 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tension between Auckland Council and the Government has flared up once again. Mayor Wayne Brown is unhappy with the coalition Government’s decision ...

From awards to arena tours: How has Taylor Swift come to dominate pop culture?

08 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

How smoking legislation became a never-ending problem for the Government

07 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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

King Charles diagnosed with cancer: What does this means for the Royals?

07 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 h...

Canned projects to failing infrastructure: Is there a plan to fix Wellington?

06 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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, joi...

What are politicians getting right and wrong about the Treaty?

05 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Interpretations of the Treaty of Waitangi – or Te Tiriti o Waitangi – have been some of the most important discussions in Aotearoa's history, but ...

Is it possible for our festivals to become sustainable?

04 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Will the Government's plans to tackle law and order work?

01 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 spr...

'Vulnerable to collapse': Why the NZSAS and Defence Force are in crisis

31 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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

Black Coast Vanishings: The new doco exploring Piha's missing people mystery

30 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

The changes and challenges coming for streaming services

29 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

After a $1.4b budget blowout, what happens now for Cook Strait's ferry crisis?

28 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 may...

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...