PODCAST · news
The Front Page
by NZ Herald
Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald’s daily news podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what’s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future.Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.
Episodes
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Which party has the best plan to fix New Zealand’s health system?
Getting a GP appointment, paying for treatment and waiting for hospital care are major concerns heading into the election. So what are the parties promising to change? Chelsea Daniels hears from National, Labour, ACT, the Greens, NZ First and the Opportunity Party about their health priorities…
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Do you have to leave New Zealand to get ahead?
It’ll come as no surprise that new data’s revealed more Kiwis are struggling with cost of living. The latest New Zealand Consumer Lifestyles survey from the University of Otago shows just over half of respondents went without something to buy essentials. More alarming though, 48% believe they…
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The high cost of building nothing
New Zealand keeps announcing infrastructure projects, putting them on hold and paying more when they finally move ahead. A new industry survey shows overwhelming support for cross-party agreement, with 44 percent of responding organisations cutting staff in the past year. Infrastructure New…
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Can New Zealand cut its way to growth?
Both National and Labour are banking on economic growth to help repair the Government’s finances. But could their spending plans undermine the recovery they’re counting on? With households reluctant to spend, property values under pressure and an ageing population putting more demand on public...
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Can either party afford its election promises?
National’s fiscal plan promises no new taxes and leaves the door open to future tax cuts — but only once the books are back in surplus and economic conditions allow. So how much money is actually available, how does Labour’s plan compare, and what could coalition negotiations do to either party’s...
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How the parties plan to tackle crime
Tougher sentences, more police or greater investment in prevention — how would New Zealand’s political parties make the country safer? In this election policy special, Chelsea Daniels speaks to representatives from National, Labour, ACT, the Greens, NZ First and the Opportunity Party, and…
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Solar could save Kiwis thousands — so what’s stopping us?
Could solar panels and electric vehicles help New Zealand households save thousands on energy? Rewiring Aotearoa’s Mike Casey joins The Front Page to explain the potential savings from electrification, the upfront costs stopping people from making the switch, and how cheaper finance could help....
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Why rising diesel prices could cost you at the checkout
When the price of moving goods around New Zealand rises, who picks up the bill? Increasing fuel prices are putting pressure on the trucking industry, with fuel now accounting for up to 30% of operating costs. And that cost can travel far beyond the petrol pump, into the price of groceries and…
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Is New Zealand on the brink of a cocaine problem?
Cocaine use appears to be surging in New Zealand. The latest NZ Drug Trends Survey reveals the proportion of people reporting cocaine use has almost tripled since 2017, while the price of the drug has fallen by nearly a third. Researchers say we could be in the "honeymoon phase", where cocaine...
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What the election could mean for your KiwiSaver
KiwiSaver might be about to get a makeover. The parties are pitching very different ideas for what should happen to your retirement savings... from changing contribution rates to tweaking who gets government support. But what would these proposals actually mean for your KiwiSaver balance and who...
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Violent crime figures reveal worsening trend for repeat victims
Violent crime is on the rise again. New figures show the number of victims has climbed to around 148,000 a year – up 9000 on the previous quarter. But dig into the numbers, and the picture gets a bit more complicated. So what is really happening with violent crime in New Zealand – and how much…
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NZ house prices remain flat as buyers retain the upper hand
New Zealand’s housing market has taken another step backwards. Property values have now fallen for six months in a row, with the national median value dropping below the previous cycle low. And while buyers have more choice and bargaining power, there’s still little sign of a sharp rebound - with...
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Is NZ’s productivity problem the real economic elephant in the room?
New Zealanders are working. The economy is growing. So why aren’t we getting much more out of it? For more than a decade, New Zealand’s productivity growth has been painfully weak – and that could be one of the biggest economic problems facing the next Government. But you wouldn’t necessarily…
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Is our economy getting better, or is it just 'less bad' than we thought?
The Government’s opened its books and it’s showing a return to surplus is well on track. The Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update shows a stronger and slightly faster surplus than predicted... with the books expected to get out of the red by 2028/29. Treasury also predicts unemployment has...
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Why your TikTok feed matters as much as town halls in Election 2026
It was a weekend of big political theatre, as both National and Labour officially launched their election campaigns. Christopher Luxon and his National crew pushed the message of “no new taxes” ... meanwhile, Labour and Chris Hipkins unveiled a new policy to wipe 10% of student loan debt. But in...
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What each party wants to do with your taxes
With the election just weeks away, a new poll gives us a glimpse into how voters feel about one of the major topics this campaign season – tax. No new taxes for working people. No new taxes full stop. Taxes for capital gains. Tax the rich. Tax inheritance. Tax landowners. The campaign season’s…
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Why this election could come down to the smaller parties
Parliament is officially over and now the gloves are coming off. New Zealanders go to the polls on November 7, and between now and then we’re going to see the parties make their pitches, ramp up their attacks, and fight for every last vote. The next 44 days will be filled with policy…
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What Nicky Hager’s Dirty Work alleges about the Taxpayers’ Union
Nicky Hager is back with a new book taking aim at one of the country’s most prominent lobby groups, the Taxpayers’ Union. He alleges the organisation has played a key role in shifting New Zealand politics to the right, claiming they worked with the tobacco industry and focused on race-based...
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How Reserve Bank mistakes fuelled New Zealand’s boom and bust
A damning report into the Reserve Bank’s actions during Covid, a backdown from Labour on landlord tax breaks, and a last look at the Government’s books before the election. That’s all ahead of the much-hyped release of a new book from Nicky Hager tonight. NZ Herald Wellington business editor…
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Supermarket owners push back against break-up plans
Supermarket owners are fighting back as they find themselves firmly in the sights of almost all political parties. To recap, National and NZ First want to break up the Foodstuffs co-operative, while the Greens want to kickstart a government-owned supermarket. Labour has announced plans to split...
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Why it’s championship or bust for the Warriors
It’s do or die for the Warriors as they head into this weekend’s sudden death match against the Newcastle Knights with a spot in the preliminary final against the Penrith Panthers on the line. Last weekend the Warriors seemed in control against the Dolphins before three late tries saw the…
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Is an AI slowdown our next nuclear-free moment?
Should we put the brakes on AI? Well, the bosses of some of the world's largest AI companies say we should. Sam Altman and Elon Musk have both backed head of Anthropic Dario Amodei after he came out and said we need to slow the pace of AI development. He's warned that AI could become capable of...
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How political parties plan to take on New Zealand’s supermarket giants
National and Labour have both unveiled new plans to shake up the supermarket sector. National wants to investigate splitting Foodstuffs into two competing nationwide groups, while Labour is promising to make price gouging illegal – not just for supermarkets, but a range of essential goods and...
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Is politics costing NZ billions in wasted infrastructure planning?
Infrastructure shapes our daily lives, but some might think that it's too often planned election by election. Infrastructure New Zealand wants to put an end to stop-start funding and shifting priorities, launching "Let's Build NZ". The campaign promises to put choices in front of voters and rate...
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Can’t afford KiwiSaver right now? Labour says your boss should still pay 6%
What we should do with KiwiSaver continues to be a hot topic this election season. The latest party to throw their idea into the ring is Labour, which wants to lift the employer contribution rate to 6% by 2032. They would also introduce compulsory employer contributions, even when employees have...
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‘Auckland deserves this’: CRL to finally open after over 100 years of talk
It's finally here, one of the biggest infrastructure projects New Zealand has ever seen. After years of construction, disruption, and delays, the City Rail Link is finally a reality, which promises to transform the way people move through the heart of the city. So, what does this mean for…
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Why the story about Kiwi kids being bad at maths isn’t quite adding up
It feels like we're constantly being told that our kids are really bad at math. In 2023, we were informed kids recorded their worst ever results in something called the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) exams. It was called "disastrous", "disappointing" -- but, we'd heard...
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Why aren’t funders investing in startups founded by women?
New Zealand investment in women-only founding teams has more than tripled in a year, but a huge gender gap remains. Gender Investment Gap University of Auckland Business School data shows these teams are still receiving less than six cents in every investment dollar, while male teams get 70…
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Is the public service strike about pay, politics, or both?
About 10,000 public servants are set to strike following prolonged pay negotiations. While the Public Services Association says members are walking off the job for fair pay and better service delivery, the move has been accused of being politically motivated. Public Service Minister Paul...
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NZ's enrolment problem - where are the young voters?
We’re seven weeks out from the general election, and nearly 190 thousand young people are missing from the roll. Only around 57% of 18-24 year olds have enrolled to vote, the lowest representation of any age group – and by a huge margin. Today on The Front Page we’re talking to Adriana Bird from…
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Should your fuel tax and road-user charges pay for roadside sculptures?
New Zealanders spend billions of dollars every year on transport, through fuel taxes, road-user charges, rates and tolls. But the Act Party says we're not getting enough for what we're spending. New Zealand has spent an average of 5.8% of GDP on infrastructure each year over the past couple of...
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Is Auckland congestion charging fair when so many still can’t rely on public transport?
For Aucklanders, sitting in traffic can feel like an unavoidable part of life. But, what if you had to pay to do it? Auckland Council is considering congestion charging, with three options on the table that could see drivers charged between $2 and $7. Supporters say it could get traffic moving…
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What do absent leaders say about the future of the Pacific Islands Forum?
The diplomatic chess board is getting complicated in the Pacific. At least five Pacific leaders have pulled out of the annual Pacific Island Forum in Palau this week. Meanwhile, China's Pacific envoy says there will be consequences for Taiwan being allowed to send representatives to the forum.…
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Debt vs delivery: the trust problem behind NZ’s borrowing debate
New Zealand’s debt burden has nearly doubled in 10 years. But, there are signs the country’s borrowing habits are becoming more sustainable. New Zealand businesses have boosted their borrowings by more than $6 billion in the last year to $143b, which is a potential sign of rising confidence in…
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‘Meh’: Uni students unimpressed by National's loan plan
National is promising to crack down on people abroad who are failing to pay back their student loans. If re-elected, the party would ease compulsory student loan repayments from 12 percent to 10 percent - and charge those living overseas an extra one percent in annual interest. Arrest warrants...
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Inside the desperate response to Nepal’s devastating floods
Searches continue through the devastation in Nepal after a catastrophic flash flood. More than 389 people have been killed and there are reportedly 1300 people missing, including at least 700 foreigners from two dozen countries. Our officials understand at least five New Zealanders are believed…
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Is this finally the economic turning point New Zealand has been waiting for?
Could we FINALLY be at an economic turning point? Westpac economists have forecast the economy will return to growth in the current quarter. They reckon there'll be 2.1% growth across 2026 – even picking up to 3% next year ... with exports and tourism doing the heavy lifting. So, are we out of…
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Can councils deliver more with less under a 4% rates limit?
The Government wants to force councils to keep rate hikes at a maximum 4% from 2029. Councils would be expected to prepare for the change from next July. Local Government Minister Simon Watts has said it'll ease cost-of-living pressures and get councils back to basics. But, what will a lower…
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Is banning social media the best way to protect children online?
The Government's pushing ahead with banning social media for under-16s. It mirrors rules that took effect in Australia last year - requiring the likes of Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to bring in stronger age verification. If they don't, the social media giants could face fines of up to 10% of...
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Are New Zealanders willing to pay more tax if they see better results?
National is committing to no new taxes if re-elected – but the jury is still out over whether that means no tinkering to existing taxes. This means the party is scrapping both a bed tax and bank tax – something that's disappointed Mayors in tourism hotspots around the country. Meanwhile, Labour's...
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Would you want a flu warning system for your region?
Severe respiratory illness rates are now the highest they've been in the last decade, mostly because of the flu. It comes as ambulance services struggle to meet demand, and Health NZ urges people to save emergency departments for emergencies. RNZ reported this week that hospitals have even…
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If the Mount Maunganui landslide risk was known, why was nothing done?
The Mount Maunganui landslide has been described as "preventable". A damning review into the disaster has revealed a litany of failures by authorities who “missed several opportunities” to evacuate campers to safety. Six people died after the slip crashed into the campground on January 22. It's…
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How can NZ businesses grow if people are now a ‘scarce resource’?
New Zealand’s birth rate stats just keep getting worse... The latest show ‘natural population growth’ has fallen to 18,700 for the year to June – the lowest it’s been since WWII. Births are at their lowest since 2003. So should we throw money at people to have babies, or are there some other...
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Trump threatens Oman as Iran ceasefire collapses
A development in the Middle East, with US President Donald Trump turning on a key US ally. He’s threatened to bomb Oman if it interferes in the Strait of Hormuz. It’s all while a 60-day ceasefire with Iran expires – and officials say that there’s been very little diplomatic progress to reopen the...
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Can New Zealand stop supermarkets charging ‘excessive’ prices?
Kiwis are constantly wondering why their groceries are so expensive. The Green Party is the latest to promise a fix in the way of a members bill aimed at banning price gouging by the supermarket duopoly, which has a whopping 82% market share. New rules would aim to prohibit supermarkets from...
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RNZ cuts jobs as MediaWorks changes hands and Santamaria heads to court
A drawn-out employment legal dispute, the sale of one of the country’s top media companies, fears AI could take newsroom jobs, and RNZ planning to cut roles. The Kamahl Santamaria saga continues as the former broadcaster and TVNZ head to court next week. Meanwhile, do the Aussies have what it…
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NZ’s council shake-up explained: Who could merge?
The Government's working through merger proposals from councils around the country. City and district councils were given until this week to pitch plans to create larger unitary councils, to replace existing local and regional councils. Approved plans are due to be signed off next year and take...
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Luxon survives the coup — but is National’s civil war over?
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is staying in the top job. He's emerged from another confidence vote with the support of his caucus. National MPs were summoned to Wellington for an urgent meeting this morning - after speculation about a potential coup. The meeting ran for three hours. But,...
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Is Christopher Luxon about to lose the National Party leadership?
Speculation is mounting over Christopher Luxon’s future as National Party leader, with reports of caucus unrest putting his leadership back under the spotlight. NZ Herald Senior Correspondent Katie Bradford joins Chelsea to examine how serious the threat is, who could be waiting in the wings, and...
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Are National's new fiscal rules tough discipline or political marketing?
National has unveiled new fiscal rules promising tighter spending, lower debt and no new taxes on working New Zealanders. But Taxpayers’ Union executive director Jordan Williams argues much of it repackages existing policy and questions whether the Government has delivered on its earlier promises...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald’s daily news podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what’s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future.Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.
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How many episodes does The Front Page have?
The Front Page currently has 1000 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Front Page about?
Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald’s daily news podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what’s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future.Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those...
How often does The Front Page release new episodes?
The Front Page releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 1000 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
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