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 everyone by surprise. It was pegged as a once in a century event – but barely a fortnight later, Cyclone Gabrielle swept down the upper North Island. While much of Auckland withstood the onslaught, the East Coast was devastated. Nearly a year has passed since the incidents though, and while pockets of Auckland and the Hawke’s Bay are still dealing with t...
Dec 20, 2023•28 min
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 press conference of 2023 to announce her resignation as Prime Minister. It brought to an end the five year tenure of the reluctant premier, a politician who never sought the country’s highest office, yet found herself at the coal face for one of the most tumultuous periods in New Zealand’s history. There throughout her time on the ninth floor were Ne...
Dec 19, 2023•24 min
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 up seemly without a break. On The Front Page we’ve done our best to make sense of what’s been happening around the globe, and our place in all this turmoil. Today we revisit some of the interviews that have helped expand our understanding of a planet that sometimes seemingly defied explanation - including the Gaza conflict, the Wagner Coup attempt in Ru...
Dec 18, 2023•26 min
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 the inner-workings of the Royal Family and laid bare the tensions between Harry and Meghan and the rest of the family. This set the tone for a year that was meant to be a celebration that King Charles had waited his whole life to enjoy. By the time his Coronation arrived in May, serious questions still lingered over how badly these divisions would hurt t...
Dec 17, 2023•20 min
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. And it didn’t slow down from there. Ministerial car crashes. An exploding submarine. World Cup highs and lows. The threat of AI. An active shooter at rush hour. A radio station that got effed live on air. Crime, the economy, trans rights, global conflict. And the coronation of both a new King, as well as the swearing in of a new government. There’s so...
Dec 14, 2023•28 min
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 offer, a lot of us need a break. But after a year of violent weather, what state are our key roads and highways in before the busy traffic period? And are we going to get the summer weather we missed out on last year, or could we be in for more of the same? In this episode, Damien is joined first by NIWA meteorologist Ben Noll for a preview of the weathe...
Dec 13, 2023•18 min
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. This year has seen record numbers of New Zealanders flock across the ditch and set up shop in Australia. There’s nothing new about a move across the Tasman, but the sheer volume of Kiwis leaving has sparked concerns over a potential brain drain. In among the stories of higher wages and more job opportunities, there have been some stories about some who...
Dec 12, 2023•17 min
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 have died as Israel continues their bombing campaign, and global efforts for a ceasefire are going ignored, even failing at the highest echelons of international politics. Yet while this conflict may be dominating headlines, war continues to rage in Ukraine, and the future of the country’s fight against Russia seems up in the air as US politicians battl...
Dec 11, 2023•18 min
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 crossed swords in parliament and we’ve already seen Kiwis take to the streets in protest. Te Pati Māori, holding its largest-ever caucus, has promised that this only the start and that there will be further protests to come. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has made a number of controversial comments that have left the Luxon red-faced. So w...
Dec 10, 2023•16 min
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 that’s getting more complicated with every passing day. Trade wars, environmental devastation, and open military conflicts have returned to the globe on a level not seen in decades, to name just a few of the diplomatic tightropes that Peters will have to walk as he navigates this role. So is he still the right man for the job after all these years? And ...
Dec 07, 2023•19 min
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 balance that most could only dream of. But this isn’t always how these things work out. Jarrod Haar, Associate Dean at Massey Business School, has looked into the details of how having holidays when you want actually works in practice and found that there can be some worrying unintended consequences. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts...
Dec 06, 2023•18 min
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 about the colour of Prince Archie’s skin before his birth? Now, the two senior royals have been named in a since-pulled Dutch translation of a new book about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their royal battles. It has sparked yet another scandal that has involved all the key players and themes of modern Royal life, from press scrutiny of the family t...
Dec 05, 2023•17 min
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 mean the delay in seeing your GP or hours spent in the emergency room. But for others, the waiting game can have long-term implications for their health. NZ Herald investigate journalist Nicholas Jones for several months has been looking into cardiac patients and how they are being treated, and has heard some shocking stories about lengthy waiting times for...
Dec 04, 2023•17 min
Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has admitted to having a drinking problem. This comes after two incidents in which she has been seen visibly intoxicated in public spaces. Some councillors are now also calling Whanau’s resignation, with some questioning whether she can do the big job required of her. It also comes in the broader context of former Labour politician Kiri Allan, who blew over the legal limit after being involved in a car crash. That incident would ultimately come at the cost of her job...
Dec 03, 2023•20 min
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 as the country prepares for the new Government to step in and start making the big changes that were promised on the campaign trail. Luxon has pledged to slash public sector spending and has already done away with the Productivity Commission. He has further said that he wants to reduce the size of the public sector by around 5 per cent, meaning there’ll...
Nov 30, 2023•17 min
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 Zealand’s first ever Minister for Space, with a focus on our growing the aerospace industry With New Zealand one of the few countries in the world able to launch rockets into space, how important is this portfolio to our country’s future, and can we catch up with the big global players who have been at this since the Cold War? Today on The Front Page, Ke...
Nov 29, 2023•16 min
Education was a major battleground this election. Evidence showed decades of decline in the quality of the education system, with literacy and numeracy rates falling steadily. Add the dual problems of absenteeism and overworked teachers and you have a system in dire need of repair. So what is the new Government proposing? And will the plans put forward actually make the difference needed? Today on The Front Page, Newstalk ZB journalist Shannon Johnstone joins us to discuss whether Kiwi kids are ...
Nov 28, 2023•14 min
It has been over six weeks since Election Day, but finally, Christopher Luxon has been sworn in as Prime Minister. Weeks of negotiations have delivered the first-ever three-party coalition government in the MMP era, with National joined by both Act and NZ First ministers at the Cabinet table. But now that the negotiations and swearing-in ceremonies are done, these three parties need to get on with governing. What will their priorities be as a government, and how will those detailed coalition agr...
Nov 27, 2023•15 min
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 marks about whether we’d lost our competitive edge. But our teams also exceeded expectations. No one expected the White Ferns to beat Norway. The All Blacks were given no chance of making it to the final. And the Black Caps also rose above the naysayers to land a spot in the semi-finals. So where does this leave New Zealand sport? Are we on the de...
Nov 26, 2023•14 min
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 coalition government. So who's deputy Prime Minister, who are the new Ministers, and what are the policy priorities? And NZ Herald politics editor Claire Trevett joins for her analysis on how this will all work. Host: Hamish Fletcher Producer: Ethan Sills See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Nov 24, 2023•13 min
Musicians are facing a deathly silence. With the gutting of the magazine industry now well-bedded in, many of the specialised titles that once relished in telling tales of bands on the road have disappeared. Most of the coverage of music and arts in wider mainstream media has also vanished. So now how do Kiwi acts get their voices heard? And who will step up to be the cheerleaders for the up-and-coming talent capable of placing Aotearoa on the global pop culture map? Chris Schulz, a long-time po...
Nov 23, 2023•18 min
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 University Press, in which local and international experts discuss whether enough is being done to protect the country amid growing uncertainty around the globe. US-China tensions, Russian warmongering, extremism and the danger of cyber warfare are all simmering in the background while politicians also contend with complex local problems. So where does ...
Nov 22, 2023•24 min
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 that’s because they’re coming with a hidden cost. A new report from World Vision claims that a staggering $8 billion of imports to Aotearoa every year are linked to modern slavery. Everything from shoes and clothing to furniture and electronics could be made by people working in dire conditions and paid next to nothing. So what can consumers do to ensure...
Nov 21, 2023•18 min
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 ostensibly had enough and has announced a plan for congestion charging to be introduced. Councillors are supporting the move and pushing ahead with the plan, but there are also serious concerns about the impact this will have on low-income earners. So how will the plan work in practice? And more importantly, will it actually help to reduce traffic? Tod...
Nov 20, 2023•15 min
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 point the power of generative AI can actually be put into practice. The promise here is that it will speed up everything we do, removing the mundane and giving us more time to focus on creative challenges. But what are the unintended consequences that could emerge from this? Are we ready for the idea of fewer hours of work to do on a daily basis? And...
Nov 19, 2023•19 min
Rental prices in have skyrocketed over the last year. These high rental prices are giving young Kiwis yet another incentive to take their skills elsewhere, sparking concerns that some might exhibit their discontent by dusting off their passports. So how concerning are these rent rises? And how much worse could they become with the balance of power swinging further in favour of landlords under the new Government? On The Front Page today, Brad Olsen, the chief executive and principal economist at ...
Nov 16, 2023•18 min
Westminster is echoing with accusations of betrayal. The source of this indignation is former UK home secretary Suella Braverman. Braverman has been sacked by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after making a series of incendiary comments about the homeless, asylum seekers, and the Israel-Hamas war. After Braverman’s ousting, Sunak announced a cabinet reshuffle. The big surprise? Former PM David Cameron has returned to political office as foreign secretary. How has Cameron returned seven years a...
Nov 15, 2023•20 min
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 able to reach a quick resolution. Instead, the strike was only called off on day 118. SAG-AFTRA members still have to vote on the hard-bargained deal, but now they’re back to work auditioning, performing, and promoting. What were the sticking points that caused this major industrial access? Are there likely to be more show business strikes anytime s...
Nov 14, 2023•16 min
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 impressive spread of 32 Māori MPs across the political parties. And secondly, the next Government made up of National, Act and NZ First will not have any Pasifika representation. There are still talented Pasifika politicians across the parties in Opposition, but will this be enough to ensure the voices of these communities are heard? And how worri...
Nov 13, 2023•19 min
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 Key, Theresa Gattung, comedians Jono and Ben, journalist Patrick Gower, broadcaster and restaurant reviewer Jesse Mulligan, One NZ CEO Jason Paris, and finance columnist Mary Holm. The publication has survived through and witnessed two world wars, earthquakes and more than a few recessions. But it also captured many of our proudest moments: from Ka...
Nov 12, 2023•30 min
