The 1998 deaths of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope remain one of New Zealand’s most talked about cases. Scott Watson has spent the last 25 years behind bars after being convicted of murdering them, despite no bodies ever being found. Now, Watson is heading back to the courtroom four years after his case was referred back to the Court of Appeal, in what is his last shot at clearing his name. Today on The Front Page, we’re going back to 1999 with NZ Herald senior journalist Carolyne Meng Yee and editori...
Jun 06, 2024•29 min
Tensions between Māoridom and the coalition Government have been bubbling up since the latter was sworn in last year. Outrage over the Treaty Principles Bill and cuts to services for Māori has seen multiple protests, mostly recently the ‘Carkoi’ rally across the motu on Budget Day. That same protest saw this animosity take on a new angle, with Te Pati Māori issuing a declaration of political independence and calling for a separate Māori Parliament. So how serious are these calls, and is there an...
Jun 05, 2024•25 min
Even if you wouldn’t say it out loud, we've all fantasised about winning Lotto. Whether it’s a few thousand dollars or a couple of million, you can’t how amazing taking home a win would be. And the prize pool keeps getting bigger – in 2016, $40 million was still the limit, but now, someone could take home $43 million tonight, and it'd be the second largest draw for an individual ever. So, what happens when a life-changing amount is won? And what are some of the best ways to splash your new cash?...
Jun 04, 2024•20 min
As the country’s economy continues to take a hit, one of the biggest sectors to struggle has been retail. Figures over the last few quarters have consistently shown low spending on retail as Kiwis prioritise where they put their money. There’s the closure of physical TradeAid stores, the sale of Torpedo7, the closure of TheMarket.com, and now the end of Auckland icon Smith and Caughey’s and the Flybuys loyalty scheme. So amidst a struggling economy, is there a way for retail to survive, or is th...
Jun 03, 2024•17 min
This year’s King’s Birthday holiday is not as celebratory as the royal family would like. While King Charles is start to get back to work after his cancer diagnosis earlier this year, the Princess of Wales remains out of action, with reports that she might not return to work until 2025. In amongst the health crises that have hit the Royal Family, the ongoing tensions between The Firm and Prince Harry have made headlines again over recent weeks. So is the monarchy getting back on track after a ro...
Jun 02, 2024•19 min
The coalition Government has unveiled its first Budget, and Finance Minister Nicola Willis managed to deliver on her tax cut pledge. There was also money found for health and education, while the major tax cuts were funded out of significant cuts to the public sector. The Budget also confirmed that our tough financial times are set to continue until at least 2028, and Willis is putting a cap on spending for the next few Budgets. So is this the Budget the Government needed to sell their vision fo...
May 30, 2024•15 min
Budget 2024 has just been unveiled by Finance Minister Nicola Willis -- the first for the coalition of National, Act and NZ First. In this special bonus episode of The Front Page, Chelsea runs through the key stats you need to know about tax cuts, health, school and the economy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 30, 2024•5 min
For decades, New Zealand’s persistently high road toll has been a worry for successive governments. 340 people died on our roads in 2023, down from the previous, but still far too high. 2024 is hardly looking any better – there was more than a day a death in January, the Easter road toll was at its highest in three years, while a recent head-on collision left five dead near Hamilton. It’s an issue that is now on the coalition government to address – so what options are available to them to recti...
May 29, 2024•17 min
Insurance is becoming an increasingly costly purchase for many households. Whether you are looking to insure your house, contents, car – or even your pets – premiums are skyrocketing faster than incomes. It comes at a time when the threats of the climate crisis and natural disasters are leading some people to give up on paying for insurance all together. Former Cabinet Minister Kris Faafoi is the new chief executive of the Insurance Council, and joins The Front Page to discuss how to navigate th...
May 28, 2024•18 min
While New Zealanders may have had their general election last year, more than 60 countries around the world will elect their government in 2024. In fact, with roughly half the world’s population due to vote, more people will be heading to the polls in one year than at any other point in human history. And with mounting global issues threatening the future of our planet – particularly our climate – who we choose to vote for is more crucial than ever. Professor of Global History at Oxford Universi...
May 27, 2024•20 min
Six months have passed since the coalition government was sworn into office – and the honeymoon period has well and truly ended. After being met almost immediately with protests by Māori leaders, backlash grew over the repeal of anti-smoking laws, the extent of job cuts in the public service, and cuts to disability services. As polling suggests an uphill battle for the coalition to reach a second term, moves to tackle law and order and cut back government spending has appealed to their supporter...
May 26, 2024•20 min
We’re not officially into winter yet, but as the days get darker and the nights get colder, many of us are starting to come down with bugs and viruses. From flus and sore throats to the common cold, there's a lot going around already – and that’s without adding in the threat of yet another Covid-19 wave. But with no government restrictions in place anymore, how prepared are we for the months ahead? Today on The Front Page, University of Otago epidemiologist Michael Baker joins to give his advice...
May 23, 2024•19 min
The coalition government’s first Budget is out on May 30. After a rush to find savings, cancelling multiple major projects and cutting back the public service, Finance Minister Nicola Willis has been tempering expectations for a splashy budget. So, how low key will it be, what areas should we be keeping an eye on – and what about that tax cut promise? Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald business editor at large and host of the Money Talks podcast, Liam Dann, is with us to explain all you need to ...
May 22, 2024•18 min
One of the Government’s most contentious bills is now before select committee. The Fast-Track Approvals Bill is designed to speed up the process on consenting major projects, from transport initiatives like roads, to major housing developments. It also allows three ministers the power to make the final decisions on these projects, even if it goes against the advice of expert panels – or existing laws. Victoria University of Wellington Political Analyst Dr Bryce Edwards has been following this co...
May 21, 2024•19 min
Amid continuing unrest in New Caledonia, our Defence Force is preparing rescue flights for about 250 stranded Kiwis. Protests in Noumea have been escalating after violence broke out over proposed changes to voter lists – with six dead and hundreds arrested. French authorities have declared a state of emergency – as pro-independence supporters and security forces clash. Today, Chelsea talks with Mike Lightfoot, a Kiwi tourist currently stuck in Noumea, who updates us on the situation as he awaits...
May 20, 2024•20 min
The years-long saga of Julian Assange could finally be at an end – in a decision crucial not only to what happens next for the infamous whistleblower – but for press freedom as we know it. 14 years after his site, Wikileaks, published hundreds of thousands of classified US military and security documents online, and 12 years after the first warrant was issued for his arrest.... judges at London’s High Court could finally decide his fate -- and whether he will be extradited to the United States. ...
May 19, 2024•16 min
Major earthquakes may not be a regular occurrence in New Zealand, but the threat of them is often in the back of our minds. With a major faultline running through the middle of the country, you only have to look to the events in Christchurch and Kaikoura to know the risk they pose. Now, new modelling has highlighted the impact a catastrophic quake could have on this country, and if we’re prepared for what that means. Today on The Front Page, Dr Bill Fry and Dr Matt Gerstenberger from GNS Science...
May 16, 2024•17 min
There’s a new movement on social media in response to celebrities’ views – or lack thereof – on the war in Palestine. “Blockout 2024” started with an inconspicuous video of a TikTok influencer posed outside the glamorous Met Gala with the sound bite “let them eat cake”. Now, an online movement to unfollow and block celebrities is gaining momentum – with the likes of Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner losing hundreds of thousands of followers. It's raised questions like: Will this effort have any ef...
May 15, 2024•19 min
The National-led Government is continuing its crackdown on gangs. Police Minister Mark Mitchell this week announced New Zealand will get its own National Gang Unit and district Gang Disruption Units. The announcement follows a rise in gang violence, including the fatal shooting of a man on Auckland’s Ponsonby Rd by a Killer Beez gang member. It comes off the back of anti-gang legislation that continues to make its way through Parliament – which will see non-consorting laws and gang patch bans in...
May 14, 2024•16 min
As the world becomes increasingly online, the lines between work life and home life are becoming increasingly blurred. When you can check your emails on the same device you use to stream TV or talk to friends, avoiding that late night question from your boss is becoming harder to do. Now many are calling for the ‘Right to Disconnect’ to be enshrined in law to save us from becoming perpetually available 24/7. Today on The Front Page, Dr Amanda Reilly, Senior Lecturer in Law at Victoria University...
May 13, 2024•14 min
The conversation around New Zealand's power supply is heating up again, just before winter. Last week Kiwis were told to conserve electricity amidst a cold snap, over concerns there was not enough power to supply the country. This is not the first time such a warning has been issued, and has prompted debate about where we get our energy from, and how we should be powering our national grid. Today on The Front Page, Major Electricity Users Group Chair John Harbord joins us to explain what the iss...
May 12, 2024•17 min
Auckland Council’s financial situation has been under the spotlight for months now. With costs rising, the council has been trying to find some ways to save money without cutting back on services. Those decisions have ranged from removing rubbish bins around the city, to a since U-turned proposal for a long-term lease for Port of Auckland. And while the Government has offered hope on water prices, Mayor Wayne Brown and his councillors still have some tough choices to make. Today on The Front Pag...
May 09, 2024•18 min
Head injuries and sports players have been a hot topic of debate in recent years. While the risk of concussions and long-term injuries has been well known for decades, recent concerns have arisen about how those injuries can turn into long term issues like dementia, and that’s despite efforts to reform the game to limit those concerns. As global legal cases and suspected illnesses mount, multiple researchers here in New Zealand are part of a global effort to identify the causes and the risks. To...
May 08, 2024•19 min
To tax sugar, or not to tax sugar – that's the debate that’s raged on for years. More than 100 countries worldwide have taxed sugary drinks, but New Zealand hasn’t made the plunge yet. As the number of countries making the move to tax sugar increases, so has the data into how well it's worked, or not. So how do we delve through this information to make an informed decision on what would be best for New Zealand? Today on The Front Page, Professor of Population Nutrition and Global Health at the U...
May 07, 2024•17 min
Last week, former Green Party co-leader James Shaw delivered his valedictory speech, marking the end of his decade in politics. But, rather than a smooth transition to a new era, just a few hours later, Green MP Julie-Anne Genter sparked outcry across the aisle after she stood over and shouted at Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey during a Parlimentary debate. It’s the fourth scandal to hit the Greens in under a year, prompting questions about the party's future as the Shaw era ends and a new on...
May 06, 2024•17 min
The rate of women killed by an intimate partner in Australia has increased by nearly 30% in the year 2022-23, compared to the previous year. And the deaths of dozens of women across the country this year alone has prompted mass protests – with thousands taking to the streets rallying against gender-based violence. But the issue isn't one that isn’t limited to our trans-Tasman neighbours. In New Zealand, between 2009 and 2020, 178 women and girls were killed in family violence-related killings. T...
May 05, 2024•23 min
The Government has put improving education as one of its top priorities. Yesterday, Education Minister Erica Stanford announced plans to refocus education around ‘structured literacy’, with that teaching style winning the so-called ‘reading wars’ against ‘balanced literacy’. It marks the end of a big week for the Minister, with the nationwide cellphone ban at schools coming into effect on Monday, the same day she announced the new top priorities for education in New Zealand. Erica Stanford joins...
May 02, 2024•17 min
In the weeks since Warner Bros Discovery and TVNZ announced cutbacks in their newsrooms, much of the focus has been on what this means for journalism in this country. The moves come amid wider belt-tightening across the television sector, as falling terrestrial TV ratings means companies are now competing against global giants more than ever to hold our attention. And that means it's not only newsrooms that could soon be fighting for survival. This episode, Chelsea talks with Kelly Martin, CEO o...
May 01, 2024•21 min
Youth crime has been a hot topic over the last two years, particularly when our youngest offenders are involved in brazen robberies and violent ram raids across the country. NZ Herald senior crime reporter Anna Leask has been travelling across Australia, witnessing first-hand what groups there have been doing to try and help their troubled youth. She joins us today on The Front Page to discuss her research and what New Zealand can learn from our closest neighbours. Reporting costs for the series...
Apr 30, 2024•15 min
It’s time to put away your shorts and sunhats and start getting out your winter coats. Temperatures are dropping across the country as winter makes its mark on Aotearoa. And the big news here is that El Nino is starting to fade, and La Nina is set to take its place. But does that actually mean for weather in the coming months, and just how cold and wet will it be? Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald reporter Jamie Morton joins us to run us through the weather maps for the months ahead. Follow The...
Apr 29, 2024•14 min
