The economy has been in an uncertain place for quite some time, and 2024 was no different. Over the last year, we’ve seen some improvement. In October, the annual rate for inflation had fallen from 3.3 percent to 2.2 percent. The official cash rate ended the year on 4 point 25 percent. Elsewhere, the news hasn’t been so positive. The country’s gross domestic product contracted 0.2 percent in the June quarter, only just missing out on a technical recession. Job cuts across multi...
Dec 17, 2024•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast While 2024 has been a big year of news in New Zealand, there’s been plenty happening around the world over the last 12 months. From wars and conflicts to extreme-weather events -- new pandemic threats to cancer coming to Buckingham Palace -- we’ve seen it all over the last 12 months. Today on The Front Page, we’ll be revisiting the many conversations we’ve had about the biggest stories from around the world in 2024, including the impacts of Donald Trump's re-election on N...
Dec 16, 2024•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Law and order is always a hot topic of debate amongst politicians. The coalition government was elected in part on the back of years of ram raids and violent robberies post-Covid. The last 12 months has seen delivery on promises to bring back boot camps for young offenders, a crackdown on gangs, and the return of Three Strikes legislation. Today on The Front Page, we’ll be revisiting the many conversations we’ve had about crime and the justice system in 2024, looking at how eff...
Dec 15, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast While 2024 may not have brought the shocks of cyclones, Prime Ministerial resignations or election campaigns, there’s a lot to digest from the last year. The Government delivered tax relief, gang crackdowns and a Fast Track bill, while dealing with controversy over Māori relations, smoking laws and apartment entitlements. Te Pāti Māori led the fight back against the Treaty Principles Bill, while Labour rebuilt from its election loss, and the Greens contended with rogue MPs and ...
Dec 12, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast A terrorism charge has been laid against a New Zealander who allegedly travelled overseas to join Islamic State a decade ago. Mark John Taylor, also known as Mohammed Daniel, was charged under the Terrorism Suppression Act this morning. Charging documents filed in the Wellington District Court state he’s being accused of participating in a group in Syria, namely the Islamic State and the Levant (ISIL) between 29 November 2014 and 24 December 2018. It said he’s...
Dec 12, 2024•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Christopher Luxon believes his so-called ‘coalition of chaos’ has defied the critics. The Prime Minister is spending the remainder of 2024 lauding his government’s achievements – inflation is under 3%, a 30% increase of cops on the beat, 26 new cancer treatments, tax relief just to name a few. But he’s ending the year facing criticism over his handling of the Treaty Principles Bill, and for his corporate way of talking – and poll results show a deadlock betwee...
Dec 11, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Communities around the country are waiting with bated breath for news about major infrastructure projects – ones that are set to cost a lot of money. The government’s expected to announce the future of Interislander’s Cook Strait ferries this week – after the $3 billion mega ferry contract was canned last year due to ‘significant cost blowouts’. Meanwhile, a report has revealed a ‘lack of confidence’ in a French contractor’s forecasts for the...
Dec 10, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast After decades years of tyrannical rule, and 13 years of civil war, the Assad regime in Syria has fallen. After rebels rapidly closed in on the capital of Damascus, President Bashar al-Assad and his family fled the country and reportedly are now in Moscow. It has cleared the way for rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham to take control of the country. Global powers have welcomed the end of the dictatorship, but concerns are now turning towards keeping Syria a united nation. Today on The Front Page, Un...
Dec 09, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Over the coming weeks, many Kiwis will be heading to our national parks and great walks for their summer holidays. But if you're doing so for a cheap summer break, enjoy the free ride while it lasts. The Department of Conservation is $1.65 billion short every year on what it needs to cover its responsibilities - and the Government is looking at a number of ways to swell DoC’s coffers. Environmental advocates say an overhaul is needed, but they’re nervous about what squeezing money out of public ...
Dec 08, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast When strippers arrive at work and don’t know how much money they’re taking home at the end of the shift. Their employer might decide to take a higher percentage of their wages that week, or they could’ve been fined for something inconsequential – with no way of rebutting. They can’t unionise, negotiate better contract terms, or complain to the likes of WorkSafe or the Commerce Commission. Fired Up Stilettos is an organisation and social movement working to improve the lives of strippers and sex ...
Dec 05, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast There are continued calls to tighten alcohol laws in New Zealand. The growing trend of online deliveries has made advocates worried, with a study finding a large portion of alcohol deliveries bypassed ID checks. Meanwhile, Auckland's new alcohol policy, starting December 9, will reduce sales hours and tighten regulations on new liquor licenses. Across the ditch, New South Wales is looking to introduce new rules to regulate pre-mixed alcoholic beverages, especially those with candy-like flavours ...
Dec 04, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast New Zealand’s summer is shaping up to be hotter and drier than average. The country’s forecast has shrugged off the rainy start to summer with temperatures soaring into the 30s in some parts in the coming week. But, moving through January and February, the weather patterns are predicted to become more La Nina-like, which would bring increased chances of more rain events. So as the country gears up for a summer break, today on The Front Page, we’re looking at what is on the cards weather-wise for...
Dec 03, 2024•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins has told the party it must change if it wants to re-gain the trust it's lost. The party held its annual conference in Christchurch at the weekend, the first time its members have met since the 2023 election defeat. The party has inched closer to campaigning on a wealth tax or a capital gains tax, at the next election - after members passed a proposal to move the idea forward. And it’s made three major promises – a full Dunedin Hospital rebuild, rail-enabled ferr...
Dec 02, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Pharmac is now funding a new medicine and has removed renewal criteria for ADHD treatments. Advocates are welcoming the move – saying it’s a game-changer that will save the health system tens of millions of dollars. But, there are warnings it could lead to over-diagnosing and over-prescribing. Today on The Front Page, co-founder of DivergenThinking and registered psychologist, Anton Ashcroft joins us to discuss. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get yo...
Dec 01, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Black Friday and many Kiwi shoppers have already begun the hunt for some great deals. While some retailers promise big discounts – sometimes, all is not what it seems. Claims of retailers hiking prices before discounting them to make them look like a better deal are becoming more common – making us wonder, are the specials really that special? So, during a time when Kiwis are counting their pennies – how can we make sure we are getting the most bang for our buck. Today on The Front Page, pr...
Nov 28, 2024•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast The official cash rate has been cut by 50 basis points, bringing it down to 4.25 percent. This marks the third consecutive cut to the OCR since August and brings it to the lowest level since November 2022. With inflation also dropping last month to 2.2 percent, stats show an improving economy – but low spending is sparking concerns that we aren’t out of the woods yet. Today on The Front Page, we’re joined by Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel Eaqub to run through the numbers. Follow The Front ...
Nov 27, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today marks a year since the coalition government of National, Act and New Zealand First took office. The coalition hit the ground running, by reversing the previous Labour Government’s agenda in a ‘policy bonfire’, slimming down the public service, and reverting many Crown organisations to their English names. This, and the scrapping of the Māori Health Authority, kickstarted tensions between this Government and Māoridom – with backlash on the Treaty Principles Bill only adding fuel to the flam...
Nov 26, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Climate change conference COP29 has wrapped up with a significant but controversial final agreement. Negotiations came down to the wire over a US$1.3 trillion to help finance poorer countries to deal with the impacts of climate change and cut emissions. But, only about $300 billion of that target will come from direct payments or loans from richer countries – which has sparked backlash from nations in the direct line of fire from rising sea levels and increasing temperatures. So what does this d...
Nov 25, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast New research shows a third of New Zealand adults are obese – and policies focused on individual responsibility are failing. A Helen Clark Foundation report suggests tackling obesity will require cracking down on junk food advertising, the proliferation of takeaways, and bringing in new levies on unhealthy products. So, is the era of placing the blame on the individual going to be a thing of the past? And can the government to anything to curb obesity in this country? Today on The Front Page, Hel...
Nov 24, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Regional development has been a major focus of the coalition government. The Fast Track Bill, the return of oil and gas exploration and the Regional Infrastructure Fund is all promised to get work back to the regions and help them thrive. And the man running the show is the so-called Matua of Mining and Prince of the Provinces, Shane Jones. He’s the Minister for oceans and fisheries, regional development, and resources – and there’s not an endangered frog or a surfing hippie that’s going to get ...
Nov 21, 2024•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Government’s promised the “free ride” for gangs, is officially over. From today, gang patches will no longer be allowed to be worn in public, courts will be able to issue non-consorting orders, and Police will be able to stop members from communicating with each other. Greater weight will also be given to gang membership at sentencing – and repeat offenders continually convicted of displaying their patches in public will be subject to a new court order, prohibiting them from possessing any g...
Nov 20, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast The war in Ukraine has hit the one-thousand-day mark. On February 24, 2022 – Russia invaded Ukraine – since then, hundreds of thousands of people have died, many more have been injured, and millions are displaced. It's been called the largest and deadliest in Europe since World War II. This week, US President Joe Biden gave the green light for Ukraine to strike Russia with US-made, long-range missiles. It comes just nine weeks before Donald Trump takes office, who on the election trail pledged t...
Nov 19, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast The hikoi that started in Cape Reinga and has made its way down the country arrives in Wellington today. While many have taken part in various stages of the hikoi, tens of thousands of people are expected outside the Beehive today, as a protest against the Government’s policies impacting Maori, including the Treaty Principles Bill. Te Pati Maori have been leading the push back against the Government, notably with a viral haka stunt in Parliament during the Bill’s first reading that has garnered ...
Nov 18, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast On August 9 2021, the day after the Tokyo Olympics ended, cyclist Olivia Podmore died in a suspected suicide. Podmore had represented New Zealand in the 2016 Olympics, but was not selected five years later. Her death sparked shock throughout the close knit cycling community and wider sporting network, and the culture at Cycling NZ was eventually investigated. Now, over three years later, a coronial inquiry into Podmore’s death is due to begin today. NZ Herald reporter Tom Dillane has been coveri...
Nov 17, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast People respond to election losses in various ways, from protesting to legal action to considering moving country. But, what about adopting a vow of celibacy through something called the “4B movement”? That’s what some young women in the US have promised on social media in protest of Donald Trump winning back the White House. No dating. No sex, No childbirth. And no marriage. In a world where: the next US President was found liable for sexual abuse, online vitriol against women is skyrocketing, a...
Nov 14, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast David Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill was introduced to Parliament last week – with its first reading debate scheduled for today. The bill has sparked fierce criticism since it was included as part of National and Act’s coalition agreement last year. Protests are expected outside Parliament today, while thousands of marchers protesting Government policies affecting Maori crossed the Auckland Harbour Bridge yesterday as part of a hikoi to Parliament. So, now that we’ve actually seen the Bill, wh...
Nov 13, 2024•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast As votes continue to be counted in the US, President-elect Donald Trump has swept all seven battleground states, confirming his dominant performance in the country’s election. While many were shocked that the US would return to Trump after four years, many voters have made it clear their feelings about high inflation and the cost of living under the Biden administration swayed them towards the Republicans. It’s a similar sentiment that helped National, Act and NZ First ascend to power in our ele...
Nov 12, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Gen Z can be credited with a few things – an uptick in climate awareness, the ability to work any kind of technology, and the revival of straight leg jeans, just to name a few. However, recruiters across the ditch in Australia have spoken out about Gen Z graduates’ demands on employers –saying their arrogant expectations are leaving a bad taste in their bosses’ mouths. The oldest of the generation, born between 1997 and 2012, are 27 years old, so they are set to stick around in the workplace for...
Nov 11, 2024•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ever feel like you’re getting less bang for your buck at the supermarket? Well you might be right. As production costs rise, many companies have been resorting to what’s called ‘Shrinkflation’. Rather than raising the cost to the consumer, they make the product smaller while charging the same price. According to a Global Inflation Monitor survey in 2023, 46% of consumers said that they have noticed shrinkflation, with 55% of kiwi consumers noticing the tactic and the same amount stating the prac...
Nov 10, 2024•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
