The Front Page

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 effect after local elections in 2028.  So who’s likely to merge with who? What re...

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, questions remain... What happened behind closed doors? What will happen to the detra...

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 if National can really change leaders this close to an election.     See omnystudio.co...

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 to rein in spending and return to surplus. He joins Chelsea Daniels to discuss government debt,...

Data centres are not a new phenomenon, but hyperscale AI data centres? Well, that's a whole other conversation. There are currently no AI hyperscale data centres in New Zealand, but that looks to change with plans already approved to build one in the South Island. Not everyone's happy about it, including the Greens who have called for one-year moratorium on consenting new AI data centres. Tod...

It feels like Auckland is entering its big city era. New Zealand’s largest transport infrastructure project ever, the City Rail Link will open to passengers on September 13. It’s being touted as being truly transformative for the country’s biggest city ... a city that is rapidly growing. And that’s partly thanks to the Fast-Track scheme – which has meant developers do...

Unemployment has risen again – and it’s worse than everyone expected.  Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate increased to 5.6 percent in the June quarter.  That's up from 5.4 percent in the March quarter and it's slighter higher than most economists were predicting.  So, what does that mean? Should we panic? Or is t...

The Prime Minister is in damage control mode after telling struggling business owners in Rotorua to “be adult”.  Christopher Luxon made the remarks at a business event, and they’ve sparked a fierce backlash.  He’s since had to apologise after being labelled out of touch and patronising.  So, is this a gaffe&nb...

Act wants to give teachers the legal power to remove disruptive students from the classroom.  Staff would be able to use “reasonable force” to do so – and there’d be a mandatory stand-down or suspension for any students who assaulted another student, teacher, or staff member.  Parents would be required to attend a meeting – if t...

It’s a battle of the islands to become New Zealand’s economic engine room. All eight South Island Chambers of Commerce have launched a joint election manifesto highlighting their $100 billion contribution to the economy. They’re calling for more investment and productivity with the goal of lifting South Island GDP per capita to $130,000 by 2035. Representing around 7000 businesse...

Go onto any parents group in the country and you’ll find comments about arbitrary school uniform rules.   Socks falling down, no scarves in class, skirts instead of shorts, and no t-shirts underneath despite not seeing them – and that’s just what our team has seen.   And that’s all before we tal...

New Zealand’s superannuation problem is something that constantly rears its head.  Whether it’s abolishing MPs’ gold-plated super scheme, if we should introduce means testing, or heighten the retirement age – one thing’s always clear... our status quo is untenable.  The annual cost of NZ Super has already risen from less th...

91 petrol is set to stay below $3 a litre for the fourth week in a row, and that means the $50 weekly fuel payment for working families should be coming to an end.  The Government has always said any support would be timely, temporary and targeted — but with so much volatility in the Middle East, should it be extended?  Finance...

The National Party has promised to gradually extend paid parental leave from 26 to 30 weeks by 2029 if re-elected.  That would see the entitlement lift to 27 weeks in next year’s Budget, before rising again in the following two Budgets.  The announcement came days after NZ First candidate Stuart Nash resigned his candidacy after calling National MP Katie Nimon l...

The conflict in the Middle East is widening fast.  Yemen's Houthi rebels have targeted Saudi Arabian ships in the Red Sea - threatening to cut off a crucial route for the kingdom's oil exports.  The price of oil has surpassed 100 US-dollars a barrel for the first time since May.   Meanwhile the US has carried out its 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iran.   ...

New Zealand’s housing market remains firmly in buyers’ favour.  Sales activity is continuing to weaken and property values are showing little sign of a broad-based recovery.  But, while first-home buyers remain active, investors are pulling back, with some wary of what a shifting political and tax environment could mean for returns.&nbs...

The Fast-track Approvals Act has been in force since December 2024, and it was sold as a simpler, faster way to get projects moving.  Since then, it’s been tied to everything from new homes to aquaculture, farming projects, roads and public transport, but it’s also drawn plenty of criticism along the way.  NZ First is still pushing for Ministers...

Inflation has hit 4.1% - the highest level in more than two years. Economists had expected it surge to somewhere between 3.9 and 4.1 percent.  However, the end result is well below some previous forecasts, which reached 4.9%.  If we ignored the surging fuel prices, Westpac economists reckon inflation would be about 2.8 percent.  So w...

Spain have beaten Argentina to win the Fifa World Cup for the second time in history.   It caps off a tournament that delivered drama on the pitch – and a long list of controversies off it.  From sky‑high ticket prices and visa headaches, to political grandstanding and fresh questions over Fifa’s priorities, many fans are wondering whether this W...

The idea of a celebrity running for office is nothing new.   All over the world, ex TV stars, movie icons, and comedians try their hand at a new role: politician.   This week, Election 2026 has been rocked by the announcement that ex-broadcaster Paul Henry will be entering the fray – running for the Act Party.   There have been countless...

H5N1 bird flu has landed in New Zealand.  The positive result from a brown skua found at Wellington’s Petone Beach is the country’s first case of the strain.   For months, officials, farmers, and DOC workers have been bracing for this moment, trying to protect our wildlife from a virus that’s already devastated birds around the world.  We’ve been on...

Ex broadcaster Paul Henry is running for Act in the upcoming election.  He stood for National in 1999 but is best known for hosting TVNZ's Breakfast in the mid-2000s.  Henry’s long media career has been marked by a string of public controversies, many of which have led to him being criticised for his offensive and inflammatory remarks.  So, with Act stagnan...

Don’t you think it’s time for New Zealand to have more supermarket options? The Government's announced a new guide for international chains wanting to set up shop here. It’s all in the hope of luring overseas investors to break up our duopoly grocery sector. Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has said the guidelines are like rolling out a red carpet for those looking here t...

The United States has unleashed its biggest round of strikes on Iran in weeks. The US has said it struck about 140 Iranian military sites – which prompted Tehran to attack allies in the region, including Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, the UAE, and Qatar. Meanwhile, Washington insists that the Strait of Hormuz is open, despite Iran saying it has closed the waterway amid renewed strikes. Today on The F...

This week, New Zealand will host Narendra Modi, the first Indian Prime Minister to visit this country in four decades.  It should be a major diplomatic and economic moment, coming as the India free trade agreement edges closer to ratification and the Government celebrates early signs of export growth.  But behind the diplomatic spectacle, political tensions are still bubbling away.&...