The Front Page

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.&...

Labour has unveiled its pitch to make power bills cheaper.  If elected, the party’s promising subsidies of up to $3000 to low-and-middle-income households so they can install solar panels.   The party is also promising two Government-backed low-interest loan schemes for home energy upgrades, alongside rule changes that would let renters...

All eyes are on the Reserve Bank this week, as it prepares to make its latest call on the Official Cash Rate.  Just weeks ago, a hike looked likely.  But as Wednesday’s announcement approaches, that once-simple story has become a lot more complicated.  Fuel prices have fallen, inflation fears have softened, and economists are now sharply divided on whether the Bank s...

National has unveiled an ambitious new trade pitch, promising to pursue New Zealand’s “next billion customers”. The party says it’s all part of a plan to grow exports, create jobs and boost incomes, with a long-term goal of doubling export value by 2034. Supporters say that is the kind of ambition a small trading nation needs. Sceptics say the policy may be trying to do too...

Kim Dotcom has spent more than a decade at the centre of one of New Zealand’s most high-profile legal and political sagas.  From the dramatic FBI-backed raid on his Coatesville mansion in 2012, to the long-running fight over extradition to the United States... The former Megaupload mogul is never far from the headlines.  Now, with fresh developments putting Dotc...

El Niño is back and scientists say it could become one of the strongest we’ve ever had to deal with. That means the weather patterns shaping our spring and summer may be about to shift in a big way. But El Niño can also be one of those phrases we hear a lot without always fully understanding what it actually means or how seriously we should take it when scientists start soundin...

New Zealand’s hospitality scene feels like it’s at a crossroads.  On one hand, cafés, bars and restaurants are battling a brutal mix of rising costs, mounting debts and changing consumer habits.   Venues are closing, owners are exhausted, and many are wondering how much longer they can hang on.  On the other, Aotea...

Fuel prices are one of those costs that almost everyone notices immediately. When they rise, households feel it, businesses feel it, and suddenly a number on the forecourt becomes a national talking point. The average price of petrol has dipped under $3 for the first time in more than three months as a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran holds. If the price stays below $3 for four consecutiv...

Benefits, boosting apprenticeships, and the coalition headache already looming over Election 2026. Both Labour and Act kickstarted their campaigns at the weekend. David Seymour wants a much tougher welfare system. Chris Hipkins wants to bolster a Covid-era trade scheme. Meanwhile, National’s questioning its coalition partners’ intentions, with Christopher Luxon not “100% sure&rdq...

The New Zealand Police has been rocked by an investigation into the country’s top cop.  An inquiry’s underway into complaints against Police Commissioner Richard Chambers.  He is strongly denying the claims. But, it comes at a time when trust and confidence in police is on shaky ground already. Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald senior investigative reporter Michael Morr...

Could now be the time to see a new party in Government? Better yet, is it time to see a new Kingmaker? The Opportunity Party is nearing the 5% threshold to get into Parliament for the first time in its 10-year history. At the centre of that pitch is a bold Tax Reset policy: a universal Citizens Income, a Land Value Tax, and a major rethink of retirement savings. But the real question now is whethe...

Misleading information, unanswered questions, and more than $30 million down the drain and nothing to show for it. You may have heard about immigration officials being in hot water lately over scrapping an IT upgrade and apparently obscuring information relating to the project’s cost blowouts. Even the Prime Minister has admitted his confidence in the public service has taken a knock over th...

Tourism is booming again, but who should pay for the pressure that comes with it?  A powerful alliance of mayors and tourism leaders is pushing for a nationwide accommodation levy, or bed tax.  They argue tourists should help fund the roads, rubbish collection, public facilities and major events that keep our biggest destinations running.   Support...

One major theme has emerged for this year’s election... money. Two parties at the weekend launched ideas to get the country’s finances in order and future-proof our economy for generations to come.  National held its annual party conference in high spirits, despite a polling support slide since the last election. They announced policy that would make KiwiSaver compulsory, raise mi...

The Super Rugby Pacific final is here, and the excitement is already at fever pitch. Tickets for the decider on Saturday sold out in just 15 minutes, as the Hurricanes and Chiefs prepare to meet in Wellington in what shapes as one of the biggest rugby nights of the year. So what makes this matchup so compelling? Which team has the edge, which players could define the contest, and what does the hug...

Shane Jones’ controversial fisheries reform has been abandoned – for now. The Oceans and Fisheries Minister told a select committee today that his “much-loved bill” would not be progressed in this term of government. The Fisheries Amendment Bill had caused division within the coalition... changes to minimum legal-size limits for commercial fishing operators had to be walked...

For years, New Zealand has spent big on infrastructure without always getting the results to match.  Now, the Government's vowing to change that. It’s supporting all 16 recommendations in the Infrastructure Commission's National Plan – a blueprint for how the country plans, funds, and delivers the things we all rely on.  The 30-year plan includes a review of the Land Transpor...

Finance Minister Nicola Willis fronted a press conference on Sunday, complete with a black dossier labelled  Labour's Hidden Bill , accusing the opposition of leaving an $18 billion funding gap in its plans.  Since then, independent economists have also questioned Labour’s figures around their recently announced fare cap policy, saying the numbers don’t qu...

Donald Trump says the United States and Iran have reached a peace agreement, with a formal signing ceremony expected later this week. The announcement follows weeks of negotiations and comes in the wake of an Israeli strike on Beirut that reportedly disrupted the process at the last minute.  If the agreement holds, it could reshape relations across the Middle East and have implications for ev...

A leading paediatrician is warning more New Zealand babies will end up in hospital this winter while a treatment that could prevent many RSV cases remains unavailable. The breakthrough antibody injection is already being used in countries like Australia, the UK and the US, but here it's still awaiting approval and funding decisions. The delay has reignited questions about how we prioritise child h...

For just the third time in history, New Zealand is heading to football's biggest stage. The FIFA World Cup is ready for kick off and the All Whites are returning to the tournament for the first time since that memorable campaign in South Africa in 2010. Back then, New Zealand achieved something no other team did – leaving the tournament undefeated. Fast forward to 2026 and the World Cup is b...

Labour has unveiled its first major policy announcement since the Budget, promising to cap weekly public transport fares at $20 in the main centres. But is this really just a transport policy, or the first glimpse of a broader election strategy? Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths joins Richard Martin to break down what the announcement says about Labour's campaign, whether the numbers...

A few months ago, the Government said New Zealanders could end up helping fund a new LNG import terminal through their power bills. Now it's changed its mind.  As of today, the customer levy is gone, but the plan to import liquefied natural gas as a backup for dry years is still very much alive.  So why the backdown and who ultimately will end&nbsp...

Auckland is supposed to be moving again.  The City Rail Link is almost here, the CBD is looking better, and there’s been a lot of talk about the economy finally turning a corner.  But for many Aucklanders, it still doesn’t feel like a recovery.  New figures show the value of building work in Auckland has fallen sharply, with non-residential construction taking...

Four New Zealand MPs who visited Taiwan last month have been banned from entering China, Hong Kong, and Macau for a year. National's Maureen Pugh, Labour's Duncan Webb, ACT's Laura McClure and NZ First's David Wilson were visiting as part of a cross-party Parliamentary group to improve relations with Taiwan. The Chinese embassy has said the ban could be reduced or waived with an apology. It’...