The Front Page

This week marks one year since the 2023 election.  That election saw Labour’s historic majority cut in half, and started weeks of negotiations between National, Act and NZ First about the shape of the government.   Marking the anniversary, a 1News Verian poll shows 30% of respondents believe the country is in better shape than a year ago – while 40% think it’s worse.   That divisive nature has bee...

The Government will introduce legislation later this year to create the Young Serious Offender category and empower Youth Court judges to send them to new boot camps.  It’s all while Oranga Tamariki officials supported the view of experts that boot camps are not effective.  So, why have every other iteration of bootcamps failed – and how might this government make them better?   Today on The Front...

The Official Cash Rate’s been cut to 4.75 percent – which is being touted as welcome news for households all over New Zealand. It’s the lowest the OCR has been in 18 months. The Monetary Policy Committee said that annual consumer price inflation was within its 1 to 3% inflation target range and converging on the 2% midpoint. While plenty of people are popping the champagne over this announcement,...

A local election begins today in Auckland, though you're probably not even aware. 364,000 Auckland households and businesses can vote this month for the trust board that runs Entrust. If this name sounds familiar to Aucklanders, it’s because the majority shareholder of Vector dishes out $350 payments to eligible electricity account holders every year. Yet very few of us actually vote in these elec...

As Auckland’s population continues to grow, so too are the city’s schools – and many of them are running out of space. Analysis by the Herald has found that while the school-aged population has only risen by 18 percent since the year 2000, at least one school has had its roll jump by 149 percent. With space running out, it’s also prompting tough questions for schools and what they do with out of z...

A search for answers is underway after HM-NZS Manawanui ran aground and sank near Samoa.  The $100 million ship left Auckland’s Devonport just over a week ago and was conducting a reef survey off the coast of Samoa but ran aground at 6.46pm on Saturday.  The ship started to take on water shortly after, and fire broke out as well, prompting an evacuation of all personnel on board.   In the end, sev...

It’s been a year since terrorist group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel – sparking the deadliest conflict in the Gaza region for decades.  Since then, at least 40,000 people have died, many more injured, 1.9 million displaced, and countless buildings and homes destroyed.  Aid organisations have consistently warned of the humanitarian crisis on the ground – and are pleading with the world...

Infrastructure is top of the agenda for the Government for the last months of 2024. The Prime Minister this week released his Q4 action plan, with plenty of targets focussing on getting things built. Among the 43 objectives is the highly controversial fast-track approvals bill, which it’s hoped will speed up the delivery of regional and national projects of significance. The focus on infrastructur...

The Mood of the Boardroom is back today for its 22nd year. The annual survey of the country’s top CEOs and business leaders has seen a broad tick of approval for the coalition Government, with strong support for Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis and their economic plan. But they want to see the Government be bolder and set out their vision for New Zealand’s future, and that could include tacklin...

Tensions in the Middle East are ramping up at an alarming rate. Israel’s Defence Forces have said it has begun a "targeted" ground operation into southern Lebanon against “terrorist targets”. It comes after days of airstrikes within Beirut’s city limits, which started after Israel assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. The escalation in the war has killed civilians, destroyed homes and di...

Violence towards children is one of the most concerning issues in New Zealand.   It’s an issue that debates decades, back when Child, Youth and Family was responsible for our most vulnerable, before it was replaced by Oranga Tamariki.  And that government agency bears the brunt of trying to look after our children, and keep them safe from harm – but recent reports have shown that not only has litt...

Provincial New Zealand is hurting.   Alliance Group last week confirmed plans to close its Timaru meat processing plant in Smithfield, with the loss of hundreds of jobs.  It comes after earlier this month that Winstone Pulp International said will close two mills near Ohakune, which will see 230 people lose their jobs.   To discuss the impact facing small towns in New Zealand, and if there’s a way...

Public servants – or what’s left of them – have been ordered back to the office in Wellington.  The Government’s call has been welcomed by central city businesses, who said that the absence of workers has impacted on their business.   The decline of the city centre is one of a number of issues the capital is facing, including soaring costs from rates and struggling council finances.  Wellington Ma...

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster announced this week - he is ending his term early, to take up a new role as the head of the Social Investment Agency at the end of the year. Coster was the face of the previous government’s push to ‘police by consent’ and copped a huge amount of criticism from National when they were in Opposition. The race is on to replace Coster – so who will National pick, and...

Last week, a brand-new outlet mall opened in Auckland... right next to the International Airport. Mānawa Bay is a new 200-million-dollar mall on the airport precinct, boasting 100 stores and eateries, including some never seen before in New Zealand. The opening weekend though was marred by large traffic delays around the airport, which caused some flights to be delayed as crews were caught up in t...

New Zealand is a country of immigrants, with tens of thousands of people moving here each year. We’re also a country of travellers, and those new arrivals help make up for the population shortfall as Kiwis migrate overseas. Due to the stream of migrants in recent years, our population has been steadily growing, but new forecasts from one economist predicts net migration may slow to zero by 2025. S...

After eight weeks at the High Court in Auckland, on the first day of the ninth week, the jury has found Philip Polkinghorne not guilty of the murder of his wife, Pauline Hanna.  For more on how the last day of the trial, NZ Herald crime reporter Craig Kapitan details the decision.  You can listen to episodes of Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial through The Front Page podcast feed, or find it on iHea...

For the last few years, our headlines have been dominated by talk of ram raids, robberies, and gang members misbehaving.  Those stories have fed through to politics, with governments making a big deal about tackling gangs and cracking down on crime.  But while these crimes may make for a great photo and deliver political soundbites, little is ever said about the extent of white collar crimes like...

The pressure of the cost-of-living crunch has been felt by most of us for a few years now. Many of us hope that the more we earn, the less we have to worry about bills, unexpected costs and living week to week. This week though, Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau revealed she’s had to sell her car - in order to help pay her bills. So if a mayor on a salary of just under $190,000 a year is finding it tou...

Week Eight has the Crown and Defence issuing their closing statements. The Crown alleges that Philip Polkinghorne killed his wife, Pauline Hanna, on April 5 2021. He maintains she took her own life.  After the Crown went first, it is now the turn of the defence - led by lawyer Ron Mansfield - to deliver its closing statement.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feral or roaming dogs have been causing concern in remote parts of New Zealand for years.  But now things are getting so bad, trampers are being told they risk being attacked if they walk alone. It’s prompted calls for drastic action to be taken to curb the issue – but what tools do we have at our disposal to manage the problem, and how has it gotten so bad? Today on The Front Page, we are joined...

Week Eight has the Crown and Defence issuing their closing statements. First is the Crown, with Crown Prosecutor Alysha McClintock delivering it to the jury. The Crown alleges that Philip Polkinghorne killed his wife, Pauline Hanna, on April 5 2021. He maintains she took her own life.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand’s once world-leading education system is in a sorry state. Huge numbers of Kiwi kids are failing in key areas – with 4 out of 5 Year 8 students behind in maths. It’s prompted the government to fast-track plans for a new maths curriculum for intermediate students, and it’s tackling the teacher shortage by allowing those who were previously registered to be relievers. But can these solut...

A replacement bridge, or a second one – or how about a tunnel instead?  The ongoing debate about a new harbour crossing in Auckland has reignited, with Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown laying out his vision for a second bridge, instead of the tunnel proposed by Labour.  The proposal has already proved controversial as it would require building through Meola Reef to Kauri Point.   How does this plan stac...

After seven weeks and over 80 witnesses, we have finished hearing evidence in the trial of Philip Polkinghorne.   The former Auckland eye surgeon is accused of murdering his wife, Pauline Hanna, who was found dead on 5 April, 2021.  He maintains she took her own life.  In the final days of testimony, the debate over activity on Hanna’s phone continued, before the last two witnesses to take the sta...