The Front Page

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...

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...

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...

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 ed...

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...

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 Mi...

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...

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...

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 Jenn...

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 cont...

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 avai...

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...

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,...

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, multipl...

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 fo...

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...

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 Ze...

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,...

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 news...

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...

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 Heral...

The concept of 15-minute cities is the idea that all daily necessities – like work, shopping, education, healthcare, and leisure – can all be reached with a 5-minute walk, bike ride, or by public transit.   While the idea has been embraced by many countries, some conspiracy theorists have described the notion as an instrument of government repression.  Today on The Front Page, University of Auckla...

The Australian government has found themselves in a battle with billionaire Elon Musk and his legions of supporters.   Australia’s eSafety commissioner last week ordered Musk’s social media platform X – formerly known as Twitter – to remove images of the alleged stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, which was captured on a live stream earlier this month.  X only blocked the images to Australian us...

Pressure continues to pile up on the systems intended to support our military veterans. The government agency charged with meeting veterans’ needs is cutting services and has a year-long waiting list. The VIP scheme, until now, had been seen as a way of acknowledging service and offering support to those otherwise excluded from our veterans’ welfare system. So, as we come together to remember the...

The Coalition Government has seen its first cabinet reshuffle.  Melissa Lee has lost her Broadcasting Minister portfolio and has been demoted out of Cabinet.  Meanwhile, Penny Simmonds has lost her Disability Commission portfolio.   To discuss this, Chelsea Daniels is joined by the host of the On the Tiles podcast, and NZ Herald deputy political editor, Thomas Coughlan.    Follow The Front Page an...