The Front Page

Today marks one year since our first episode of The Front Page, and it's been a truly haywire year for our politicians.  After Labour’s popularity highs off the back of Covid, a growing backlash to their policies and a strong opposition saw Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern quit, handing over the reins to Chris Hipkins. It is now a battle of the Chrises in the lead-up to our election in just over six...

We may only be a few months into 2023, but the cost-of-living is already set to dominate our year.   As prices for common goods soar, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has made the cost of living a key focus of the election by culling a number of government projects to fund a support package.  To help put the crisis into perspective, the Herald has launched a price tracker today to highlight some of th...

We are just six months away from the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.   After a rough 2022, the All Blacks are hoping that this could be their year to reclaim the Webb Ellis Cup. But it’s the drama off the field that is dominating discussions right now. Current coach Ian Foster announced he won’t be reapplying for the job when his tenure ends after the tournament. This comes after a year of public...

Stuart Nash has long been known as tough-talking, hardline politician. Now his loose lips have landed him in hot water and out of a job.  Nash revealed in a Newstalk ZB interview that two years ago he phoned Police Commissioner Andrew Coster to suggest appealing a sentence that had been given to an offender. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls explains to Damien why these comments broke a car...

For the last 27 years, Aotearoa has been using the mixed-member proportional (MMP) electoral system.   This method allows for the electorate to vote for both the party and the MP they want to represent them.  But after nearly three decades, is New Zealand making the most of MMP?   Current polls suggest only five parties will be represented after October’s election, while voters are essentially cho...

News about the impending collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in the United States quickly sent shockwaves around the world.   Panicked investors quickly started pulling out their money, and the repercussions were even felt in our tech scene.   So what went wrong here? Could this trigger a broader domino effect? And are our local banks safe from suffering a similar fate?   Today, Markets with Madison p...

New Zealand loves to celebrate our artistic community when we succeed on the world stage – and especially when a golden trophy is involved.  But as much as we love championing these artistic wins – we aren’t very good at properly funding our creatives.   Recent drama with Creative New Zealand has come at the same time as Australia has put significant investment into their local arts and film secto...

The Pacifica has become a familiar part of Auckland’s skyline.  With 57 floors spread across 178 metres, it is the country’s tallest apartment building.   But in recent weeks, it’s gained a reputation for more sordid details, including concerns over air conditioners, fire sprinklers – and a mysterious vibrating device.   As more apartment buildings sprout up across the country – and many Kiwis loo...

Ask the average Kiwi on the street, and they’ll likely tell you that they don’t feel as safe as they once did.     Random crimes, ram raids, gang activity, and disorderly behaviour have dominated our headlines over the last 12 months, creating a sense that crime is out of control. In response, there has been scathing criticism from politicians who claim that the Government is too soft on crime.  B...

Ferry services across the Cook Strait are one of Aotearoa’s most vital transport links.  They’re also one of the most prone to failure.  Recent issues with Interislander and Bluebridge ferries – including failing ships and mayday calls in the middle of storms - have shone the spotlight on the years-long issues with the ferry services that link our country’s two islands. So how did this major trans...

Even at the ground level, women can struggle to break into the work force or restart their careers after taking some time off.    So why do things continue to be so tough for women? Will the upcoming recession make things even more difficult? And what are some of the things men can do to help more? Today, Robyn Moore, the executive manager at the Auckland branch of not-for-profit Dress for Success...

Half of mortgage holders will take a hit of hundreds of dollars when they need to refix their interest rates within the next 12 months.   This will heap financial pressure on homeowners at a time when house prices are also steadily declining.   Amid all this, business confidence is also on the slide and bosses are starting to pull back on hiring new staff.   So much will this mortgage shock hurt?...

Forestry waste plowing through homes, destroying farmland and piling up on east coast beaches during recent storms has angered the public.    The Government has announced that there will be a ministerial inquiry to work out if more could be done to keep forestry in check. But in doing so, they’ll come up against a multi-billion-dollar industry well versed in the practice of lobbying. Today, Dr Bry...

A series of posts have come back to bite the former Te Whatu Ora and Environmental Protection Authority chairman Rob Campbell. On LinkedIn, he attacked National’s Three Waters policy and accused the party of dog whistling on co-governance. These comments became a political lightning rod and have ultimately led to the Government sacking him from his leadership roles within the health and environmen...

The draft budget for Aotearoa’s super city is already whipping up worries.  The proposal suggests selling the council’s shares in Auckland International Airport, cuts to multiple services, less public events, and a boost in disaster-response spending.   Even with all that, rates would rise by a net average of 5.66 per cent.  So is this the best course of action for Auckland’s council to take? Are...

WARNING: This episode features content dealing with self-harm, suicide, and related mental health topics.   Scroll through TikTok and you’re likely to find a series of harmless, sometimes hilarious, video clips of young people doing weird things.   But dig a little deeper, and you’re likely to find a dark underbelly of posts, sharing the experiences of people suffering from mental illness. So what...

Today marks the last day of summer, but North Islanders can be forgiven for not noticing.  Relentless downpours have rendered this summer one the wettest in living memory. A cyclone and two bands of thunderstorms have already caused enormous damage across the North Island – and there are fears there could yet be more to come.   Why has our infrastructure battled to withstand the downpours? And wha...

The arduous task of counting all the people who live here is fast approaching.      March 7th is Census Day – meaning that each of us will have to fill in forms detailing how many people live in our homes.     This information is critical in showing how our population is changing and plays a key role in determining how resources are distributed across the country.    But gathering this information...

On this day in 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, escalating their ongoing conflict in a move that sent shockwaves around the world.    12 months on, the war continues, with Ukraine still managing to mount a stubborn defence against relentless Russian assaults.     Kiwi war journalist Tom Mutch has been reporting on Russia’s incursion into Ukraine since fighting first broke out. After a stint back home...

Massive worker shortages across numerous industries have led to calls for more immigration, on other side of the debate there are concerns about infrastructure capacity.   This to and fro has long made a immigration a political football kicked between the parties. But what does a good long-term strategy actually look like? And is there anything we can learn from other countries?     Dr Eric Crampt...

Every year, in the lead-up to March, the traffic grinds to halt as motorways in Auckland back up with bumper-to-bumper cars.    The media has dubbed this annual occurrence March Madness to reflect the frustration of every commuter trying to get to work.   After two years of Covid-19 disruptions, this problem is well and truly back – and it hasn’t been helped by massive disruptions across our publi...

Cyclone Gabrielle has left a trail of destruction across the North Island, but the East Coast has been hit particularly hard.     Thousands of people are still unaccounted for, roads remain blocked and many are without power.     Some local politicians have voiced their frustration at the lack of infrastructure funding, while others are taking aim at the actions of the forestry industry.    Hawke’...

The combination of the Auckland floods and the impact of cyclone Gabrielle served as forceful reminder that climate change is here.  Lives have been lost, homes destroyed and livelihoods obliterated in the worst storm we’ve seen in the 21st century. Seeing the scale of the destruction moved Climate Change Minister and Green Party co-leader James Shaw to make an impassioned speech about the decades...

Aotearoa may be cleaning up from our natural disaster, but we’re not the only country struggling right now.   More than a week after a devastating earthquake shook Turkey and Syria to their core, rescuers are still pulling survivors from the rubble.     With over 40,000 deaths recorded across both regions, this one of the deadliest earthquakes of all time.    This event has sparked a massive human...

The intense weather over the last month has caused devastation across the North Island.   But how much of this damage was avoidable?   From entire communities cut off by slips taking out roads, to downed power lines that left thousands without lights, the storms and floods in recent weeks have highlighted some of the flaws in New Zealand’s infrastructure.     Today, Damien speaks with Dr Timothy W...