The Front Page

The Government has this week unveiled its Emissions Reduction Plan. Billions of dollars have been earmarked as part of an effort to reduce global warming and avoid the catastrophic impacts of climate change.  Who are the winners and losers from this plan, and is Aotearoa on track for the future that this plan lays out?  Today, NZ Herald Senior Political Reporter and On The Tiles podcast...

A NZ journalist believes the Ukrainian people will never accept a settlement that sees territory handed over to Russia, as a result of the atrocities the invading forces have inflicted on the people. Tom Mutch has been in Ukraine since before Russia invaded at the end of February, and is currently reporting out of Kramatorsk, in the Donetsk Oblast near where much of the fighting is happening on th...

As the Government prepares to unveil the 2022 budget, several stories in recent weeks have drawn attention to several controversial spending decisions - from $21 million on consultants and contractors as part of its Three Waters plan, to $10,000 on two large propss as part of its Road to Zero campaign. So is this spending justified, or is it emblematic of a Government that’s a bit too loose...

In June 1993, Peter Ellis was convicted of 16 charges involving the sexual abuse of seven children.  But, despite his death in 2019, the case has not settled, as his supporters and legal team have successfully applied to hear the case again.    Now, one of the survivors has spoken out for the first time, and is sharing her version of what happened to her all those years ago. &n...

Back in January 2012, one of the most interesting legal cases in New Zealand’s history began when police raided a Coatesville mansion belonging to a German migrant by the name of Kim Dotcom.   A decade later, the Dotcom saga and charges related to his file hosting service MegaUpload are still going through courts, with news this week that two of his co-accused have cut a deal. Why...

The nation’s health system is failing women, often making them feel like their illness is a figment of their imagination.  Women are sometimes suffering for years longer than they should be, and this oversight ends up costing the healthcare system millions of extra dollars.      So how did we get to this point? And more importantly, how do we improve women&rsquo...

Westpac Bank last week forecast that New Zealand house prices would drop by 15 per cent over the next two years – striking the gloomiest note we’ve heard so far from any of New Zealand’s banks. This comes after years of sharp increases, but there’s still some doubt as to whether this will be enough to help those desperate to get onto the property ladder.   So just how...

An Auckland woman had Covid-19 for more than a month. Her harrowing story is one that runs the full gamut of symptoms, and possibly two variants.  What does a case like this mean for New Zealand as our immunity wanes in the coming winter months?     Today, NZ Herald reporter Kirsty Wynn joins Damien to discuss what we can learn from a fully vaccinated woman’s struggl...

National Party MP Simon Bridges delivered his valedictory speech this week, drawing the curtain on a colourful political career that spanned 14 years, and more than a few scandals. So what legacy does the former Opposition leader leave? And what does this mean for a National Party that has long struggled with diversity?    Today, NZ Herald senior political reporter Thomas Coughlan joins...

Gangs. Patches. And 501 deportees. These issues cause fierce debate across Aotearoa. But how much of what we hear is true? And what should the police and Government be doing to address these problems?  To help answer these questions, Damien speaks to NZ Herald investigative reporter Jared Savage, who this week reported on Operation Cobalt, the Government’s latest move to take on gangs....

Vaping brands arrived in New Zealand under the auspices of helping Kiwis quit smoking. They've also contributed to hooking an entirely new generation on nicotine, as vape stores have became ubiquitous. Although vaping is believed to be less damaging then smoking, it still has repercussions for health, some of which are still being discovered.  As New Zealand moves closer to its goals of a smo...

Unemployment is forecast to hit another record low this week. It's good news for workers, but it’s also putting enormous strain on businesses desperate to fill gaps. So what happens when we don’t have enough people to build our houses? And what does this mean for the workers desperately trying to meet deadlines without enough helping hands? New Zealand Herald property editor Anne Gibso...

Today is the first day in two years that tourists from around the world are allowed into Aotearoa. It's the  moment the beleaguered tourism industry had been hoping for, but the recovery of a $42 billion industry is going to take more than a few weeks.  New Zealand Herald travel editor Stephanie Holmes tells Damien that estimates suggest it will be three years before the industry is back...

This week, lobby organisation Grounded Kiwis won their case against the Government and the MIQ lottery system. This came as vindication for many New Zealanders who were trapped abroad during the height of the Delta outbreak.   What does this decision mean for MIQ as a whole, and is there a chance of compensation for those affected? Today, Open Justice journalist Hazel Osbourne joins Dami...

There have been multiple, high-profile ram raids in New Zealand in the past two weeks. The perpetrators are becoming increasingly brazen, targeting major malls and department stores. What’s worse is that many of those committing these crimes tend to be mere teenagers. So why has this problem become so widespread? And how much worse could it become? Today, New Zealand Herald senior writer Jan...

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern this month left New Zealand for the first time in two years, for a business-focused trip to Singapore and Japan. This trip was meant to be an announcement to the world that Aotearoa is open and ready for business. But between the high-level talks and the dancing kiwifruit, what did the Prime Minister actually achieve?     Today, Newstalk ZB chief political r...

In his quarterly forecast released last week, Westpac economist Satish Ranchhod said the quarterly inflation figure was set to be "another monster". The figure of 6.9 per cent that was eventually reported on Thursday is the highest the country has seen in 30 years. Today, the NZ Herald's business editor-at-large and Money Talks host Liam Dann joins Damien to discuss how this has become one of the...

What makes a person happy? Is it wealth, success, fame, great Instagram pics? Or is it something simpler that even ordinary people could strive for? And is it even important int he grand scheme of things?   In-between hosting his show on Radio Hauraki, the New Zealand Herald’s inaugural Happiness editor Matt Heath has been on a personal quest to answer these questions.   ...

Megachurches are big business in New Zealand, with these organisations raking in millions of dollars every year. Few have been as successful as the Arise Church, which now ranks as one of the biggest in the country. But this house of worship is starting to face a rebellion from within, as members of the congregation come forward with allegations of what really goes on behind the scenes. &nbsp...

This week, a worker died in a fall at the Ports of Auckland - the latest in a string of casualties since 2017. This comes after a review last year revealed major systemic problems in the health and safety processes at the port. How does this keep happening? And how much pressure is on the new chief executive to ensure it doesn’t continue?     Today, NZ Herald senior writer Tom Dill...

In January 2019, three-year-old Lachie Jones disappeared on a summer evening. Several hours later, he was found floating face-up in an oxidation pond south of his home in Gore. Police ruled it was an accidental drowning, but the boy’s father has long disagreed - and now has a legal team on his side.  So what really happened to Lachie Jones, and is there any chance his father's fight wil...

Netsafe, the government-funded agency meant to protect New Zealanders from online harm is facing bullying allegations, a $100,000 fine for privacy breaches and departing CEO. So how is it that Netsafe became such a mess? And how do we go about fixing a system that’s meant to keep Kiwis safe?    Today, NZ Herald technology editor Chris Keall joins Damien to discuss what’s goin...

Easter is upon New Zealand again - one of two religious events that are recognised as national public holidays. That’s despite census data showing a growing number of New Zealanders do not identify with any organised religion.   So should the whole country still be celebrating holidays associated with one religious group?   Today, Reverend Frank Ritchie, host of Newstalk...

Tonight Labour MP Louisa Wall delivers her valedictory speech, bringing an end to a career in Parliament that lasted 14 years. However, she has not gone out quietly. Instead, she gave a series of interviews in which she claimed that Jacinda Ardern did not want her in cabinet or in her caucus. So why did she do this, what truth is there to her claims, and how does this reflect on Wall and the Prime...

For 20 years, author Ana Samways has been a collector of New Zealand cultural curiosities. She’s been trawling through the online world for photos, stories and other trinkets that capture the weirdness of life in New Zealand - producing over 5000 editions of the beloved New Zealand Herald column, Sideswipe.  Today, in honour of the anniversary celebrations, Samways joins Damien to ...