The Australian federal election is heating up.

Anthony Albanese is facing the challenge of becoming the first PM to be re-elected since John Howard. He has been an MP since 1996, when he was the youngest Labor member of the house.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton brings with him a wealth of experience, having been elected to the house of representatives in 2001 aged 30.

Both have sat across the aisle from each other for years. And this Saturday, Australians will vote which will lead their country for the next three years.

Today on The Front Page, ABC News political reporter Claudia Long takes a break from following around the candidates and joins us from Melbourne to talk polls, policies – and what Kiwis in Aussie need to know.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crime is a constant hot topic of debate in New Zealand – one that is rarely far from the front pages.

The recent alleged murder of University of Auckland student Kyle Whorrall in Auckland has served as a reminder of the randomness that comes with violent crime – with a 16 year old now charged with his murder.

But the Government is touting that violent crime is on the decline – years before their intended target.

So are our streets really any safer – and is vibe more than policy influencing this?

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald senior journalist Derek Cheng is with us to discuss the stats.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The battle over gender and definitions is building steam in New Zealand.

New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill that “would ensure the biological definition of a woman and man are defined in law”.

It comes after a landmark ruling in the United Kingdom, where Supreme Court judges unanimously ruled a woman is defined “by biological sex under equalities law”.

The court sided with a women’s rights campaign group that argued sex-based protections should only apply to “people that were born female”.

Judge Lord Hodge said the ruling should not be seen as a triumph of one side over the other, and stressed that the law still gives protection against discrimination to transgender people.

But it was largely seen as a victory by campaigners, while trans rights advocates have called the ruling a huge blow to some of the most marginalised people in our society.

To discuss this issue, today on The Front Page, we’re joined by University of Waikato professor of sociology and social policy Katrina Roen.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Front Page podcast is taking the day off as the country marks Anzac Day.

Instead, we're presenting an episode of The Prosperity Project, the Herald's personal finance podcast.

Listen as host Nadine Higgins talks with personal finance columnist Mary Holm about what you need to know about KiwiSaver - including what the most important thing to consider is when picking a provider.

If you enjoy the episode, follow The Prosperity Project wherever you get your podcasts, and we'll catch you back on Monday for another look behind the headlines.

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On April 25th, 110 years ago, soldiers from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed at Gallipoli.

About 8,700 Australians and 2,700 Kiwis would die over the eight-month campaign that followed.

Since then, the term Anzac has symbolised decades of mateship – and the day is observed now by a number of Pacific nations as well.

The date serves as a time to remember those who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations – but until very recently, how we defined veteran was quite narrow.

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald senior reporter, David Fisher, is with us to take us through the latest changes in this realm – and how our defence focus is changing.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pope Francis has died at the age of 88. 

The Vatican announced he died of a stroke at his Santa Maria residence – almost a month after a five-week stay in hospital battling pneumonia.

Elected on March 13 2013, for 12 years he served as the leader of the world’s 1 point 4 billion Catholics, and was notable for his more liberal and open minded views on Christianity.

Today on The Front Page, Bishop Michael Dooley, the Bishop of Dunedin, joins us to talk about Pope Francis’ legacy – and whether Hollywood’s depiction of how to choose the next pontiff is correct.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Police are assisting the FBI in an investigation into a secretive religious group, which has operations worldwide.

It’s a fringe, Christian sect that has no official name – but is commonly known as the “Two by Twos”,  “The Truth”, “The Way” and “The Church With No Name”.

The inquiries follow a BBC investigation last year into allegations of child sexual abuse spanning decades within the church, which is believed to have up to 100,000 members worldwide.

And in a bizarre twist, it's been revealed National Party MP Hamish Campbell is a high-ranking member of the group.

Today on The Front Page, Herald senior crime reporter Anna Leask has been delving into what exactly this group is – and joins us now.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are a number of employment dispute avenues in New Zealand, dependent on what industry you’re in.

If you’re one of the 114,000 registered teachers in this country – you have to appear before something called the “Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal”.

Last year, there were 524 complaints, mandatory reports, and self-reports received by the Teaching Council - which is 0.5% of the total number of teachers who held a practising certificate.

It’s more than 2023, which saw 462 -- that accounted for 0.4%.

For the latest in our series looking at how different tribunals work, today on The Front Page we’re joined again by Open Justice reporter Jeremy Wilkinson.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For much of the 1970s, Marty Johnstone operated as one of New Zealand’s most notorious drug dealers.

Dubbed ‘Mr Asia’ by journalists, Johnstone rose from North Shore menswear salesman to head of a global heroin empire.

But his life at the top was short lived. In November 1979, his mutilated body was found in a quarry in Lancashire, England. He was just 27 when he was murdered, killed by his best friend, Andy Maher.

The epic rise and rapid fall of the country’s most infamous drug gang is retold in Mr Asia: A Forgotten History, a new six-part podcast series from the New Zealand Herald and Bird of Paradise Productions.

Here’s a snippet from episode one, 'When Terry Met Marty'.

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The Government is keen on making it easier to get more drivers on the road.

If proposed changes announced this week go through, the second practical driving test required for a full licence will be scrapped, and the number of eyesight tests needed will be reduced, with new safety measures being introduced as well.

It comes as the Government continues with its pledge to reverse Labour’s “blanket speed limit reductions” - something National campaigned on.

But will a more affordable drivers license system, and higher speed limits, make our roads any safer?

Today on The Front Page, we’re joined by AA road safety spokesperson, Dylan Thomsen , to discuss the Government’s latest plans for our roads.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.