Local government is how communities democratically decide what happens in their backyards.

The park on the corner, what day our bins go out, your neighbours making too much noise, how much you pay in rates, whether your dog can enjoy the beach off lead.

Every day we encounter a council decision whether we know it or not.

So, why is voter turnout always so low?

There are 78 local authorities in New Zealand: 11 regional councils, 12 city councils, 54 district councils, and Auckland Council (which combined eight former councils in the big Super City amalgamation of 2010).

That means there are a lot of roles up for grabs.

To dive into what you need to know about this years local elections, today on The Front Page, we have Newstalk ZB news director and local government reporter Michael Sergel.

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
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank is expected to cut the Official Cash Rate today, but how deeply it will cut remains to be seen.

Markets are pricing in the cut as a certainty, but the debate is now on how big it will be.

So, what could a cut mean for mortgage holders and the average Kiwi?

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald business editor at large, Liam Dann is with us to dive into the Reserve Bank’s upcoming decision, and what’s been happening behind closed doors.

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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
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been more than two years since Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods.

Nineteen people died.

A three-week long inquest has begun in Hastings District Court, examining how prepared we were for the cyclone, how warnings were issued, and the emergency response.

Today on The Front Page, Open Justice reporter Ric Stevens joins us to take us through what we know so far, and what we hope to learn from these tragic events.

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
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand’s fight to attract the minds shaping the future in tech could have just gotten a bit harder.

China has a new visa which targets young STEM grads and foreign tech talent.

It’s while a similar US visa now comes with a $100,000 fee attached.

The move has been described as “boosting Beijing’s fortunes” in its geopolitical rivalry with Washington.

Today on The Front Page, Victoria University Senior Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence Dr Andrew Lensen is with us to take a look what makes this country attractive - and what might be holding it back.

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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
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Corrections Association says New Zealand’s prisons are in ‘crisis’.

Last year saw record-breaking numbers of assaults on staff, almost double what they were just seven years ago.

There were also more than 15-hundred prisoner-on-prisoner attacks - the highest annual figure on record.

All of this comes with overcrowding, tight budgets, and a growing gang and meth problem.

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald senior reporter, Derek Cheng, is with us to dive into the numbers.

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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
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump says a Gaza ceasefire is “closer than ever” - but, what’s the reality?

The White House has released a plan to end the Gaza war after Trump held talks with Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Israeli leader has apparently agreed to the 20-point plan, which still requires sign off from Hamas.

After nearly two years of war, the powers that be seem hopeful an end is near. Trump has said if Hamas doesn’t agree to the deal, it’s going to be “a very sad end”.

But, given a number of provisions are ones the terror group has previously vetoed, how realistic is it?

And who would govern Gaza once the dust settles anyway?

Today on The Front Page, Australian National University Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies senior lecturer Dr Anas Iqtait is with us to discuss the latest in the plan for peace.

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
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are huge inequities facing at least 183,000 New Zealanders, and nothing’s being done about it.

New data from Blind Low Vision NZ reveals how blind, deafblind, and low vision New Zealanders face not only higher costs but also the emotional strain of barriers most Kiwis never encounter.

Stats NZ figures show that 58% of disabled New Zealanders earn $30,000 or less a year, compared with 33% of non-disabled people.

So, what does government need to do to make sure this community doesn’t keep falling through the cracks?

Today on The Front Page, Blind Low Vision NZ community and inclusion GM Dan Shepherd is with us to speak about his own lived experience, and how we might be able to help.

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
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re edging closer to exceeding 1.5°C of warming globally, and scientists will gather to understand the implications of missing our climate change targets.

The world’s best will descend upon Austria this week for the first-ever Overshoot Conference.

It’s while Winston Peters delivered a “truth bomb” at the UN recently, singling out four countries for being the world’s largest emitters.

So, what happens if we don’t meet our climate targets?

Today on The Front Page, Victoria University climate scientist professor James Renwick is with us to delve into climate overshoot, and why we should care about it.

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
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Church leaders are continuing to publicly apologise to survivors of abuse.

The Presbyterian Church is the latest to address it in two public apology events, the first was in Dunedin at the weekend and the next is in Auckland this Saturday.

It’s the latest in a series of public apologies from church and public sector leaders after the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.

Over five years of investigations, the inquiry heard nearly 3000 survivor accounts of abuse and neglect over five years of investigations.

The more than 130 recommendations focused on creating a new, independent redress system, strengthening the care system, and holding institutions accountable.

Today on The Front Page, lawyer Amanda Hill has represented Abuse in Care survivors and is with us to explain how the process is working, and how it’s not.

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
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US doctors will soon be advised not to prescribe paracetamol to pregnant women, after President Donald Trump claimed an ‘increased autism risk’.

He cited the unproven link as a major factor in the rise of diagnoses.

The call has been criticised worldwide, with Ministries of Health globally moving to put out the flames.

Experts have labelled the rhetoric “quite scary” and “really damaging”.

Today on The Front Page, University of Otago pediatrics and child health science officer, Joanne Dacombe, is with us to dive into how comments like this affect autistics and their families.

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
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.