Video-sharing website, YouTube, began 20 years ago with a 19 second video of one of its founders at the San Diego Zoo.

Now, hundreds of hours of content are uploaded to the platform every single minute.

There has been a huge shift globally to reign in the social media giants -the UK has introduced age verifications requirements, with Australia to follow suit by the end of the year. Other countries like India, Germany, Spain, Italy and Norway are also investigating exactly how to better protect kids online.

So, should algorithms like YouTube's be regulated? And how would we even do it?

Today on The Front Page, Victoria University of Wellington Associate Professor Dr Peter Thompson is with us to discuss what New Zealand should do – and whether we're already fighting a losing battle against harmful online content.

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.

A self-described “Prince of the Provinces” - there are few politicians like Shane Jones.

He’s Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, Regional Development, and Resources -- and has been in the spotlight recently for spearheading a restart and expansion of oil and gas in New Zealand.

Over the years he’s face criticism for his close relationships with industry leaders OVER the environment. Comments like “Goodbye Freddy” when talking about if an endangered frog stood in the way of mining construction probably doesn’t help.

Today on The Front Page, Shane Jones is with us to take us through his latest push for oil and gas, changes to oceans and fisheries, and whether New Zealand’s power crisis is fixable.

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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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cost of living and the economy remains top of the agenda for National.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s already touting his leadership as one that’s a “clear choice” for New Zealanders at next year’s election, saying the government “inherited a mess and sorting it out”.

However, commentators have been quick to out the issues facing National ahead of the campaign – writing that Luxon is “getting worried” and that National is in a “mess”.

So, as the battle lines start getting drawn in the Beehive, what’s ahead of politicians?

Today on The Front Page, outgoing Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls joins us to discuss the past week in politics, and what could lie ahead.

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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: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From tomorrow, there’ll be a 15% tariff on New Zealand imports for US businesses.

The announcement of the arbitrary amount saw us frantically send our chief trade negotiator over to Washington in a last-ditch effort to plead our case. Trade Minister Todd McClay was also dispatched.

But, will that actually do any good – when larger economies have already signed on the dotted line and accepted their fates?

And how should New Zealand be diversifying our trade portfolio, to rely less on the big players?

Today on The Front Page, University of Auckland Emeritus Professor of Law Jane Kelsey is with us to discuss what all this actually means for Kiwi businesses – and whether we need to reprioritise our trade relationships.

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: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The days of simply ticking a box to confirm your age online are over.  

The UK has become one of the first countries to make it harder for internet users to consume pornography by requiring age verification measures, in an effort to prevent under-18s from viewing explicit content.

The move has sparked concern about users giving even more data and personal information to tech companies... and has raised questions about whether the process actually works.

So, with these laws gaining popularity overseas, could it happen in New Zealand, and how do we do it properly?

Today on The Front Page, Technology Users Association of New Zealand CEO Craig Young is with us to discuss how to balance safety with privacy online.

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: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is New Zealand’s largest city dying?

Auckland is home to roughly a third of the entire country’s population and is predicted to grow even bigger in the coming years.

The City of Sails is, by far, the largest contributor to New Zealand’s economic output, generating about 40% of GDP.

But, walk down many of the inner-city streets, and you’ll see vacant lots – with a lot of potential.

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald property editor, Anne Gibson is with us to discuss what can be done to get developers moving on empty spaces – some, that have been desolate for decades.

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: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is likely to pass a law banning farm-to-forest conversions to protect productive farmland for food production. 

It’ll mean a restriction on planting forests on high-quality land – and it’s a response to the previous government’s Emissions Reduction Plan.  

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has emphasised the need to protect productive farmland, maintain food security, and ensure that forestry expansion doesn’t come at the expense of agriculture and rural livelihoods.  

But, have we placed too much importance on planting trees anyway? And should we be focusing our efforts elsewhere? 

Today on The Front Page, University of Canterbury emeritus Professor David Norton is with us to break down what all this actually means – and whether we’ll be able to meet our ambitious climate targets.

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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: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are more than 9,000 gang members in New Zealand, and thousands more associates.

The coalition government from the get-go promised a crackdown on gangs – they've banned gang insignia in public, handed police greater powers, and created laws to disrupt get-togethers. But, is that all enough?

Jared Savage has been a journalist at the NZ Herald for about 20 years, with a focus on organised crime.

His latest book, Underworld, is the third in a series of he’s released since 2020 – and the latest instalment delves deeper into our country’s dark underbelly of gangs, guns, drugs, and money – lots and lots of money.

Today on The Front Page, Savage joins us to discuss the rising threat of organised crime in New Zealand.

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: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You might look on Facebook marketplace for a new couch, a lamp, a rug.

But, what about class A drugs? Or how about a ghost gun?

A Herald investigation has revealed at least 56 listings were circulating on the site offering magic mushrooms, cannabis, and in one case LSD across the North Island and top of the south.

And that could just be the tip of the iceberg of illicit sales on social media.

So how do we get on top of this?

NZ Herald senior investigative reporter Michael Morrah has been looking into this, and joins us today on The Front Page.

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: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve all been caught out when using PayWave or contactless payment in stores, where we think we know how much we’re paying and then a surcharge adds a tiny bit more on that final price.

Well, that’s about to change.

The Government is planning to ban retailers from being able to add surcharges to most in-store card payments.

It follows a decision by the Commerce Commission last week to reduce interchange fees paid by businesses for accepting credit card payments.

So what does this all mean for consumers and business owners… are there more savings that could be made on these fees, or are they a consequence of trying to attract more competition to the market?

Today on The Front Page, Massey University Associate Professor from the School of Accountancy, Economics and Finance, Claire Matthews, is with us to break down what this all means for you.

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: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.