The Front Page

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.   

Today, freelance journalist Jo Malcolm joins Damien to discuss the significance of this victim breaking her silence three decades later.    

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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 / Producer: Damien Venuto
Producer / Editor: Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills 

Sexual harm - Where to get help

If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7:
• Call 0800 044 334
• Text 4334
• Email [email protected]
• For more info or to web chat visit safetotalk.nz
Alternatively contact your local police station - click here for a list.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 is this case dragging on, and how much longer can it carry on for?

Today, NZ Herald investigative reporter David Fisher joins Damien for an in-depth look at one of Aotearoa's most publicised cases. 

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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 / Producer: Damien Venuto
Producer / Editor: Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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’s healthcare? 

Today, NZ Herald health reporter Emma Russell joins Damien to talk about how women are suffering within a broken system.  

You can read the full In Her Head series here

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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 / Producer: Damien Venuto
Producer / Editor: Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 broken is New Zealand’s housing market? And what does this mean for first-home buyers who have long been at the bottom of the food chain?   

Today, independent economist and regular OneRoof contributor Tony Alexander joins Damien to discuss recent house price drops and what the predictions means for the market. 

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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 / Producer: Damien Venuto
Producer / Editor: Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 struggle against this deadly virus. 

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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 / Producer: Damien Venuto
Producer / Editor: Shaun D Wilson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Damien to talk about the tenure of this charming but flawed politician.  

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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 / Producer: Damien Venuto
Producer / Editor: Shaun D Wilson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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 / Producer: Damien Venuto
Producer / Editor: Shaun D Wilson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 smokefree nation, are we trading the devil we know well for the demon we don't?

NZ Herald health reporter Emma Russell joins Damien to talk about the flavoured plumes of vapour enveloping Aotearoa.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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 / Producer: Damien Venuto
Producer / Editor: Shaun D Wilson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Gibson joins Damien to talk about the labour crunch affecting one of New Zealand’s biggest industries.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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 / Producer: Damien Venuto
Producer / Editor: Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 to pre-pandemic levels. 

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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 / Producer: Damien Venuto
Producer / Editor: Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.