We are halfway through the year, but there have already been a number of confronting headlines about early childhood education providers in 2025. 

Earlier this year, the Herald ran a number of stories about children “escaping” from centres around the country. 

And in the last week, two coroners reports have come out highlighting tragic deaths that befell two young children. 

The news comes after a review by the Ministry of Regulation into ECEs and how they operate, with another review just announced by the Education Ministry into funding coming next. 

Today on The Front Page, we are discussing what’s happening with rules, regulations and funding with Dr Sarah Alexander, chief advisor to the Office of Early Childhood Education.  

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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/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tensions are high in the Middle East, as Israel and Iran continue to trade strikes.

It comes after Israel launched a surprise attack last Friday against multiple targets in Iran, including nuclear and military sites.

Iran has retaliated, and this back and forth shows no signs of stopping – instead, both sides are threatening to escalate the conflict.

With major international players now weighing in, how big could this get – and will New Zealand have to pick a side?

Today on The Front Page, University of Otago international relations professor, Robert Patman is with us to take us through the history, and future, of this complicated relationship.

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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/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was February 19, 2013.

Maree Schafer was excited to start a hairdressing course at the Eastern Institute of Technology the next day.

That night, three cars - a silver Holden Commodore, a blue Ford Falcon, and a grey Nissan Skyline were street racing near Napier.

The Commodore continued through an intersection, going well over 180km/hour, when the driver lost control, slid sideways across the road, and crashed into a tree.

There were three occupants in that car. One was 18-year-old Maree. She died at the scene.

Twelve years later, and boy racer events are still happening.

People are injured, cars totalled, police intimidated, and, people die.

Just last month, riot police clashed with what the Police Minister’s called “cowardly, try-hard idiots” in Levin and Palmerston North – and police are preparing for more gatherings.

Today on The Front Page, Coreen Schafer, Maree’s mother, tells us what she’d say to one of these kids, and what life is like after losing her daughter to street racing.

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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/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Six years after Gore toddler Lachie Jones was found dead in a Gore oxidation pond, the coroner has handed down his findings.  

And coroner Alexander Ho has called for a third police investigation, concluding that there were gaps in the original investigations that make it difficult to truly establish what happened to the three year old that night.  

NZ Herald reporter Ben Tomsett has been following the proceedings, and joins us The Front Page for a bonus episode to discuss the coroner’s findings.  

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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/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve turned on an American news channel in the last week, you would’ve seen wall to wall coverage of protests spreading across the country.

It all started in Los Angeles, where clashes between police and protesters were exacerbated by Donald Trump bypassing Governor Gavin Newsom and sending National Guard and Marine troops to the city. 

LA Mayor Karen Bass has blamed the protests on Trump's immigration raids, which she said "provoked" residents by causing "fear" and "panic".

While Trump has compared protesters to a “foreign invasion” and said that troops will “liberate” Los Angeles.

With the protests now being picked up in other major cities, how widespread could this get – and how much of this is a test case for what will happen in the rest of Trump’s term?

Today on The Front Page, 9News US correspondent Jonathan Kearsley is with us from Los Angeles to explain what’s happening on the ground.

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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/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 600 days of war and an 11-week blockade of all aid has pushed those living in Gaza into a deeper crisis.

Israel imposed a full humanitarian blockade of Gaza in March, cutting off food, medical supplies, and other aid to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

And while some aid has been allowed in in recent weeks, many countries are calling for more to be done.

New Zealand has joined the condemnation, placing travel restrictions against two Israeli ministers, but is that going to be enough to send a strong message?

Today on The Front Page, we’re joined by Alexander Gillespie to get into the latest on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

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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/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is New Zealand’s legal system moving fast enough to adapt to new technologies?

It’s a question being asked by some of our top academics and MPs.

The conversation around covert recordings has made headlines this week – as well as questions around whether it’s illegal.

And Act MP Laura McClure made global headlines after holding up a photo of herself naked in Parliament. It was an AI-generated ‘deepfake’, which McClure said took her only moments to create.

So do our existing laws protect victims from being abused through rapidly developing technology?

First on The Front Page, we discuss that viral deepfake moment with Act’s Laura McClure. Then, on the rise of new techology, University of Canterbury professor of law, Cassandra Mudgway.

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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/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every few weeks, it seems that we are reporting on a recidivist drink driver who is once again going through the court system due to their behaviour.

And there are still thousands going through the justice system every year. In fact, figures show that over 15,000 people were convicted last year for driving under the influence.

Now, a new survey has shown consistent support from New Zealanders to tackle drink driving.

Conducted by the New Zealand Alcohol Beverages Council, more Kiwis are keen to see Police issue on the spot fines for minor alcohol related offences, while there remains high support for confiscating cars and the use of alcohol interlocks in cars.

With this high support in place, what can be done to get drunk drivers off our roads?

Today on The Front Page, we discussing how we can curb drunk drivers with Virgina Nicholls, executive director of the New Zealand Alcohol Beverages Council.

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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/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The divided nature of our politics has been spotlighted once again.

A fiery debate has seen Te Pati Maori’s leaders suspended for Parliament in the harshest punishment ever handed down to a politician.

It was a vote made along party lines – with the Government parties voting in favour of the Privileges Committee recommendations, and the left-bloc voting against.

And that split was highlighted once again by two polls with conflicting results showing who will win next year.

Today on The Front Page, we’re joined by Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls to discuss the latest in politics – starting with a scandal that has hit the Prime Minister’s office.

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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/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It has been revealed that the Government considered using private company Bluebridge to replace the current Interislander fleet.

It’s just the latest in the saga that is the Cook Strait ferries, after years of negotiations, debate, and an axed contract.

But it’s hardly the first time we’ve had a major transport project face delays and changes.

All forms of transport are eyeing big investments, but how long before we actually get some movement?

Today on The Front Page, Newstalk ZB political reporter Azaria Howell is with us to dig into the politics behind the country’s transport networks.

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/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.