The Front Page

A step forward for housing capacity in our largest city – or a step back on housing affordability? 

Auckland’s explosive debate over density planning has come to a head, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop making a U-turn on capacity limits. 

It’s all got to do with the controversial “PC120” plan.... which has been scaled back slightly to allow for 1.6 million homes to be built, as opposed to 2 million. 

But, what does that actually mean? And why have the rules to pack more homes into Auckland sparked such a fierce debate? 

Today on The Front Page, journalist Simon Wilson is with us to unpack the updated plans, the protests, and what it means for your backyard. 

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.

What does New Zealand and David Hasselhoff have in common?

The answer, is TV producer Alex Breingan.

He has been hit with a raft of Serious Fraud Office charges... and is the same guy whose production company, Stripe Studios, owed the Baywatch star money.

Turns out, he might owe a lot more people, a lot more.

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald Media Insider Shayne Currie is with us to take us through the rise, and falls, of this high-flying, Kiwi producer.

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.

Fixing the leaks, not just buying bigger mops.

That’s the theme of the National Infrastructure Plan released today.

It looks at 17 sectors covering central government, local authorities, and commercially regulated utilities.

The 30-year outline sets out how New Zealand can improve the way it plans, funds, maintains, and delivers infrastructure... and guess what, it turns out we don’t do it very well.

Each year we invest just over $20 billion on infrastructure, yet on a dollar-for-dollar basis we achieve less than many of our international peers.

Today on The Front Page,  New Zealand Infrastructure Commission Chief Executive Geoff Cooper will take us through this mammoth report.

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.

Eden Park’s gearing up for more gigs, more goals, and more growth.

The number of concerts allowed each year at Auckland’s Eden Park stadium will almost triple under new rules announced today by the Government.

Under the new settings, the stadium will be allowed to host up to 12 large and 20 medium-sized concerts a year - without the need for resource consent.

We’ll speak to Sir Graham Lowe about the first Eden Park hosting the New Zealand's first-ever State of Origin match next year. But first on The Front Page, former Auckland Mayor Phil Goff is with us to chat about the wider changes to the stadium, and whether its neighbours will mind.

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 fleet of 13 F50 foiling catamarans will tear around the Waitematā Harbour this weekend in SailGP’s return to New Zealand. 

Last year was the first time Auckland hosted SailGP - drawing more than 25,000 spectators. 

The City of Sails is the second stop of 13 across the globe for the 2026 season. 

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald sports reporter Christopher Reive is with us to unpack Burling and Tuke’s home water reset, American Magic’s blockbuster Danish buyout, and the must-watch foiling feats this weekend. 

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 been making some big trade moves on the world trade stage recently.

One of them is a possible minerals deal with the United States.

The US is pushing to loosen China’s grip on critical mineral processing by building alternate supply chains.

But with talks well underway, what will the preliminary decline of a major seabed mining contract do to them?

Today on The Front Page, Business Desk's Dileepa Fonseka is with us to discuss the deals, and whether New Zealand’s biting off more than it can chew.

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.

Consumer NZ expects power prices to increase by about 5% this year. 

It’s after households were already hit with a 12% increase to power bills last year. 

But what does that all mean? Will it make winter that much colder? Will we have to cut back on groceries? Will people be able to afford the increase? 

Today on The Front Page, Consumer NZ’s Powerswitch Manager Paul Fuge is with us to break down why power companies pass on steep network hikes, and what households can do. 

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.

Wellington’s Moa Point wastewater plant has flooded and shut down, dumping raw sewage into the south coast – this untreated discharge is set to continue for weeks.  

Heavy rain overwhelmed the facility, built in the 90s, triggering beach rāhuis, health warnings, and exposing how climate-driven storms are already stressing coastal infrastructure. 

Billions of dollars is likely required to get our wastewater infrastructure up to scratch nationwide... but after a long history of underfunding, are we too late? 

Today on The Front Page, University of Canterbury associate professor Ricardo Bello Mendoza is with us to unpack the engineering lessons from Moa Point, the climate risks, and what it means for our future. 

But first, NZ Herald senior reporter Melissa Nightingale will set the scene for us in Wellington.

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.

Insurers have begun their retreat as climate change bites.

Back-to-back disasters in recent years have pushed insured loss into the billions and forced tough questions about what can still be covered.

Homeowners in flood and coast-exposed areas are starting to see higher premiums, exclusions and even the risk of losing cover altogether.

AA Insurance has gone the extra mile and stopped issuing new home insurance policies in several towns entirely.

So, who will pay when extreme weather keeps coming? Households, insurers, or the Government?

Today on The Front Page, journalist and publisher of The Kākā, Bernard Hickey is with us to explain how climate change is reshaping insurance – and what it means for where and how we live. 

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.

It’s no surprise the upcoming election is a hot topic at Waitangi. But, the axing of the Treaty Principles Bill has eased tensions this year.

Although, that hasn’t stopped Chris Hipkins taking aim at the government, calling it ‘anti-treaty’ so ‘therefore anti-Māori'.

It’s all while a decision on Mariameno Kapa-Kingi's future with Te Pati Maori plays out in a Wellington court this week.

So, what is the atmosphere of Waitangi? Who’s there? And who’s not?

Today on The Front Page, Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths joins us from Waitangi to break down what the event means.

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.