The Front Page

From sideline squabbles to damning defeats, 2026 will need to be a year of refresh when it comes to Kiwi sports.  

The All Blacks’ season has been shaky to say the least, and headlines have been dominated with Netball New Zealand’s off-court chaos. 

But, there have been some major wins on the world stage for some of our best athletes.  

Liam Lawson has become a household name – and Ryan Fox has seen some career bests this year.  

So, to wrap it all up, today on The Front Page we have the NZ Herald’s Christopher Reive and Nathan Limm to take us through some of 2025’s highs and lows.

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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.

Auckland’s CBD should be at its brightest right now, but this Christmas season has exposed just how far the city has slipped.

The former Smith and Caughey’s building - once the centre of Auckland’s festive traditions with its iconic window displays and enchanted forest - now sits dark.

Across the CBD, retail spending is down, site vacancy rates are up, and the district has been plagued by stalled developments and empty lots.

But could a new life for Auckland be on the horizon? The long-awaited City Rail Link is set open next year and Seascape, the country’s tallest residential tower, is resuming construction after a series of delays.

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald property editor Anne Gibson joins us to unpack what’s really happening in the heart of Auckland and whether we might see a Christmas miracle for the City of Sails.

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.

Russia is apparently ready to go to war with Europe, according to its President.

Vladimir Putin met with the US negotiators this week for about five hours to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

He has accused European leaders of trying to scupper his peace talks with the US, saying that their tweaks to a plan to end the war were “unacceptable”.

The Kremlin has apparently accepted some proposals to end the war, although latest talks haven’t “yielded a breakthrough”.

Today on The Front Page, University of Waikato international law professor Al Gillespie is with us to run through what could happen next.

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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.

Regional, territorial, unitary, wards and boards.

Local government in New Zealand is made up of 78 different councils that make decisions we encounter daily.

The roads, air, rubbish, waters, environment – it's all local government.

So, why has central government announced a need for change? And why has the Prime Minister himself implored councils to “stop doing dumb stuff”?

Today on The Front Page, Victoria University of Wellington associate professor in politics, Lara Greaves, is with us to take us through what it all means, and what the future could hold for our local councils.

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 calls for urgent changes to modernise our laws to better protect victims of sexual violence.

A new Helen Clarke Foundation report identifies several gaps in our laws that need closing and changes to our justice system to reduce underreporting.

Ministry of Justice data estimates about 209,000 incidents of sexual assault occur every year, affecting around 82,000 victims.

Nearly one in four adults report having experienced sexual assault in their lifetime.

Today on The Front Page, Senior Researcher Sarah Bell is with us to take us through the 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.

It’s the moment anyone looking for a conveniently packaged, Swedish designed kitchen cabinet is waiting for.

Ikea opens in Auckland this week at Sylvia Park – and it’ll be the company’s largest store in the Southern Hemisphere, about the size of three rugby fields.

You’d be pressed to find someone who hasn’t encountered news of the iconic brand in Aotearoa. But why is it such a big deal? What’s so different about Ikea?

We’ve brought Quantum Jump CEO and marketing expert Ben Goodale along with us to get an early look at the labyrinth that is Ikea.

Later we will speak to Patricia Routledge, Country Communication Manager at IKEA AU & NZ about the specifics of how the team chose to market Ikea to Kiwis.

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 has been a tumultuous time since the collapse of the Du Val property development group.

It was August last year we saw police raid a Remuera property – leaving with a number of assets owned by Charlotte and Kenyon Clarke.

Since then it’s been a tsunami of court hearings, social media posts, and “he said she saids”.

On Monday, a new podcast called *The Fall of the House of Du Val launches on iHeartRadio – or wherever you get your podcasts.

But, today on The Front Page, host of the podcast, Business Desk’s Maria Slade is here to take us through the rise and fall of Du Val.

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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 mistlestoe's hung, the bells are a'ringing 

And all through the malls Mariah Carey is singing 

It's the same old story, told year after year 

Of Santa and reindeer and widespread good cheer 

But look a bit closer, and you might see a crack 

In the stronghold St Nick has had since way back 

Where once stood a hero, red coat and beard white 

A sack on his sleigh promising Christmas delight 

Now stands a figure, towering six foot two tall 

With a coat of green fur, heart two sizes too small 

The Grinch who stole Christmas is making a play 

For the title of hero come this Yuletide day 

For poor old Saint Nick, this might not end well 

And to give us the lowdown is Dr Lorna Piatti-Farnell.

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 Government’s released its plan to get our Defence infrastructure up to scratch – some of which hasn’t been touched in decades.

The Defence Estate Portfolio sets out how $2.5 billion will be spent over the next 15 years.

At the same time, the Future Naval Base Programme is pinned at $4b over 35 years.

It’s being called a ‘generational investment in defence infrastructure’.

But given the horror stories we’ve heard of black mould, infestations, and asbestos plaguing NZDF owned buildings – will this all be enough?

Today on The Front Page, Associate Minister of Defence and Minister for Building and Construction, Chris Penk, is with us to dive into an area that’s been chronically underinvested for far too long.

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 Cook Islands’ flag has flown from more than a hundred oil tankers implicated in illicitly trading Russian and Iranian oil.

A special Herald investigation has revealed that it’s sparked alarm from foreign governments – with New Zealand diplomats fielding concerns from Helsinki and London.

Our Foreign Minister Winston Peters has labelled the issue “alarming and infuriating”.

So, what is the link between the Baltic Sea and the Pacific? And how has this been allowed to happen?

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald business investigations reporter Matt Nippert is with us to explain what it all means – and why we should care.

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.