The Front Page

Remember when we were meant to be smoke free by 2025?

New Zealand’s goal to have fewer than 5% of people smoking by the end of the year looks unlikely to be met.

The target was introduced in 2010 – and while smoking has dropped significantly since then (from 16.4% in 2011 to 6.9% in 2023-24) there are still hundreds of thousands of people smoking daily.

In December 2022, New Zealand enacted world-leading tobacco control legislation – essentially creating a whole generation who’ll never be able to buy a pack of ciggies.

But, with that plan up in smoke – what next?

Today on The Front Page, Hāpai te Hauora chief operating officer Jason Alexander is with us to discuss how we might be able to reach our goal of being smoke free.

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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.

Mark Mitchell has heralded the government’s promise to be tough on crime.

He’s been incredibly clear from the get-go that his primary goal is to make New Zealand an uncomfortable place for gangs to operate.

He holds five portfolios: Police, Corrections, Emergency Management and Recovery, Ethnic Communities, and Sports and Recreation.

So, how does an MP with so many hats feel about how his government has tackled the big issues?

Today on The Front Page, Mitchell joins us to talk cops, corrections, and communities.

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 30th UN climate conference will begin this week.

Nations will gather in Belem, Brazil for COP30 – and while the Trump administration isn’t intending to send anyone, the US could still become the thorn in any deals side.

 So, as the world’s brightest climate minds converge on the city that sits on the outskirts of the Amazon rainforest – experts are asking whether anything substantial will come from these negotiations.

Today on The Front Page, University of Otago associate professor Daniel Kingston is with us to discuss how important COP is, and why we should care.

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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.

Bees are tiny but mighty players in New Zealand’s environment and economy.

They pollinate our gardens, native plants, and crucial crops, supporting biodiversity and food production across the country.

But, an invasive threat is looming – the queen yellow-legged hornet.

Since June, Biosecurity New Zealand has confirmed several detections of these pests across Auckland.

Today on The Front Page, Mahurangi Honey’s Peter Johnston is with us to chat local honey making, and why bees are so important.

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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.

Just over seventy years after Sir Edmund Hillary first ascended Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak is grappling with new ethical dilemmas.

From crowded summit attempts and ecological strain, to debates about climber preparedness and the treatment of Sherpas, Everest’s story today is as complex as ever.

The Himalayan Trust, founded by Sir Ed, continues to support local communities at the heart of these challenges.

His grandson, Alexander Hillary, now runs the organisation, and joins us on The Front Page to discuss what respecting Everest means, and whether we’ve lost it.

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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.

A chance for New Zealand to lead change the world in ‘ethical investing’.

As of last year, more than half a billion dollars of New Zealanders’ KiwiSaver and other retail investments were lent to countries on ‘high alert’ for human rights violations.

The new paper from Motu Research urges fund managers and industry bodies to lift standards.

But what does ‘ethical investing’ mean? And how can you tell how your funds are being used?

Today on The Front Page, lead researcher Anne-Marie Brook is with us to break down the paper, and how we might be able to be socially responsible with our investments.

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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.

It’s that time of year again, where we debate whether New Zealanders should be allowed to let off fireworks.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is among those opposed, saying they know first-hand how dangerous fireworks can be.

Last year was the worst year for fireworks-related fires since 2017, with 166 unwanted fires. 

Firework sales are restricted to a four-day period from November 2 to 5 each year – but there are growing calls for that to be scrapped. 

First on The Front Page, Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s readiness and recovery national manager, Adrian Nacey, is with us. Later we’ll chat to the SPCA’s Scientific Officer, Dr Alison Vaughan on how to protect our animals from fireworks.

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 Privacy Commissioner has issued new rules around the automated use of biometrics.

Biometric processing is the use of tech, like facial recognition, to collect and process people’s biometric information.

The Code comes into force on 3 November 2025, but agencies already using biometrics have until 3 August 2026, to align themselves with the new rules.

Today on The Front Page, Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster is with us, to take us through what all of this means, and how we can protect ourselves.

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.

Our Prime Minister has met and dined with one of the most powerful people in the world - Donald Trump.

Christopher Luxon and Trump spoke at an APEC dinner last night.

It's expected to be one of the most significant meetings Luxon will have at the economic conference, despite the two not having a formal bilateral.

The summit is straight off the back of one with the Association of South East Asian Nations, or ASEAN.

Newstalk ZB political reporter Azaria Howell has been travelling alongside Luxon, she 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: Jane Yee

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand may be on the cusp of another measles outbreak.

There are ten known cases: One of those cases came from overseas, and the other nine were contracted locally.

Health NZ has said the risk of further measles cases, contacts, and exposures across the country remains ‘very high’.

The confirmation of new cases unconnected to international travel though has experts worried.

Today on The Front Page, University of Canterbury senior lecturer in epidemiology, Anna Howe, is with us to discuss what you need to know.

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.