The Front Page

New Zealanders are well on their way to a collective $1 trillion in debt.

At the current rate of growth, we’ll hit that landmark inside the next three years. Current gross debt sits at more than 870 billion for the year to May.

At the same time, five years after Covid hit and the Government is still paying the price.

Core Crown borrowings rose 11% in a year, hitting $239 billion—that's 156% higher than in May 2019.

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald business editor-at-large Liam Dann joins us to delve into our Nation of Debt.

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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.

Since entering Parliament 10 years ago, Mārama Davidson has become a co-leader, been appointed a Minister, and has helped the Greens reach its largest-ever caucus.

She’s always been a staunch advocate for children, so it comes as no surprise that last week, the Green Party launched an open letter calling on the Minister of Children to adopt seven promises to children in state care, so “no more tamariki fall into harm”.

One of those promises is to make it a requirement that Oranga Tamariki give rangatahi leaving care the support they need to find suitable accommodation.

Marama Davidson joins us to discuss what more we need to do to make sure every child growing up in this country has a fighting chance.

Later, we’ll speak to 19 year old, Ihorangi Reweti-Peters about his experience in the care system, and the challenges he faced.

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 countdown to the Putin-Trump summit is on.

The two leaders are due to meet in Alaska to discuss what peace could look like in Ukraine, more than three and a half years after Russia’s invasion.

While Trump has spoken to Ukraine’s Volodymir Zelenskyy ahead of the meeting, European capitals remain apprehensive that a resolution will come from it, and are rallying behind Kyiv.

So, is this latest development in fact, a development at all? Or just posturing by two men desperate to be seen to be doing something.

Today on The Front Page, Kiwi journalist Thomas Mutch joins us from Ukraine to take us through the latest on the frontlines, and behind the scenes.

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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 New Zealand citizen and her son have been detained by ICE in the US.

Sarah Shaw and her six-year-old son were detained at the Canadian border after she drove her two eldest children to a Vancouver airport for a flight to New Zealand to visit their grandparents.

The pair are currently sitting in a detention facility in Texas.

They are two of tens of thousands of people who are currently being detained by the agency – most do not have criminal convictions and are classified as being no threat to society.

Today on The Front Page, American immigration lawyer Minda Thorward who is representing the Kiwi being detained and is with us to discuss the case and the wider issues around US immigration.

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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 Government’s decision on whether it’ll recognise the state of Palestine has been put on hold until next month.

It’s despite our closest neighbour Australia following a sweep of countries moving to support Palestine.

78 years since the United Nations resolution to create the State of Israel and a Palestinian state, Australia’s PM Anthony Albanese said the world “can no longer wait for the implementation of that resolution to be negotiated between the two parties”.

So, how should New Zealand proceed? And if it’s a matter of “when not if” -- as David Seymour has said – then why are we behind the eight ball?

Today on The Front Page, University of Otago senior politics professor Dr Leon Goldsmith is with us to unpack the complexities of this never-ending 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
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Video-sharing website, YouTube, began 20 years ago with a 19 second video of one of its founders at the San Diego Zoo.

Now, hundreds of hours of content are uploaded to the platform every single minute.

There has been a huge shift globally to reign in the social media giants -the UK has introduced age verifications requirements, with Australia to follow suit by the end of the year. Other countries like India, Germany, Spain, Italy and Norway are also investigating exactly how to better protect kids online.

So, should algorithms like YouTube's be regulated? And how would we even do it?

Today on The Front Page, Victoria University of Wellington Associate Professor Dr Peter Thompson is with us to discuss what New Zealand should do – and whether we're already fighting a losing battle against harmful online content.

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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 self-described “Prince of the Provinces” - there are few politicians like Shane Jones.

He’s Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, Regional Development, and Resources -- and has been in the spotlight recently for spearheading a restart and expansion of oil and gas in New Zealand.

Over the years he’s face criticism for his close relationships with industry leaders OVER the environment. Comments like “Goodbye Freddy” when talking about if an endangered frog stood in the way of mining construction probably doesn’t help.

Today on The Front Page, Shane Jones is with us to take us through his latest push for oil and gas, changes to oceans and fisheries, and whether New Zealand’s power crisis is fixable.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cost of living and the economy remains top of the agenda for National.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s already touting his leadership as one that’s a “clear choice” for New Zealanders at next year’s election, saying the government “inherited a mess and sorting it out”.

However, commentators have been quick to out the issues facing National ahead of the campaign – writing that Luxon is “getting worried” and that National is in a “mess”.

So, as the battle lines start getting drawn in the Beehive, what’s ahead of politicians?

Today on The Front Page, outgoing Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls joins us to discuss the past week in politics, and what could lie ahead.

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: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From tomorrow, there’ll be a 15% tariff on New Zealand imports for US businesses.

The announcement of the arbitrary amount saw us frantically send our chief trade negotiator over to Washington in a last-ditch effort to plead our case. Trade Minister Todd McClay was also dispatched.

But, will that actually do any good – when larger economies have already signed on the dotted line and accepted their fates?

And how should New Zealand be diversifying our trade portfolio, to rely less on the big players?

Today on The Front Page, University of Auckland Emeritus Professor of Law Jane Kelsey is with us to discuss what all this actually means for Kiwi businesses – and whether we need to reprioritise our trade relationships.

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: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The days of simply ticking a box to confirm your age online are over.  

The UK has become one of the first countries to make it harder for internet users to consume pornography by requiring age verification measures, in an effort to prevent under-18s from viewing explicit content.

The move has sparked concern about users giving even more data and personal information to tech companies... and has raised questions about whether the process actually works.

So, with these laws gaining popularity overseas, could it happen in New Zealand, and how do we do it properly?

Today on The Front Page, Technology Users Association of New Zealand CEO Craig Young is with us to discuss how to balance safety with privacy online.

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: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.