The Front Page

The world can feel like a dark and gloomy place at times, particularly at the moment.

With wars, economic uncertainty and certain politicians always generating headlines, its hard to avoid feeling down.

But in amongst all this doom and gloom, there are plenty of stories worth celebrating in New Zealand – from stars on the rise to businesses making it work in a tough environment.

The New Zealand Herald is spotlighting some of these stories in a new editorial campaign, On the Up.

Today on The Front Page, the Herald’s Chief Content Officer publishing, Murray Kirkness, is with us to explain the thinking behind this series.

And later, we get advice from psychologist Dougal Sutherland on how to reset our minds and focus on the positive news out there.

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: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You meet anyone overseas and say New Zealand, the first thing they bring up is hobbits.

Lord of the Rings was a crowning achievement for film production in Aotearoa, and opened the door for more movies to be filmed here.

A Minecraft Movie is just the latest overseas blockbuster to be produced on our shores, and that’s hitting cinemas around the world this weekend – while local film Tee-nah has been a box office sensation.

But as the cost of film production soars around the world, what does the future hold for New Zealand? And can we break out of the shadow of Middle Earth?

Today on The Front Page, we’re off to the movies with the chief executive of the NZ Film Commission, Annie Murray.

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: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our primary healthcare system stands at a critical juncture - at least, that’s the latest from the New Zealand Initiative.

The think tank has released a review this morning, into the country’s primary care system.

It argues that the “current system faces mounting pressures that threaten its sustainability and effectiveness”.

So with the vital role GPs play in our every day healthcare, what are the challenges facing our family doctors?

Today on The Front Page, NZI research fellow, Dr Prabani Wood joins us to dive into another part of our health system in crisis.

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: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A war of words has erupted between the Green Party and NZ First this week.

It comes after photos circulated on social from a private Instagram account belonging to Green MP Benjamin Doyle. The account, named ‘biblebeltbussy’, also featured photos of their child, including one with ‘bussy’ in the caption.

The term originated as a euphuism for a man’s anus, and can be used colloquially by some in the gay community, but Doyle’s usage of it has sparked accusations of vulgarity and being inappropriate.

That was amplified by Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, who said on social media that Doyle should answer for the posts and that if “Police want to investigate, they can”.

The Green Party has said that Doyle has received death threats as a result and have called for the Prime Minister to intervene.

So does this suggest a changing battleground for politics, with family issues and social media activists taking centre stage?

Today on The Front Page, we’re joined by Victoria University of Wellington politics professor Lara Greaves to discuss a different type of political scandal.

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: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The so-called ‘stadium wars’ in Auckland have been raging quietly behind the scenes for several years now. 

But last week, the battle popped up in public once again, with Auckland Council voting to throw its support behind a plan to upgrade Eden Park, over the proposed new stadium on the city’s waterfront.  

Eden Park may have won on the day, but questions remain over how the upgrades will be funded, while the Government still needs to weigh in on which project to support.  

NZ Herald sports writer Michael Burgess has been following these discussions for over a decade, and joins us today on The Front Page to dig into what this latest vote means in the long-term.  

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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: Dan Goodwin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In New Zealand, there are a number of tribunals and review boards you can go to when you feel things haven’t quite gone your way. 

Whether you’ve had a bad experience leaving your job, or something’s gone wrong in your healthcare journey, these committees are tasked with working out what has gone wrong and who – if anyone – should be held responsible.  

But some of them can be limited in how much they can hold people to account.  

The Human Rights Review Tribunal is one of the few in New Zealand that can award damages if they find in your favour.  

Reporter Jeremy Wilkinson covers a lot of these tribunals for Open Justice, and he joins The Front Page today for the first in a series of examinations of how these processes work.  

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: Dan Goodwin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The financial year is coming to an end, and that means from next Tuesday, a lot of Kiwis will be getting more money in their wallets.

April 1st is when the Annual General Adjustment takes place – when benefits and minimum wage increase to account for wage growth or inflation.

While benefits are getting a 2.22 percent rise, and Super and the Veterans Pension gets a 3.51 percent increase, minimum wage is only going up by 1.5 percent.

As people continue to feel the sting of cost of living, what impact will these changes have – and how well is our economy performing at the moment?

To talk us through it all, today on The Front Page we’re joined by NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann.

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.

New figures have revealed the assets of our ten biggest iwi stands at $8.2 billion.

A recent report from consultancy firm TDB Advisory shows the assets only rose by $100m in the last three years, a slightly better return than 2023 – as the economic turmoil over the last five years continues to have an impact on their investments.

Covering everything from property, to farming, to managed funds and offshore opportunities, many of these iwi own assets that have an impact on our day-to-day lives, so how do they compare to some of our biggest investment firms?

To explain where iwis have their money, today on The Front Page, TDB Advisory director Phil Barry is with us to dive into this 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
Sound Engineer/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since 1930, across 22 editions of the Fifa Mens World Cup, only two New Zealand teams have featured on the biggest football stage, in 1982 and 2010.

Now there will be three.

The All Whites have qualified for the 2026 Fifa World Cup – after a three nil win over New Caledonia in front of a home crowd at Eden Park.

After a successful job co-hosting the womens tournament in 2023, and a strong run from new team Auckland FC in the A-League, what does the future of football look like in New Zealand?

Today on The Front Page, Newstalk ZB’s and keen football fan Jason Pine is with us to talk about football on and off the pitch.

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.

At 11:59pm on March 25th 2020, New Zealand entered its first level four Covid –19 lockdown. 

To many, that moment may feel like it happened just yesterday, while others are glad its firmly in the past.

Whatever your feelings are about New Zealand’s response to the Covid pandemic, that first lockdown was a life altering event for many of us.

Five years on, did it change us for the better, or did it kickstart something else entirely?

University of Otago epidemiologist Michael Baker became a household name overnight for his commentary during the pandemic.

He joins us today on The Front Page to look back on the start of the pandemic, and forwards towards the next one.

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.