The Front Page

School rugby has been under the microscope for several years now after controversies over poaching between schools and live broadcast of games.

Those tensions have flared up again, with secondary schools pushing back against NZ Rugby’s plans for an Under-18 team to take on Australia.

It’s not the only sporting code to face push back though. This week, our young rowers take to the waters for the Maadi Cup regatta, and for the first time ‘year 14’ students are barred from taking part.

It all amounts to an ongoing debate about how much focus should be put on teenage athletes, while still allowing the likes of record breaking runner Sam Ruthe to soar.

First on The Front Page, we speak to NZ Herald journalist Gregor Paul about his latest reporting into school sports. Then later on the show, we’ll talk to AUT Associate Professor and Co-Director of AUT's Sports Performance Research Institute NZ, Simon Walters.

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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/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There have been a number of headlines trending throughout 2025 so far. Tariffs, trade wars, geopolitical tensions... and romance scams.

Fake online relationships – better known as catfishes – have existed as long as social media has been around.

But the increasing prevalence of AI is making it trickier to tell fact from fiction.

One woman in France was conned out of 800,000 Euros after believing she was in a relationship with Oscar winner Brad Pitt, while closer to home, US-based Kiwi actor Martin Henderson has seen his face used as a front for these scams.

So how common are these elaborate scams, and what protections can be put in place to better protect vulnerable people?

Today on The Front Page, National Cyber Security Centre Threat and Incident Response team lead Tom Roberts is with to discuss what can be done to break up with these scammers.

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.

This week is seeing New Zealand’s highest-ranking politicians walking a tricky diplomatic tightrope.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has been courting his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to kickstart trade deal discussions – but their meeting took a twist when Modi raised concerns about ‘anti-Indian activity’ in New Zealand.

Around the same time, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters has been in Washington for his first face to face talks with the second Trump administration.

Those come at a time when the US is causing upset in Europe with its stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

So, how should New Zealand handle these new diplomatic relationships? And can we apply any of our tactics from our relationship with China?

Today on The Front Page, Al Gillespie is with us to look at our changing world.

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.

Trump's tariff wars are officially on.

Donald Trump’s first two targets are Mexico and Canada, imposing 25% tariffs on their products – and 20% on Chinese imports.

These three countries accounted for more than 40% of imports into the US last year.

He’s also introduced a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminium products worldwide.

On his social media site, Truth Social, Trump said if the EU doesn’t remove a proposed 50% tariff on US bourbon, the US will place a 200% tariff on all wines, champagnes, and alcoholic products coming out of the EU.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters is currently in the US – he’s said he’s approaching the Trump administration “with eyes wide open” and that he’s “prepared to listen, hear them out, hear their side of the story”.

But, will that be enough to shift New Zealand out of Trump’s firing line?

CBC News senior parliamentary reporter, J.P. Tasker is with us from Ottawa, where citizens are actively boycotting US made products in response.

Then, later on The Front Page  we’ll speak to Buy New Zealand Made executive director, Dane Ambler about whether we’ve seen any impact here yet.

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.

Bowel cancer is the second highest cause of cancer death in New Zealand.  

1 in 10 Kiwis diagnosed are under 50 and every day, around three New Zealanders die from bowel cancer.  

Now, keep these figures in mind when I tell you that Health Minister Simeon Brown has announced the Government is lowering the screening from 60 to 58 for all Kiwis – and canned plans to lower the age for Māori and Pacific men to 50. 

That might be a good fit for the Pākehā majority, but less so for Māori and Pacific, given more of those groups develop cancer earlier. 

For example, about 26 per cent of bowel cancers in Pacific peoples occur between 50-59 years old, compared to about 11 per cent in the non-Māori or Pacific population. 

Today on The Front Page, University of Otago Professor of Colorectal Surgery Frank Frizelle joins us to discuss what needs to be done to prevent this disease.  

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: Evan Paea
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A battle is underway for the future of one of New Zealand’s biggest media companies.

Auckland-based Canadian billionaire Jim Grenon has in the last fortnight emerged as one of the biggest shareholders in NZME – the owner of the NZ Herald, Newstalk ZB and many music radio stations.

And next month, he hopes to vote out the company’s current board members and install himself and three others at the company’s shareholder meeting.

It’s the latest bit of turmoil to hit the media sector in this country, with nearly every major company seeing upheaval to some degree over the last 12 months.

Today on The Front Page, we’re joined by Media Insider Shayne Currie to discuss what Grenon wants from NZME, and if the sector is any closer to stability.

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.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is heading to India, taking with him one of the largest delegations a New Zealand PM has ever travelled with. 

And, the fanfare makes sense, given we currently export $718 million worth of goods to India annually, but we don’t have a formal free trade agreement.  

With the world’s largest population and on track to become the world’s third largest economy by 2030 – starting negotiations on that deal has been a priority for Luxon, above the other deals he’s focused on so far this term.

Luxon even promised in the 2023 election campaign to finalise a deal within his first term of Government – but how likely is that, and what would a deal actually mean for New Zealand?

Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls is with us to explain what all these agreements, memorandums, and FTAs actually mean.

Then Bharat Chawla, chair India New Zealand Business Council, joins us to delve into New Zealand’s relationship with India.

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.

A brainchild of the previous Labour Government, the Healthy School Lunches Programme provides free lunches to about 242,000 students in greatest need.

Since its initial launch in 2019, the programme has often been a target by politicians and commentators over the cost involved in the scheme.

It’s now under the supervision of associate education minister David Seymour, and a cheaper alternative to it launched this year.

It alone has faced a myriad of issues, notably incidents of unappetising, late or absent food deliveries, and a more serious case of one child suffering second-degree burns from a hot lunch.

As a result, hundreds of meals have been left uneaten – and now, one company contracted to deliver the food has gone into liquidation. 

So why are free school lunches such a source of controversy – and can the Government get past the negative headlines around them? 

Today on The Front Page, we’re joined by Victoria University of Wellington politics professor Dr Lara Greaves to discuss why there’s no such thing as a free lunch.

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 Zealand Police continue to monitor knife crime trends worldwide while other jurisdictions introduce tough new laws, getting ahead of the curve before it’s too late.

What they’re monitoring is reported offending involving knife crime – the likes of serious assaults and aggravated robberies.

Between December 2023 and December 2024, there were 1,639 incidents involving a stabbing or cutting weapon – a 1.7% decrease from the year before.

But, while New Zealand has not seen attacks like the Bondi Junction attack in Sydney, it hasn’t been immune, with notable individual attacks and mass events like the New Lynn mall attack. 

South Australia hasn’t seen spikes in knife crime either, but that hasn’t stopped the state introducing the toughest knife laws in the country.

Today on The Front Page, we’re joined by South Australian Attorney-General Kyam Maher to talk through the state’s decision and what advice he’d give New Zealand lawmakers.

And later, acting Deputy Commissioner Mike Pannett is with us to chat about what police are doing to prevent knife crime here.

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.

The Government’s focus on economic growth and foreign investment is back in the spotlight this week.

Later this week, the much-anticipated Investment Summit will take place in Auckland.

Businesses from over 14 countries, with six trillion dollars of capital, will be in attendance across Thursday and Friday, with Government Ministers and Labour representatives in attendance.

It comes at a critical time for the Government, with mixed poll results suggesting a difficult path to re-election next year.

Today on The Front Page, to talk us through who’ll be in attendance and what it all means for the Government, we’re joined by NZ Herald deputy political editor and host of the On the Tiles podcast, Thomas Coughlan.

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: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.