New Zealand’s media industry is facing arguably the biggest shake up in years.  

Stuff is closing a newspaper and launching a 6pm bulletin, TVNZ sent execs to on a $30k LA jaunt amidst mass layoffs and a lengthy plan to get back to profitability, and all this while we're readying ourselves for a final goodbye to Newshub.

The Government has finally come to the table with a plan to help the industry – but is it enough?

Today on The Front Page, the Herald’s Media Insider Shayne Currie checks in with us as the media industry continues to go through the motions.

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: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alcohol law reform could be on the cards this government term.

That’s after alcohol was identified as one of the key factors that need to be addressed to reduce deaths from non-communicable diseases in the Government’s Policy Statement on health.

It comes at the start of Dry July, the yearly fundraiser that encourages people to give up the booze for a month – but now, many are adopting that as a permanent fixture in their lives.

To discuss what alcohol reform could look like, today on The Front Page, we’re joined by Andrew Galloway, executive director of Alcohol Healthwatch.

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: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The biggest sporting event of the year kicks off this month. 

The 2024 Paris Olympics are only a few weeks away, and nearly 200 Kiwi athletes will be heading to the City of Love for their shot at Olympic glory.

Today on The Front Page, New York Times international correspondent Catherine Porter joins from Paris to discuss how the city is preparing for the event in the midst of an election, security concerns – and a costly river cleanup.

And then Newstalk ZB sports host Jason Pine digs into the Kiwi athletes to watch out for, and our own controversy around selection. 

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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: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Matariki is the third time the annual celebration has been an official public holiday.

But while this holiday is safe, the future of other public holidays – and annual leave in general – currently sits with Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden.

Van Velden is currently seeking feedback on suggested changes to the Holidays Act, with a draft proposal due in September – but, employee advocates are already sounding the alarm on what the refresh could mean for workers.

To discuss these changes with us, as well as her thoughts on public holidays, we’re joined now on The Front Page by Minister Brooke van Velden.

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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: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve been struggling with the cost of living, some good news is in store.

While Kiwis have to wait a few more weeks to see the Government’s tax cuts come through, from July 1st, parents, investment property owners and Auckland drivers are due for some relief.

It could all be short-lived though, with many councils eyeing major rates increases to tackle their flailing budgets.

Today on The Front Page, Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen to discuss the ongoing struggle with the cost of living and how these changes might help - and what impact the rates rises will have. 

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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: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the last year, the term ‘atmospheric river’ has entered our daily vocabulary, as New Zealand sees more intense rainfall hit our shores.

From the Auckland anniversary floods, to two months worth of rain hitting the East Coast in just one day, the whole country seems susceptible to increased rainfall.

But is this really the case, and if so, what’s the cause?

Today on The Front Page, Dr Daniel Kingston from Otago University joins to discuss their latest research into the cause and effect of rainfall in this country.

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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: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It may have taken a month to get there, but the Government has fulfilled its promise to fund new cancer drugs.

Rather than the 13 promised on the campaign trail, it's giving $604 million for 54 new medicines, including 26 cancer treatments.

It's hoped the promised cancer drugs will be rolled out within the next year and a half – with the first becoming available from October.

But the back and forth over National’s pre-election promise has raised questions about why it’s so difficult to fund drugs in this country – and if Pharmac is up to the task.

Today on The Front Page, University of Auckland Professor Dr Paula Lorgelly joins us to discuss if our decades-old process needs a refresh.

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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: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is being warned it must invest in New Zealand's ageing infrastructure.

It comes after a week of infrastructure woes, with the Defence Force plane breaking down, a track fault cancelling all trains in Auckland, and an Interislander ferry running aground.

These are all areas that have been issues before, so what’s stopped us from fixing these problems before they become a catastrophe?

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald Wellington reporter Georgina Campbell explains what went wrong with the Interislander ferry and what it'll take to fix the problem, and Infrastructure NZ’s policy director, Michelle McCormick, digs into the wider issues with our critical infrastructure. 

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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: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thousands of jobs have gone, millions of dollars have been spent on redundancy payouts – and it’s not over yet as the public sector continues to tighten its belt.

Budget 2024 set targets for $1.5 billion worth of cost-savings, with estimates for $1b in further savings over numerous financial years.

But as the axe falls, there are questions over whether the cuts will hit the front-line – something the Government’s promised will stay intact.

Today on The Front Page, Newstalk ZB reporter Azaria Howell joins us for an update on whether changes have stayed in the back room – and how many more jobs are at risk.

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: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian government is pivoting to a stricter stance on deporting so-called "501s" - people with criminal histories who had mostly grown up in Australia but were born in New Zealand.

The new directive, effective from today, takes a U-turn on previous commitments made by the Australian government in 2022 to prioritise considering a person's links to Australia in visa decisions.

Between January 2015 to January this year, 3,128 people were deported from Australia.

While not all of them were "501s", over a third were no older than 19 when they left NZ. Just over 200 were no older than nine.

Today on The Front Page, founder of Road 2 Redemption and former "501", Mark Talanoa, discusses the implications of this new directive.

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: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.