The Front Page

After seven weeks and over 80 witnesses, we have finished hearing evidence in the trial of Philip Polkinghorne.  

The former Auckland eye surgeon is accused of murdering his wife, Pauline Hanna, who was found dead on 5 April, 2021. 

He maintains she took her own life. 

In the final days of testimony, the debate over activity on Hanna’s phone continued, before the last two witnesses to take the stand offered their views on the state of her mental health, and the risk factors that could have pushed her towards suicide.  

You can listen to episodes of Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial through The Front Page podcast feed, or find it on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

This series is presented and produced by, Chelsea Daniels, with producer Ethan Sills and sound engineer Paddy Fox. Additional production support by Helen King. Additional reporting by Craig Kapitan and George Block. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Māori Language Week – where Kiwis are encouraged to have a go at te reo. 

Whereas the language was once on a pathway to extinction, now it’s flourishing as people flock to learn it.  

But a change in government last year saw restrictions placed on how the public service uses te reo – one of many policies that has been seen as an attack on Māori rights.  

Today on The Front Page, we’re joined by AUT professor Dr Ella Henry to discuss some of those policies, and how we can still celebrate Aotearoa’s indigenous language.  

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: Susie Nordqvist
Sound Engineer: Dan Goodwin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s estimated we spend a third of our life at work – with the average worker clocking a staggering 90,000 hours in employment over a lifetime.

Covid lockdowns saw companies adapt to remote and flexible working practices, while schemes like four day weeks have gained traction globally.

Some international companies though are pulling back or restricting employees from working at home, while one CEO has gone as far as to try and stop people leaving the building during work hours.

So what is the best practice, and how do we adapt our workplaces for a changing world? 

Today on The Front Page, we are joined by AUT associate professor and organisational psychologist Dr. Rachel Morrison to discuss the changing workforce.  

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: Susie Nordqvist
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Originally due to run for six weeks, the trial of Philip Polkinghorne is now in its seventh week.  

The former Auckland eye surgeon is accused of murdering his wife, Pauline Hanna, who was found dead on 5 April, 2021. 

He maintains she took her own life. 

More witnesses from the defence took the stand to discuss their thoughts on how Hanna died, and the risk factors that could have pushed her to take her own life.

New emails from Hanna were read to the court, and the question on if she used her phone the night before she died saw one Crown witness returned to the stand. 

You can listen to episodes of Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial through The Front Page podcast feed, or find it on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

This series is presented and produced by, Chelsea Daniels, with producer Ethan Sills and sound engineer Dan Goodwin. Additional production support by Helen King. Additional reporting by Craig Kapitan and George Block. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We may be two years away from our next general election, but the possibility of more tax is already being debated. 

Labour is starting to warm the public up to the idea of a wealth or capital gains tax being part of their 2026 manifesto - with leader Chris Hipkins saying its necessary to deal with our ageing population.  

The possibility of introducing either tax has been debated by the left, and rejected by the right, for years – but is it time we have that conversation? 

Today on The Front Page, we discuss this with tax experts Robin Oliver from Oliver Shaw and Geof Nightingale from Geof Nightingale Advisory.  

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: Susie Nordqvist
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The construction industry in New Zealand is struggling – with building companies going to the wall as the housing market falls away.

It also has one of the highest rates of workplace injuries of any industry.

But there’s another workplace hazard that we’re not talking about.

Construction workers are six times more likely to die from suicide than from an accident at work, and last year that number climbed to 80 suspected suicides, according to one report – the highest on record.

Today on The Front Page, we’re joined by New Zealand Herald property editor Anne Gibson to talk  about what’s going on in the sector, and how severe the mental health issue is.

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: Susie Nordqvist
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Robertson is the most successful coach in Super Rugby history - leading the Crusaders to seven-back-to-back titles. 

He is also a firm favourite with the public – and is perhaps the most popular rugby coach we've ever had. 

But his transition from the red and blacks to leading the All Blacks hasn't been smooth sailing. The national side has posted three losses from seven matches – their latest being against the Springboks at the weekend. 

So what are the issues facing his side? Is there an easy fix – or is this a sign of long-term issues for rugby in this country? 

Today on The Front Page, we’re joined by Newstalk ZB’s sports news director Clay Wilson to help us unpack the losses.  

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: Susie Nordqvist
Sound Engineer: Dan Goodwin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The struggles facing social media platform X are back in the spotlight. 

In amongst an advertising exodus and concerns over owner Elon Musk’s takes on the US election, Brazil's Supreme Court has upheld a ban on the app formerly known as Twitter. 

These are just the latest controversies to hit the platform in the two years since Musk took it over – yet the app still has millions of users, and alternatives to the platform have not taken off.  

Today on The Front Page, we’re joined by Vaughn Davis from Auckland advertising agency the goat farm to discuss what the future holds for X, and why some people can’t seem to just log off.   

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: Georgina Campbell
Sound Engineer: Dan Goodwin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has announced a record 32.9-billion-dollar investment in New Zealand’s transport network over the next three years, through the National Land Transport Programme.  

The big winner is new roads, and the big loser is walking and cycling improvements.  

So, what does this mean for congestion and emissions in our biggest cities?  

And will a new National Infrastructure Pipeline prevent these roads being scuppered by future Governments? 

Today on The Front Page,  Auckland University Senior Lecturer in urban planning Tim Welch bring us up to speed.  

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: Georgina Campbell
Sound Engineer: Dan Goodwin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Week six of the trial of Philip Polkinghorne continued with the defence’s case.  

The former Auckland eye surgeon is accused of murdering his wife, Pauline Hanna, who was found dead on 5 April, 2021. 

He maintains she took her own life. 

Witnesses for the defence revealed a different side of Polkinghorne then what we’ve previously heard, with former colleagues and neighbours describing him as funny, generous and caring.  

While the case took another dive into the couple’s accounts, electricity usage the morning Hanna died, and the reappearance of a red mark on the stairs – and the defence pathologist weighed in as well.  

You can listen to episodes of Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial through The Front Page podcast feed, or find it on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

This series is presented and produced by, Chelsea Daniels, with producer Ethan Sills and sound engineer Dan Goodwin. Additional production support by Helen King. Additional reporting by Craig Kapitan and George Block. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.