Where to begin with 2023?  

The year started in a big way, with the resignation of Jacinda Ardern and two once-in-a-century weather events in a row. And it didn’t slow down from there. 

Ministerial car crashes.  An exploding submarine. World Cup highs and lows. The threat of AI. An active shooter at rush hour. A radio station that got effed live on air. Crime, the economy, trans rights, global conflict. And the coronation of both a new King, as well as the swearing in of a new government.  

There’s so much to digest, but how do we learn from this year’s crises, and what do we need to prepare ourselves for the year ahead? 

For our final episode of The Front Page for the year, we’re joined by NZ Herald editors at large, Shayne Currie and Liam Dann, and political editor Claire Trevett, for a look back and a glimpse into the future.  

Tune in next week for highlights from the year. New episodes return January 15th. 

Host: Damien Venuto
Producers: Shaun D Wilson and Paddy Fox
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2023 has been quite a year, and many of us are ready and waiting for our summer break to begin.  

With music festivals and other entertainment on offer, a lot of us need a break. 

But after a year of violent weather, what state are our key roads and highways in before the busy traffic period? 

And are we going to get the summer weather we missed out on last year, or could we be in for more of the same? 

In this episode, Damien is joined first by NIWA meteorologist Ben Noll for a preview of the weather in the weeks ahead. Then, the AA’s Martin Glynn runs through the roads to avoid when heading on holiday, and finally, NZ Herald entertainment reporter Lillie Rohan details some of the summer cultural highlights. 

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: Damien Venuto
Producer: Paddy Fox
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the biggest talking points of 2023 has been migration – not just who is coming to New Zealand, but how many of us are leaving the country. 

This year has seen record numbers of New Zealanders flock across the ditch and set up shop in Australia. There’s nothing new about a move across the Tasman, but the sheer volume of Kiwis leaving has sparked concerns over a potential brain drain.  

In among the stories of higher wages and more job opportunities, there have been some stories about some who found the grass wasn’t greener on the other side.  

NZ Herald journalist and Australian expat Ben Leahy has spoken to some of those about their experiences. He joins us today on The Front Page to discuss migration movements over the last 12 months.  

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: Damien Venuto
Producer: Paddy Fox
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the last two months, the world has been watching as the bloodshed in the Gaza Strip continues with no end in sight. 

Over 18,000 Palestinians have died as Israel continues their bombing campaign, and global efforts for a ceasefire are going ignored, even failing at the highest echelons of international politics. 

Yet while this conflict may be dominating headlines, war continues to rage in Ukraine, and the future of the country’s fight against Russia seems up in the air as US politicians battle over how much aid to supply the country. 

Today on The Front Page, we are joined by Otago University Professor of International Relations, Robert Patman, to discuss the current state of both conflicts, what the future holds for them, and if that hinges on the outcome of the US Presidential election.

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: Damien Venuto
Producer: Paddy Fox
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Government is only a week in but there have already been some fiery exchanges.  

National’s Christopher Luxon and Labour’s Chris Hipkins crossed swords in parliament and we’ve already seen Kiwis take to the streets in protest.  

Te Pati Māori, holding its largest-ever caucus, has promised that this only the start and that there will be further protests to come.  

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has made a number of controversial comments that have left the Luxon red-faced.  
 
So where does this leave National-led coalition? How divisive are the Government’s policies? And how stable is the partnership between National, Act and NZ first.    

Today, NZ Herald political report Michael Neilson gives us a breakdown of what has been an eventful and somewhat chaotic first week for the new Government.   

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: Damien Venuto
Producer: Paddy Fox
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand has a new Government – and this means a new Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Winston Peters will take over from Nanaia Mahuta in a role that’s getting more complicated with every passing day. 

Trade wars, environmental devastation, and open military conflicts have returned to the globe on a level not seen in decades, to name just a few of the diplomatic tightropes that Peters will have to walk as he navigates this role. 

So is he still the right man for the job after all these years? And what does a change in Government mean for our role and reputation on the global stage? 
 
Today, NZ Herald editorial director and long-time columnist Fran O’Sullivan connects the dots between Aotearoa and the rest of the 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: Damien Venuto
Producer: Paddy Fox
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The thought of a job with unlimited leave might seem splendid.
 
You could ostensibly take weeks off whenever you feel like it and have a work-life balance that most could only dream of.

But this isn’t always how these things work out.
 
Jarrod Haar, Associate Dean at Massey Business School, has looked into the details of how having holidays when you want actually works in practice and found that there can be some worrying unintended consequences.

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: Damien Venuto
Producers: Shaun D Wilson and Paddy Fox
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the two years since Harry and Meghan sat down with Oprah, one question has hung over the Royal Family. 

Just who in the family raised concerns about the colour of Prince Archie’s skin before his birth? 

Now, the two senior royals have been named in a since-pulled Dutch translation of a new book about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their royal battles. 

It has sparked yet another scandal that has involved all the key players and themes of modern Royal life, from press scrutiny of the family to the ongoing tensions between Princes William, Harry and their wives.  
 
Today, NZ Herald Lifestyle and Travel deputy editor Emma Gleason joins to discuss how this scandal came to be and what happens next. 

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: Damien Venuto
Producer: Paddy Fox
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many of us have had the unfortunate experience of witnessing the delays in New Zealand’s health system first hand.  

For some, that may simply mean the delay in seeing your GP or hours spent in the emergency room. 

But for others, the waiting game can have long-term implications for their health.  

NZ Herald investigate journalist Nicholas Jones for several months has been looking into cardiac patients and how they are being treated, and has heard some shocking stories about lengthy waiting times for surgery, and how some Kiwis are getting better care overseas.  
 
Today on The Front Page, he joins us to discuss how we could be doing heart health better.

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: Damien Venuto
Producer: Paddy Fox
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has admitted to having a drinking problem.  

This comes after two incidents in which she has been seen visibly intoxicated in public spaces.  

Some councillors are now also calling Whanau’s resignation, with some questioning whether she can do the big job required of her. 

It also comes in the broader context of former Labour politician Kiri Allan, who blew over the legal limit after being involved in a car crash. That incident would ultimately come at the cost of her job in the Labour Government.  

But do these incidents actually point to something bigger? Does tell us something about the strain young politicians face when placed under constant public scrutiny? And how can the first-time MPs being sworn in this week prepare for the pressure coming their way?   
 
Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald senior reporter Georgina Campbell digs into the latest scandal to rock New Zealand politics.  

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: Damien Venuto
Producer: Paddy Fox
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.