Since a brutal attack on an Israeli music festival on October 7th, relentless conflict has raged across Gaza.
 
Thousands have already lost their lives, and there are now risks that bloodshed could stretch across borders and involve other countries. 

The war has also created a diplomatic minefield, with politicians picking their words very carefully when commenting on the violence.  
 
After reporting on the war in Ukraine, conflict journalist Tom Mutch is now in Israel.
  
Today, he joins The Front Page, to talk about how this war could escalate and what both sides are hoping to achieve. 

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aotearoa loves to have a drink, but that doesn’t mean all is well in the business of booze.

We’ve seen major craft brewers and wine companies battle to make ends meet.  

Brothers Beer, Villa Maria and Sacred Hill are just some of the biggest names to have fallen victim to these struggles.  
 
So what’s going on in the wine and beer industries? Does this mark the end of an era for Kiwi-made alcohol? And are there any new brands carrying the New Zealand story forward?

Michael Donaldson (The Pursuit for Hoppiness) has the answers on whether the craft beer sector has lost the hop in its step, and BusinessDesk senior journalist Paul McBeth talks Damien through the wine industry’s woes. 

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: Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the election over and coalition talks in the air, it’s worth taking the time to look back at what two of the key players had to say about party policies, and each other, before the ballot boxes were emptied.

Could National Party leader Christopher Luxon and Act’s David Seymour be a combo that takes our nation to a place of strength, or one that just keeps Aotearoa treading water? 

Hear from two of the men planning to run the country in today's edition of The Front Page.

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: Shaun D Wilson and Paddy Fox
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The incoming Government has promised to come down hard on gangs.  
 
This comes after several years of increased illegal activity, driven by the arrival of Australian gangs in Aotearoa. 
 
Communities have expressed deep concerns, saying they feel intimidated, unsafe and concerned about being caught in the crossfire between opposing gangs.  

So what are National, Act and NZ First proposing? And more importantly, will any of the strategies actually work?

Today, Jared Savage, the author of two books on gangs and senior investigations writer at the NZ Herald, joins The Front Page for a discussion on whether the crackdown on gangs will make any difference.

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: Paddy Fox and Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the election campaign, the National Party vowed it would tackle the cost of living crisis.

Well, having won the election, they now have to deliver on that pledge. They have inherited an economy that is in rough shape but slowly on the mend, so how big of a task lies ahead for them? 

And what does this crisis actually mean for those worst affected by it? 
 
Later, we’ll be joined by the New Zealand Food Network CEO Gavin Findlay to discuss how much families are struggling. 

On The Front Page today, NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenée Tibshraeny explains the state of the economy. New Zealand Food Network CEO Gavin Findlay to discuss how much families are struggling. 

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: Paddy Fox and Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 18th: In this final episode of On the Campaign for the moment, we hear from NZ Herald head of data Chris Knox about why the special votes are so important in determining the shape and makeup of the next government.

Host: Hamish Fletcher
Producer: Ethan Sills 

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The six years of the sixth Labour government have come to a close.

Only three years after Jacinda Ardern led her party to a historic landslide, Chris Hipkins has had the dubious honour of guiding his party to the biggest electoral defeat for a governing party yet.

The question now is what the future holds for Labour. The last three National governments each lasted three terms, and after losing half its caucus, Labour has a long way to go to prevent that from happening a fourth time.

So where did the party lose its way, and how should they rebuild to face a modern electorate?

Today, on The Front Page, NZ Herald senior writer Simon Wilson shares his thoughts on what Labour needs to do if it wants to return to power.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While special votes are still to be counted, and a by-election needs to be held, it looks like National and Act are set to form the next government.  

With Christopher Luxon as Prime Minister, he now has to build a Cabinet and start implementing his policies.  

But without a full majority, Luxon needs to negotiate with Act and its leader David Seymour to decide what policies to adopt and how many of Act’s MPs will sit around the Cabinet table.  

The question of how involved NZ First and Winston Peters will be remains unanswered, as the often left-leaning special votes could bump National and Act below a majority.  

So, what could this coalition look like, and how big of a swing to the right will Aotearoa experience? 

Today, NZ Herald senior political writer Derek Cheng joins The Front Page to discuss the shape of politics to come. 

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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: Damien Venuto
Producers: Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 16th: The campaign is over and the coalition negotiations have begun. NZ Herald deputy political editor Thomas Coughlan joins to discuss what should happen over the next three weeks as National and the new Prime Minister Christopher Luxon prepare to take charge, and work out who they need to work with.

Host: Georgina Campbell
Producer: Ethan Sills

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Doctors failing to catch blood clots. Cancer being missed. Medicine given to patients who are allergic to it. Surgical equipment left inside patients.

We trust our lives to medical professionals to find out what’s wrong with us and help us get better, but sometimes the mistakes of medical staff can lead to dire consequences.

Thankfully, processes are in place to hold doctors, nurses and other staff accountable when things go wrong, and hopefully prevent mistakes from happening again.

We’re aware of many of these stories thanks to the Open Justice project which has been reporting on decisions made by the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal and the Health and Disability Commissioner.  

Open Justice deputy editor Natalie Akoorie discusses what those organisations do, and how they can help you if your medical treatment causes you more harm than good.

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
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.