The Front Page

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. 

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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
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.  

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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
Producer: Paddy Fox
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank has kept the Official Cash Rate at 5.5 per cent – and has stressed that our fight against inflation is not yet done.  
 
This comes as the country prepares for the new Government to step in and start making the big changes that were promised on the campaign trail.  
 
Luxon has pledged to slash public sector spending and has already done away with the Productivity Commission. He has further said that he wants to reduce the size of the public sector by around 5 per cent, meaning there’ll be far more jobs to go. 

So how much trouble is our economy in? Are there any signs that we could soon get relief from high mortgage rates? And will the widespread cuts to the public sector help or hinder the country?     
 
Today, Jenée Tibshraeny, NZ Herald Wellington business editor, wades into the messy economic picture facing the incoming 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.

Space – The Final Frontier. But for the new government, it’s being seen as an area ripe for expansion. 

Judith Collins has been appointed as New Zealand’s first ever Minister for Space, with a focus on our growing the aerospace industry 

With New Zealand one of the few countries in the world able to launch rockets into space, how important is this portfolio to our country’s future, and can we catch up with the big global players who have been at this since the Cold War? 

Today on The Front Page, Kevin Jenkins, a long-time business consultant and a board member at Aerospace Auckland, joins Damien to discuss a giant leap for our 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.

Education was a major battleground this election.  
 
Evidence showed decades of decline in the quality of the education system, with literacy and numeracy rates falling steadily. 

Add the dual problems of absenteeism and overworked teachers and you have a system in dire need of repair.  

So what is the new Government proposing? And will the plans put forward actually make the difference needed?   

Today on The Front Page, Newstalk ZB journalist Shannon Johnstone joins us to discuss whether Kiwi kids are alright. 

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.

It has been over six weeks since Election Day, but finally, Christopher Luxon has been sworn in as Prime Minister.

Weeks of negotiations have delivered the first-ever three-party coalition government in the MMP era, with National joined by both Act and NZ First ministers at the Cabinet table.  

But now that the negotiations and swearing-in ceremonies are done, these three parties need to get on with governing. What will their priorities be as a government, and how will those detailed coalition agreements reshape Aotearoa? 

Today on The Front Page, Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls dissects the deals and previews the weeks, months and years ahead.  

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.

A massive year of four world cups has left Aotearoa empty-handed.

Kiwi teams fell short in rugby, cricket, football and netball, leaving some question marks about whether we’d lost our competitive edge.

But our teams also exceeded expectations. No one expected the White Ferns to beat Norway. The All Blacks were given no chance of making it to the final. And the Black Caps also rose above the naysayers to land a spot in the semi-finals. 

So where does this leave New Zealand sport? Are we on the decline or is there a bigger legacy that we can build from this string of disappointments?

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald online sports editor Luke Kirkness delivers his verdict on the moments that defined New Zealand sport in 2023.    

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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.

After 40 days, New Zealand has a new government. National, Act and NZ First have signed their agreements to form the country's first-ever three-party coalition government. 

So who's deputy Prime Minister, who are the new Ministers, and what are the policy priorities? And NZ Herald politics editor Claire Trevett joins for her analysis on how this will all work.

Host: Hamish Fletcher
Producer: Ethan Sills 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Musicians are facing a deathly silence.  

With the gutting of the magazine industry now well-bedded in, many of the specialised titles that once relished in telling tales of bands on the road have disappeared. Most of the coverage of music and arts in wider mainstream media has also vanished. 

So now how do Kiwi acts get their voices heard? And who will step up to be the cheerleaders for the up-and-coming talent capable of placing Aotearoa on the global pop culture map?  
 
Chris Schulz, a long-time pop culture journalist, who now blogs in his spare time for The Boiler Room, joins Damien to discuss what happens when local artists can’t cut through the noise. 

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.