New Zealand’s welfare system has become a hot-button political issue. 
 
Politicians on all sides of the aisle have expressed their opinions on how much support the Government should give those out of work. 
 
While National has warned the free ride for young jobseekers is over, Labour has warned that more sanctions won’t guide beneficiaries into work. 

So where does the truth lie? And what does a good welfare system actually look like?   

Today, Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen joins Damien to discuss how much money the Government should be willing to give to those hunting for work.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It has been nearly six months since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. Yet for the millions of Ukrainians affected by the conflict, these past few months have felt like a lifetime.  

Recently, NZ Herald investigative reporter Nicholas Jones spent a week in Ukraine, in the cities of Kyiv and Irpin. 
 
There, he spoke to one Kiwi woman who gave everything up to bring her skills to Ukraine, as well as many Ukrainians trying their best to survive.  

Today, Damien talks to Nicholas about his trip and what he saw on the ground in Ukraine. 

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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
Editor/Producer: Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2022, wildfires have scorched more than 600,000 hectares of Europe.

This ranks as the second-highest total for any year, and comes amid a heatwave that has killed more than 2000 people in Spain and Portugal alone.

Climate scientists have warned that these wild weather events are only going to become more regular, and Aotearoa will not be spared.

So are we ready for the impact of long, dry summers? And is our fire service well enough equipped to battle raging wildfires?  
 
Today, Damien speaks to NZ Herald planning director Vera Alves about what it's like on the ground in Portugal, and Joe Stanley, the vice president of the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union, joins later to discuss New Zealand's preparedness. 

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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
Editor/Producer: Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ukraine. Climate change. The Economy. Local and national politics.Rising violence. And, of course, Covid-19.

The Front Page has covered a lot of topics since launching in March.  

But with the constant churn of the daily news cycle, so many of these stories can come and go without the opportunity to reflect on their impact, and analyse how things unfolded.

For this, our 100th episode of The Front Page, Damien is joined by NZ Herald senior writer Simon Wilson, and Newstalk ZB Drive host Heather du Plessis-Allan, to look back on some of the biggest stories from the year so far – and see how things have changed.   

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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
Editor/Producer: Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The political fight for Auckland mayor is balanced on a knife edge and things are starting to get dirty. 
 
Polls separate four candidates by only a few percentage points – and mud-slinging has ensued.

So do attack-based political stunts even work? And should we be worried about low participation levels when so much is at stake?  

Today, strategic marketer and Ben Goodale joins Damien for a discussion on why the battle for Auckland mayor is getting so dirty.  

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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
Editor: Paddy Fox
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the next three months, more than two million New Zealanders are set to receive a $350 payment from the Government.  
 
That money is intended to help alleviate the cost of living crisis, and comes with no strings attached. Most people don’t have to do anything to get it.  

It could have been a surefire political win, but now Labour has had to explain why New Zealanders and migrants who have left the country are somehow receiving this payment as well. 

So how did this happen, and was a free handout even the right way to tackle the cost of living crisis in the first place?  

Today, NZ Herald Wellington Business Editor Jenee Tibshraeny joins Damien to explain how giving away cash backfired on the Government.  

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine waking up one morning and realising the door to almost every public service was shut to you. No matter how hard you tried, you simply couldn’t get in. 
 
That’s the experience for many New Zealanders who have been left behind as the world has moved online. 

So how many are being digitally excluded, and how damaging is this in a society so singularly focused on moving everything online?
 
Today, Sharren Wilson, who has struggled to be helped by WINZ, and Sacha Green, national advisor to the Citizens Advice Bureau, join Damien to discuss what can be done to avoid leaving people behind. 

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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
Editor / Producer: Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a growing trend of anti-social behaviour across Aotearoa that’s affecting people of all walks of life.

Recently, we’ve seen shocking headlines of random bouts of violence and racism, including an attack on a police officer and a racially motivated assault at a supermarket.
 
Damien asks organisational psychologist and chair of the Institute of Organisational Psychology John Eatwell about what’s driving this uptick in bad behaviour, and what can we do to nudge society back in the right direction?  

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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
Editor / Producer: Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new threat has got New Zealand’s agricultural community on edge. 

Foot and mouth disease, which devastated farming communities in England 21 years ago, has been detected in Indonesia, and has already sparked a biosecurity response to try and prevent it taking hold here. 

That’s because if the disease takes hold here, it could cost us one hundred thousand jobs and wipe 16 billion dollars from our GDP. 

Today, Vice President of Federated Farmers and Golden Bay dairy farmer Wayne Langford joins Damien to discuss why foot and mouth disease is so concerning, and how we can keep it out. 

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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
Editor / Producer: Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The isolated religious community of Gloriavale has gripped the nation for years.  

The church’s ongoing attempts to project an image of wholesome Christianity have been tarnished many times - from revelations about the founder Neville Cooper, who dubbed himself Hopeful Christian, to more recent stories due to stories of workplace exploitation, and physical and sexual abuse of minors.

A new documentary, Gloriavale, premiering at the New Zealand International Film Festival is the latest to shine a light on what really goes on in the reclusive community. 

Today, Fergus Grady, the co-director of Gloriavale, and Liz Gregory from the Gloriavale Leavers Trust, join Damien to discuss why, despite all the scrutiny, this troubled community still gets to play by its own rules. 

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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
Editor / Producer: Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.