The Front Page

Episod

• 
  What each party wants to do with your taxes 25.09.2026 18min

  With the election just weeks away, a new poll gives us a glimpse into how voters feel about one of the major topics this campaign season – tax.  No new taxes for working people. No new taxes full stop. Taxes for capital gains. Tax the rich. Tax inheritance. Tax landowners.  The campaign season’s only just officially begun but it feels like we’ve already been hearing debates about the subject of taxes and levies for a while now.  The latest Ipsos Issues Monitor survey dove deeper into the tax debate, showing about two-thirds of Kiwis would support a wealth tax.  Today on The Front Page, Newstalk ZB political reporter, Ethan Griffiths is with us to break down the numbers.  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: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Why this election could come down to the smaller parties 24.09.2026 20min

  Parliament is officially over and now the gloves are coming off.   New Zealanders go to the polls on November 7, and between now and then we’re going to see the parties make their pitches, ramp up their attacks, and fight for every last vote.  The next 44 days will be filled with policy announcements, political debates, carefully choreographed photo ops, an endless stream of memes, and inevitably -- drama.  So, as the buzz of the Beehive fades into silence and the campaign proper takes centre stage, what issues are likely to dominate and who has the most to gain, and perhaps -- the most to lose?   Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan is with us to break it all down. 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: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  What Nicky Hager’s Dirty Work alleges about the Taxpayers’ Union 23.09.2026 19min

  Nicky Hager is back with a new book taking aim at one of the country’s most prominent lobby groups, the Taxpayers’ Union.  He alleges the organisation has played a key role in shifting New Zealand politics to the right, claiming they worked with the tobacco industry and focused on race-based campaigns.  The NZTU’s director Jordan Williams flatly denies the allegations and has said the book is full of inaccuracies.  So, what exactly is Hager claiming, what evidence does he have, and what does the book tell us about the political landscape heading into this election?  Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald senior journalist, David Fisher, joins us to take us through the the allegations and the broader picture around them. 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: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  How Reserve Bank mistakes fuelled New Zealand’s boom and bust 22.09.2026 21min

  A damning report into the Reserve Bank’s actions during Covid, a backdown from Labour on landlord tax breaks, and a last look at the Government’s books before the election. That’s all ahead of the much-hyped release of a new book from Nicky Hager tonight. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenée Tibshraeny joins us to break it all down. Follow The Front Page on the iHeart App, 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/Producer: Katie BradfordProducer: Jane YeeEditor/Producer: Richard MartinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Supermarket owners push back against break-up plans 21.09.2026 19min

  Supermarket owners are fighting back as they find themselves firmly in the sights of almost all political parties. To recap, National and NZ First want to break up the Foodstuffs co-operative, while the Greens want to kickstart a government-owned supermarket. Labour has announced plans to split Foodstuffs’ and Woolworths’ retail and wholesale arms, alongside measures to ban price gouging. Now, a concerted campaign from Foodstuffs supermarket owners is underway. Clare Gallagher from New World Kawerau joins The Front Page to discuss. Follow The Front Page on the iHeart App, 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/Producer: Katie BradfordProducer: Jane YeeEditor/Producer: Richard MartinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Why it’s championship or bust for the Warriors 18.09.2026 18min

  It’s do or die for the Warriors as they head into this weekend’s sudden death match against the Newcastle Knights with a spot in the preliminary final against the Penrith Panthers on the line.   Last weekend the Warriors seemed in control against the Dolphins before three late tries saw the visitors take the win, denying the Wahs a direct path through to the next round.   Now they have to do it the hard way, and while they may have the hometown advantage, you’d be hard pressed to say they have the homeground advantage.   Today on The Front Page, we’re joined by NZ Herald sports reporters Nathan Limm and Christopher Reive to look at what went wrong last weekend and what needs to happen at Eden Park on Sunday to keep our grand final dreams alive.  Follow The Front Page on the iHeart App, 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/Producer: Jane YeeEditor/Producer: Richard MartinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Is an AI slowdown our next nuclear-free moment? 17.09.2026 22min

  Should we put the brakes on AI?  Well, the bosses of some of the world's largest AI companies say we should.  Sam Altman and Elon Musk have both backed head of Anthropic Dario Amodei after he came out and said we need to slow the pace of AI development. He's warned that AI could become capable of "taking over the entire internet" within a year.  So if the people developing this tech are worried about where we're heading, should the rest of us be worried too?  Today on The Front Page, University of Auckland professor and director of Huanui – The AI Initiative, Dr Alexander Richter is with us to discuss whether we're moving too fast, and what would actually happen if we slowed things down. 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: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  How political parties plan to take on New Zealand’s supermarket giants 16.09.2026 22min

  National and Labour have both unveiled new plans to shake up the supermarket sector.   National wants to investigate splitting Foodstuffs into two competing nationwide groups, while Labour is promising to make price gouging illegal – not just for supermarkets, but a range of essential goods and services.   Both parties say they want to bring down the cost of living, but they’re taking very different approaches to the supermarket sector, while the minor parties have their own – not dissimilar ideas -  about how to shake up the market.   Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald senior correspondent Katie Bradford is with us to unpack the new supermarket policies and what they tell us about how the election campaign is taking shape. 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: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Is politics costing NZ billions in wasted infrastructure planning? 15.09.2026 19min

  Infrastructure shapes our daily lives, but some might think that it's too often planned election by election.  Infrastructure New Zealand wants to put an end to stop-start funding and shifting priorities, launching "Let's Build NZ".  The campaign promises to put choices in front of voters and rate the parties against its eight priorities.  Today on The Front Page, Infrastructure NZ chief executive Nick Leggett is with us to explain what concrete changes he wants to see so we can build for generations, not just the next 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: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane Yee  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Can’t afford KiwiSaver right now? Labour says your boss should still pay 6% 14.09.2026 18min

  What we should do with KiwiSaver continues to be a hot topic this election season.   The latest party to throw their idea into the ring is Labour, which wants to lift the employer contribution rate to 6% by 2032.  They would also introduce compulsory employer contributions, even when employees have paused or reduced their own share and extend employer contributions to workers over 65.  Nicola Willis was quick to call the policy a "watered-down" version of National's.  Both New Zealand First and National are proposing compulsory contributions for all workers but have also both announced policies that would automatically enrol babies and children.  Today on The Front Page, Labour's finance spokesperson, Barbara Edmonds is with us to talk us through the plan, and why it's actually different from other parties. 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: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  ‘Auckland deserves this’: CRL to finally open after over 100 years of talk 11.09.2026 19min

  It's finally here, one of the biggest infrastructure projects New Zealand has ever seen.  After years of construction, disruption, and delays, the City Rail Link is finally a reality, which promises to transform the way people move through the heart of the city.  So, what does this mean for Auckland? How will it change the city? And will it all be worth the wait?  Today, we're on location at Te Waihorotiu station as Auckland marks this major milestone.  We'll be speaking to the Herald's property editor Anne Gibson, who's been reporting on the CRLfor decades, and Transport Minister Chris Bishop, who gets to cut the ribbon.  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: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Why the story about Kiwi kids being bad at maths isn’t quite adding up 10.09.2026 18min

  It feels like we're constantly being told that our kids are really bad at math.  In 2023, we were informed kids recorded their worst ever results in something called the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) exams.  It was called "disastrous", "disappointing" -- but, we'd heard it all before.  In 2020 the 13-year-olds recorded their worst-ever results in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, or TIMSS ... in 2023, almost 60% of Year 8s were failing maths according to something called the National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement, or NMSSA.  In 2024, data from the Curriculum Insights and Progress Study (CIPS) showed just 22% of Year 8s were at the expected curriculum benchmark for maths.  PISA, TIMSS, NMSSA, CIPS. What are all of these? Are Kiwi kids really that bad at maths? Or, is this just a case of cherry-picking from random data sets to suit a certain narrative?   Today on The Front Page, University of Auckland maths expert Dr Lisa Darragh is with us to try and make sense of all the numbers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Why aren’t funders investing in startups founded by women? 09.09.2026 13min

  New Zealand investment in women-only founding teams has more than tripled in a year, but a huge gender gap remains.  Gender Investment Gap University of Auckland Business School data shows these teams are still receiving less than six cents in every investment dollar, while male teams get 70 cents.  And while there's been more investment in women-led businesses, it starts falling away at later funding stages.  So, why does it all matter?   Today on The Front Page, founder of tech startup Dispute Buddy, Jenny Rudd is with us to discuss. 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: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Is the public service strike about pay, politics, or both? 08.09.2026 19min

  About 10,000 public servants are set to strike following prolonged pay negotiations.  While the Public Services Association says members are walking off the job for fair pay and better service delivery, the move has been accused of being politically motivated.  Public Service Minister Paul Goldsmith's pointed out pamphlets that read "change the government"... and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has said they should all be at work.  But, the PSA says the workforce is at breaking point, pay is falling further behind the cost of living, and job cuts are now hitting the services New Zealanders rely on.  Today on The Front Page, PSA organiser Duane Leo is with us to explain what members are demanding and why they believe strike action is necessary. 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: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  NZ's enrolment problem - where are the young voters? 07.09.2026 16min

  We’re seven weeks out from the general election, and nearly 190 thousand young people are missing from the roll. Only around 57% of 18-24 year olds have enrolled to vote, the lowest representation of any age group – and by a huge margin. Today on The Front Page we’re talking to Adriana Bird from On a Roll, a nonpartisan campaign which aims to help young people to enrol and vote. We're asking why young people are so disengaged with democracy and what it will take to get them to the polls on November 7.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Should your fuel tax and road-user charges pay for roadside sculptures? 04.09.2026 19min

  New Zealanders spend billions of dollars every year on transport, through fuel taxes, road-user charges, rates and tolls.  But the Act Party says we're not getting enough for what we're spending.  New Zealand has spent an average of 5.8% of GDP on infrastructure each year over the past couple of decades, towards the highest of the OECD. Yet we rank towards the bottom for getting bang for our buck.  Today on The Front Page, Act's infrastructure spokesperson Simon Court is with us to walk through his party's plans to make every transport dollar deliver. 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: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Is Auckland congestion charging fair when so many still can’t rely on public transport? 03.09.2026 16min

  For Aucklanders, sitting in traffic can feel like an unavoidable part of life.   But, what if you had to pay to do it?  Auckland Council is considering congestion charging, with three options on the table that could see drivers charged between $2 and $7.  Supporters say it could get traffic moving and raise money for improvements – but critics are asking whether we have enough alternatives to make it work.  Today on The Front Page, University of Auckland senior lecturer in urban planning Dr Timothy Welch joins us to explain how it could work and what we can learn from cities overseas. 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: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  What do absent leaders say about the future of the Pacific Islands Forum? 02.09.2026 15min

  The diplomatic chess board is getting complicated in the Pacific.  At least five Pacific leaders have pulled out of the annual Pacific Island Forum in Palau this week.   Meanwhile, China's Pacific envoy says there will be consequences for Taiwan being allowed to send representatives to the forum.  It's while the US and New Zealand team up to co-fund a Cook Islands port upgrade – a potential blow for China, who has a controversial "strategic partnership" with the island nation.  Today on The Front Page, University of Waikato international law professor Alexander Gillespie is with us to break down why leaders are skipping the forum and how China's leverage in the Pacific is changing. 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: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Debt vs delivery: the trust problem behind NZ’s borrowing debate 01.09.2026 18min

  New Zealand’s debt burden has nearly doubled in 10 years.  But, there are signs the country’s borrowing habits are becoming more sustainable.  New Zealand businesses have boosted their borrowings by more than $6 billion in the last year to $143b, which is a potential sign of rising confidence in the economy.  So, is debt really as bad as we think – or are the numbers telling a more nuanced story about households, businesses, and the government?  Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald business editor-at-large Liam Dann is with us to examine the numbers behind the nation’s march towards $1 trillion in debt. 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: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  ‘Meh’: Uni students unimpressed by National's loan plan 31.08.2026 16min

  National is promising to crack down on people abroad who are failing to pay back their student loans.  If re-elected, the party would ease compulsory student loan repayments from 12 percent to 10 percent - and charge those living overseas an extra one percent in annual interest.  Arrest warrants could be sought for serious, ongoing defaults.  Leader Christopher Luxon has said 93% of overdue payments are overseas, and about 21% of overseas borrowers haven't paid back for 15 years and have no payment plan.  But, is this holding the country's young people to ransom? Is it their fault that there are more, higher-paid opportunities overseas?   Today on The Front Page, Victoria University Student Association president Aidan Donoghue is with us. 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: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.