The Front Page

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  Which party has the best plan to fix New Zealand’s health system? 16.10.2026 29хв

  Getting a GP appointment, paying for treatment and waiting for hospital care are major concerns heading into the election. So what are the parties promising to change? Chelsea Daniels hears from National, Labour, ACT, the Greens, NZ First and the Opportunity Party about their health priorities, and outlines Te Pāti Māori’s proposals — from free GP visits and more medicines to workforce support, prevention and long-term planning. 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.
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  Do you have to leave New Zealand to get ahead? 15.10.2026 14хв

  It’ll come as no surprise that new data’s revealed more Kiwis are struggling with cost of living.  The latest New Zealand Consumer Lifestyles survey from the University of Otago shows just over half of respondents went without something to buy essentials.  More alarming though, 48% believe they need to leave the country to get ahead, up from 28% in 2020.  Today on The Front Page, lead researcher Associate Professor Leah Watkins 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.
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  The high cost of building nothing 14.10.2026 23хв

  New Zealand keeps announcing infrastructure projects, putting them on hold and paying more when they finally move ahead. A new industry survey shows overwhelming support for cross-party agreement, with 44 percent of responding organisations cutting staff in the past year. Infrastructure New Zealand chief executive Nick Leggett joins Katie Bradford to explain the cost of political stop-starts, why funding matters more than promises, and what the next government needs to do to get projects moving. 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. Editor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeHost: Katie BradfordSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Can New Zealand cut its way to growth? 13.10.2026 25хв

  Both National and Labour are banking on economic growth to help repair the Government’s finances. But could their spending plans undermine the recovery they’re counting on? With households reluctant to spend, property values under pressure and an ageing population putting more demand on public services, journalist and economic commentator Bernard Hickey says the numbers deserve a harder look. Today on The Front Page, he joins us to explain why he thinks both major parties are making the same economic gamble. 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. Editor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer/Host: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Can either party afford its election promises? 12.10.2026 23хв

  National’s fiscal plan promises no new taxes and leaves the door open to future tax cuts — but only once the books are back in surplus and economic conditions allow. So how much money is actually available, how does Labour’s plan compare, and what could coalition negotiations do to either party’s numbers? NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan joins Richard Martin to unpack the plans, the pressure on public services, and the difficult choices ahead on superannuation. 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. Editor/Producer/Host: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  How the parties plan to tackle crime 09.10.2026 31хв

  Tougher sentences, more police or greater investment in prevention — how would New Zealand’s political parties make the country safer? In this election policy special, Chelsea Daniels speaks to representatives from National, Labour, ACT, the Greens, NZ First and the Opportunity Party, and outlines Te Pāti Māori’s proposals. From gangs and youth offending to drug reform, burglary and the future of prisons, we examine where the parties agree and where their approaches diverge. 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.
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  Solar could save Kiwis thousands — so what’s stopping us? 08.10.2026 22хв

  Could solar panels and electric vehicles help New Zealand households save thousands on energy? Rewiring Aotearoa’s Mike Casey joins The Front Page to explain the potential savings from electrification, the upfront costs stopping people from making the switch, and how cheaper finance could help. Plus, would breaking up the big power companies lower bills, does New Zealand need an LNG terminal, and could we one day buy electricity directly from our neighbours? 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: Katie BradfordEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Why rising diesel prices could cost you at the checkout 07.10.2026 20хв

  When the price of moving goods around New Zealand rises, who picks up the bill?  Increasing fuel prices are putting pressure on the trucking industry, with fuel now accounting for up to 30% of operating costs.  And that cost can travel far beyond the petrol pump, into the price of groceries and other everyday essentials.  So how much can freight companies absorb, and how much gets passed onto us?  Today on The Front Page, I talk to Justin Tighe-Umbers, CEO of National Road Carriers about the squeeze on trucking and what his industry wants from the next 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: Katie BradfordEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Is New Zealand on the brink of a cocaine problem? 06.10.2026 15хв

  Cocaine use appears to be surging in New Zealand.  The latest NZ Drug Trends Survey reveals the proportion of people reporting cocaine use has almost tripled since 2017, while the price of the drug has fallen by nearly a third.  Researchers say we could be in the "honeymoon phase", where cocaine looks increasingly normal, affordable, and consequence-free – before the serious harms of addiction start to emerge.  So how big is New Zealand’s cocaine problem becoming, and where is this trend heading?  Today on The Front Page, Massey University professor Chris Wilkins joins 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.
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  What the election could mean for your KiwiSaver 05.10.2026 15хв

  KiwiSaver might be about to get a makeover.  The parties are pitching very different ideas for what should happen to your retirement savings... from changing contribution rates to tweaking who gets government support.  But what would these proposals actually mean for your KiwiSaver balance and who stands to gain or lose?  Today on The Front Page, Financial Services Council CEO Kirk Hope is with us to unpack the parties’ promises and what they could mean for your retirement. 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.
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  Violent crime figures reveal worsening trend for repeat victims 02.10.2026 15хв

  Violent crime is on the rise again.  New figures show the number of victims has climbed to around 148,000 a year – up 9000 on the previous quarter.  But dig into the numbers, and the picture gets a bit more complicated.  So what is really happening with violent crime in New Zealand – and how much can we actually say about the Government’s record?  Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald senior journalist Derek Cheng is with us to crunch 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.
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  NZ house prices remain flat as buyers retain the upper hand 01.10.2026 16хв

  New Zealand’s housing market has taken another step backwards.  Property values have now fallen for six months in a row, with the national median value dropping below the previous cycle low.  And while buyers have more choice and bargaining power, there’s still little sign of a sharp rebound - with high mortgage rates, economic uncertainty and plenty of houses on the market keeping a lid on prices.  So, what’s happening in the housing market, and how much longer could this subdued period last?  Today on The Front Page, Cotality NZ chief property economist Kelvin Davidson 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.
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  Is NZ’s productivity problem the real economic elephant in the room? 30.09.2026 17хв

  New Zealanders are working. The economy is growing. So why aren’t we getting much more out of it?  For more than a decade, New Zealand’s productivity growth has been painfully weak – and that could be one of the biggest economic problems facing the next Government.  But you wouldn’t necessarily know it from the election campaign.  The parties are promising tax cuts, more housing, cheaper groceries, changes to immigration and more spending on public services.  But how many of those policies will actually make New Zealand more productive?  Today on The Front Page, University of Otago economics associate professor Dennis Wesselbaum reckons productivity is the economic elephant in the room this election. He joins us now. 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.
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  Is our economy getting better, or is it just 'less bad' than we thought? 29.09.2026 19хв

  The Government’s opened its books and it’s showing a return to surplus is well on track.  The Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update shows a stronger and slightly faster surplus than predicted... with the books expected to get out of the red by 2028/29.  Treasury also predicts unemployment has already peaked - and will track down.  But, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Predictions of house price growth have been slashed, and there are some choice words about how costly our super is.  Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald business editor at large, Liam Dann 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.
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  Why your TikTok feed matters as much as town halls in Election 2026 28.09.2026 18хв

  It was a weekend of big political theatre, as both National and Labour officially launched their election campaigns.  Christopher Luxon and his National crew pushed the message of “no new taxes” ... meanwhile, Labour and Chris Hipkins unveiled a new policy to wipe 10% of student loan debt.  But in the lead up to Election 2026, it’s not just the big parties fighting for our attention.  So what actually makes a political campaign work? What makes a slogan, a speech, an image or a campaign ad stick in voters’ minds – and what can make a campaign fall flat?  Today on The Front Page, University of Auckland Marketing professor Bodo Lang is with us to break down the campaign launches, the strategies behind them, and what the parties are getting right – and getting wrong. 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.
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  What each party wants to do with your taxes 25.09.2026 18хв

  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.
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  Why this election could come down to the smaller parties 24.09.2026 20хв

  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.
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  What Nicky Hager’s Dirty Work alleges about the Taxpayers’ Union 23.09.2026 19хв

  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.
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  How Reserve Bank mistakes fuelled New Zealand’s boom and bust 22.09.2026 21хв

  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.
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  Supermarket owners push back against break-up plans 21.09.2026 19хв

  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.