The Front Page

It’s been revealed that Ardie Savea’s future with the All Blacks hung in the balance. His push to quit was amid whispers of player discontent and coaching fractures exposing deep cracks in the team’s foundations. Players apparently openly questions coaching, discipline, and its overall direction. Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald rugby analyst, Gregor Paul, joins us to break down the inside story, and the deeper turmoil inside the All Blacks. 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.

The financial year is coming to an end.  It means we’ll see a whole bunch of policies and adjustments from April 1.   Everything from crayfish catch limits and Pharmac funding to changes to the Living and Minimum wages.  Super annuitants, working families, students and beneficiaries are among those who will receive additional support.  On the law-and-order front, the government’s crackdown on drug drivers is set to ramp up. And power bills are expected to increase, after the Commerce Commission agreed to let local lines companies, and Transport, charge households and businesses more a couple years ago. Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald business editor at large, Liam Dann, is with us to break down what changes are in the works, and what it might mean for you – and our economy. 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.

With the word ‘crisis’ now comes talk about working from home. As oil prices rise and the cost of petrol surges towards $4 a litre, it’s been flagged as a potential voluntary measure in contingency plans. There’s been no direct government endorsement or mandate for working from home, but it’s been recognised as a possible fuel-saving step if the crisis worsens, alongside prioritising essential sectors. Today on The Front Page, University of Otago business school associate professor Paula O’Kane is with us to take us through different ways of working, and what businesses could do to help out their employees. 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.

Iran is warning against US ground invasion as regional leaders ramp up diplomatic efforts. It comes as the USS Tripoli – carrying 3,500 US service members – arrived in the Middle East at the weekend. It’s all while Pakistan said it is prepared to host US-Iran talks after meeting with foreign ministers from Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. But, what are the chances of peace in the Middle East? How do we achieve it? And, how long will this war last? Today on The Front Page, University of Otago Peace Studies professor Richard Jackson is with us to take us through the latest, and what could happen next. 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.

Look around Auckland, and you’ll see a spattering of planned, under-development, or moth-balled building projects. The city’s ever-changing face often dominates Aucklander’s conversations – for good, or oftentimes, bad. So as we prepare to ride the $5.5 billion City Rail Link this year, what else should we be excited about? Or, are there more building sites going quiet than we realise? Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald property editor, Anne Gibson, will take us through the highs, and lows, of construction in Auckland.  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.

The Government's confirmed it's going ahead with scrapping the current NCEA system. Cabinet's agreed to an overhaul of secondary school qualifications - replacing NCEA with new subject-based assessments in Year 12 and Year 13. Education Minister Erica Stanford says consultation showed strong support for structural change. NCEA will be replaced with a new system with two levels over Years 12 and 13  There'll be subject-based assessment for Years 12 and 13  Removing NCEA Level 1 and replacing it with curriculum-driven learning in Year 11  A Foundational Award will be introduced in Year 11, recognising a students’ achievement in literacy and numeracy  All Year 11 students will study English and Maths from 2028.   Today on The Front Page, PPTA president Chris Abercrombie is with us to dive into the detail, or lack thereof. 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.

It’s a trying time for the Government, with fuel prices and the Iran War affecting just about every Kiwi. It’s something the Opposition knows all too well, handling a crisis not of their making, with Covid. But, how are politicians of all stripes handling the pressure?  How is the public feeling about their performance? And, how much weight should we put on polls anyway? Are they nonsense? Or, are we only told to ignore them when a party’s doing poorly? Today on The Front Page, lawyer and political commentator, Liam Hehir, is with us to talk politics, polls, and policy. 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.

Every New Zealander at the moment is feeling the impact of the price of fuel.   It’s something Finance Minister Nicola Willis has mentioned time and time again.   She’s also made it incredibly clear that this government won’t make the same mistakes as the last – so, any financial assistance must be targeted, and temporary.  That’s why she’s announced extra support for low-to-middle-income families.  From April 7, about 143,000 working families with children will get an extra $50 a week through a boost to the in-work tax credit.   But, what else could the Government do? What about the rest of the population without kids who are also still struggling to make ends meet?  Today on The Front Page, Journalist and publisher of The Kākā, Bernard Hickey is with us to break down how a war about 15,000 kilometres away is affecting New Zealand’s economy, and New Zealanders’ wallets.  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.

Iran has vowed to close the Strait of Hormuz indefinitely -- if the US follows through on President Donald Trump’s threats. It’s after Trump gave Iran an ultimatum to open the passage before American forces "obliterate" their power plants. But, if that happens, there’d be a large-scale blackout, resulting in widespread civilian harm - so, the question then becomes – would that be a violation of international law? Today on The Front Page, Waikato University international law professor, Al Gillespie, is with us to take us through what could happen next. 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.

Yesterday, Stats NZ released New Zealand’s GDP performance for the last quarter of 2025, and the government tells us things are looking good with gross domestic product rising 0.2 percent.   But the Reserve Bank had forecast growth of 0.5% - so while the latest results show we’re heading in the right direction, are we travelling fast enough?  Today on the Front Page, NZ Herald Business Editor at Large, Liam Dann, joins us to explain what the latest results mean and how the conflict in the Middle East might impact the next chapter of our economic story.  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/Producer: Jane YeeEditor/Producer: Richard MartinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new study is shedding light on the changing landscape of New Zealand’s ‘party drug’ scene. The annual New Zealand Drug Trends Survey, completed by more than 8000 people nationwide, shows that ketamine is rapidly growing in popularity. Price data puts it among the more affordable options at around $200 a gram. Overseas, the UK has dubbed young people ‘Generation K’, while ketamine-related deaths rose 20-fold since 2014. Despite years of warnings from health experts about the risks, ketamine’s now gaining popularity here – so what do we do now? Today on The Front Page, Professor Chris Wilkins is with us to unpack what’s behind this trend and what it means for New Zealand. 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.

Labour Leader Chris Hipkins has acknowledged he considered his future in politics, in the wake of his ex-wife's allegations.   She made a series of claims in a now deleted private social media post on Sunday.   None of which alleges unlawful conduct.   Being a politician is one of the most public facing roles in our society, but where should the line be drawn between public and private?  Today on The Front Page, political commentator Grant Duncan 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.

Inflation could hit 3.7% under Treasury’s ‘worst-case’ inflation scenario.  It’s while petrol prices have risen about 45 to 50 cents a litre, adding about $23 to the price of filling an average car.   Finance Minister Nicola Willis has outlined the government's priorities - First a focus on supply chains, then potential and anticipated freight disruptions, and lastly our economic response.    Ministers are meeting daily, written situation updates twice-daily, they’re working closely with importers – we're being told not to panic.  But, after criticising the last government to no end about its economic decisions during the pandemic - what tools does this government have to ease cost-of living pressures?  Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann is with us to talk through what we could do next.  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.

A major barrier to escaping family violence, is the heartache of leaving your pet behind to get out.   Every day, pets are used as tool to control and harm victims experiencing family violence.  Pet Refuge provides a safe, temporary haven for pets – and demand for their shelter is at an all-time high.   They’ve reported a 19% increase year on year for help.  So, what does this say about New Zealand’s unacceptably high and persistent rate of family violence?   Today on The Front Page, Dame Julie Chapman is with us to take us through the often forgotten lives of the pets caught in the crossfire. 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.