The Front Page

As Russia continues its brutal attack, Ukrainians are defending their homeland with a resolve that few expected to see. But with Russia reportedly now taking aim at civilian targets, and advancing into new territory, the situation for Ukraine is looking bleak. Today, Ukraine-based New Zealand journalist Tom Mutch joins Damien to discuss the situation on the ground in Ukraine and whether Russia’s tactics will break the spirit of the Ukrainian defence.  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 / Producer: Damien VenutoProducer / Editor: Shaun D. Wilson Executive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government will this week announce its plans to roll back vaccine passes and mandates, continuing the ongoing relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions. This means that after two years, New Zealanders will have to get used to the idea of living with Covid. But what does this look like, how will our lives compare to what they were before, and are we prepared for this? Today, NZ Herald senior writer Derek Cheng joins Damien to discuss what comes next for a nation still grappling with Covid.  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 / Producer: Damien VenutoProducer / Editor: Shaun D. Wilson Executive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keeping up to date with the news just became a little easier. NZ Herald’s The Front Page is back - and it is your new, go-to short, sharp daily news podcast.  Join me, Damien Venuto, every weekday morning as he chats with journalists and newsmakers, going behind the headlines to break down what you need to know on the biggest stories of the day.  Listen to The Front Page at nzherald.co.nz/podcasts, and follow us on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's the possible move for Ports of Auckland, and how it could impact the whole country. Hosted by Frances Cook.New Zealand is a country that relies on its trade relationships in order to keep a good standard of living, and a lot of those imports and exports come through the ports. That’s why a debate over Auckland’s port has grown so heated, as some say it should be moved to Northland. The situation came to a head with a leak of documents to the Herald’s own Simon Wilson this week.The report showed the cost of leaving the port where it is to be about $8 billion. But moving it will cost about $10 billion. Add to that the complex social impacts, with transport infrastructure needing to change to support either decision, and jobs on the line in Auckland, Northland, and the wider country. For the latest Front Page podcast I talked to Simon Wilson about what the leak means, how this debate became so tense and fractured, and if there are any hints on what the Government will decide. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's the proposed changes to fix the homes we live in. Hosted by Frances Cook.Rental property law is a bone of contention currently, with proposed changes to how the system works. It could have a huge impact on people's lives, as there’s about 600,000 rental homes in New Zealand, and 1.5 million of us live in them. The Government has announced a raft of possible changes, which if passed would be the biggest changes to tenancy laws since 1986. Landlords are nervous, and particularly pushing back on the idea of scrapping "no-cause terminations" - the ability to tell tenants they need to leave without giving a reason. But it's not just rentals, there is also problems with our housing stock more generally. The latest Stats NZ data shows mould is a problem in more than a third of NZ homes. It is more prevalent in rental homes than owner-occupied. For the latest Front Page podcast I talked to Herald journalists Anne Gibson and Ben Leahy. We discussed what the debated changes would mean for New Zealanders, if the tenancy tribunal needs more teeth, and how to make sure housing isn't hurting our health. For the interviews, listen to the podcast. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's what we can all do to help those in mental distress. Hosted by Frances Cook.It’s no secret that New Zealand has a mental health problem, but many of us can feel paralysed if a friend tells us they’re having trouble. Especially if we're not entirely sure what they're going through; while many of us have heard of depression, there's much less talk about what it's like when you're dealing with OCD, or psychosis. So journalist Juliette Sivertsen decided to find out what it's like for people going through different types of challenges, and the support that actually helped them in their dark moments. She talked to people who have gone through mental distress, and their support people, for the new podcast Just Listen. Juliette came on the Front Page podcast to talk about why the series was important, anything that surprised her while working on it, and the duty of care journalists have when working on such subjects. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's why the SkyCity fire raged so far out of control, and what to expect next. Hosted by Frances Cook.More than 100,000 New Zealand student loan borrowers are living overseas, and some now say they feel trapped there, unable to even come home for funerals. Hundreds have made the decision to declare bankruptcy, while others have taken the risk of coming home, and been arrested at the airport. Others have stayed in New Zealand, but put off having children or buying a home, saying they simply can't afford it. The Herald's Simon Collins looked into the problem for the Generation Debt series, and took us behind the scenes for the latest Front Page podcast. Read more of his series here: Generation Debt: Ex-Kiwi student loan borrowers scared to come home https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12268861Generation Debt: Student loan for life was 'well worth it' https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12267976Generation Debt: How student loans have defined a generation https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12265965If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's why the SkyCity fire raged so far out of control, and what to expect next. Hosted by Frances Cook.A shocking blaze at the $700m SkyCity convention centre has brought Auckland to a standstill, with 150 firefighters battling the fire at its peak. As the fire raged, smoke filled the central business district, with many reporting sore throats, burning eyes, and coughing. The fire is now under control, but firefighters say they expect to be at the site for days, dampening down hotspots. How on earth could this fire rage out of control in modern times, and how bad will this be for our economy?To answer common questions the newsroom was sent during the fire, Anna Leask and Anne Gibson came on The Front Page podcast. We discussed what made the fire so challening to put out, whether there were problems with the building construction, and how far into the millions the damage could go. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's the escalating problems in housing, and how it impacts us all. Hosted by Frances Cook.A new investigation is sounding a warning that thousands more New Zealanders are in danger of homelessness, with demand for state housing far outstripping the rate at which it's being built. Some commentators are warning that people living in caravan parks and motels becomes our new normal. It particularly spells trouble for working parents, and those about to hit retirement. But it impacts everyone, with the wider housing issue leaving New Zealand with the highest house prices relative to income in the OECD. The past 30 years has seen falling home-ownership rates, a lack of new rentals, and rising rents. It's this wider trend which has priced working families out of private rentals, and into state housing, or homelessness. For the latest Front Page I spoke with investigative journalist Kirsty Johnston about what she uncovered, and the small number of solutions available. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's miniscule numbers of people voting in local elections, and what needs to change. Hosted by Frances Cook.Local body elections are closing this weekend, but are already marred by plummeting voter turnout in many areas. At the last available count, 22.6 per cent of Auckland's voters have had a say. Meanwhile in Wellington, as of Wednesday, only 25.4 per cent have cast a vote. Some, even the Prime Minister herself, are suggesting this means it's time to change. Jacinda Ardern has stated she wants online voting to be an option in the 2022 local elections. But do we blame lazy voters, uninspiring council candidates, or the system itself? Herald super city reporter Bernard Orsman and Herald Wellington issues reporter Georgina Campbell joined me on the latest Front Page podcast.We talked about what they've seen going wrong, whether online voting will fix it, and who's really to blame. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's the changing nature of trade, and how it impacts New Zealand. Hosted by Frances Cook.The world trade environment has profoundly changed over the past few years, as world superpowers the United States and United Kingdom both retreat into protectionism. It's not just about money, but relationships, as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern showed when she started a trade agreement to fight climate change. Ardern announced the launch of negotiations for the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS) at the United Nations in New York last week.The agreement includes goals like removing tariffs on environmental products, but so far only five countries have signed up. Meanwhile the World Trade Organisation has cut its forecast for trade growth by more than half, and issued a warning that living standards and jobs could take a hit. Back in New Zealand, the September ANZ Business Outlook Survey shows business confidence falling once again. So as the US and UK take a step back from the world stage, does it mean lean times for the rest of us, or will something or someone else fill the vacuum? Herald business editor at large Liam Dann came on the Front Page podcast to discuss these issues, and where it leaves New Zealand.If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The protests in Hong Kong have now been going for more than 100 days, and it seems neither side is willing to give up. It started with plans to allow extraditions to mainland China, but has now grown into a wider movement questioning the entire relationship between Hong Kong and the mainland.Herald reporter Keith Ng has been on the ground in Hong Kong, and joined me on the Front Page to talk about the levels of anger in Hong Kong, what's at stake, and why NZ needs to be careful not to become a pawn. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's the Covering Climate Now campaign, and the groundswell of urgency. Hosted by Frances Cook.Climate change is an issue that's being treated with increasing urgency, as voters take up the cause, and politicians take notice. Data from the Pew Research Centre shows that internationally, 67 per cent of us see climate change as a major threat to our country.That number is from the median of respondents in 23 countries in 2018. It's a jump up from 56 per cent in 2013.But the issue has been bubbling away for decades. The first report on climate change by a New Zealand government was commissioned in 1988, a year when David Lange was Labour Prime Minister, the first Die Hard movie was in cinemas and All Black Ryan Crotty was born.So why are people suddenly wanting change now? And, is all of this awareness and urgency just too little, too late?For the latest Front Page podcast I talked to Herald science reporter Jamie Morton.We discussed the best and worst case scenarios, why it's taken so long to act, and what the average person can do to make an impact. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's the troubling details of foreign political donations. Hosted by Frances Cook.Serious questions are being raised about political donations and whether they're leaving us open to foreign interference. A Herald investigation has found former trade minister Todd McClay helped arrange a $150,000 donation from Chinese racing industry billionaire Lin Lang, begging the question of what was expected in return. The donation was made through a New Zealand-registered company after chairman and owner Lin Lang met then trade-minister Todd McClay in Beijing and Rotorua. The revelations a Minister was involved in facilitating National's largest donation of the most recent electoral cycle - with the cash coming from a foreign-owned business - comes as Parliament mulls how to counter foreign interference in New Zealand's political system. The justice select committee is currently deliberating on reforming the country's electoral finance laws, having heard from NZSIS director Rebecca Kitteridge in a rare briefing, saying foreign donations are a vector of concern.For the latest Front Page podcast I talked to the journalist who uncovered the story, investigative journalist Matt Nippert. We discussed why the donation raised eyebrows, what the SIS are concerned about, and if change to our donations system is likely. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's where to draw the line when holding politicians to account. Hosted by Frances Cook.Australian radio host Alan Jones practically caused a trans-Tasman diplomatic incident after saying on air that our Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern needed a sock shoved "down her throat", and that Aussie PM Scott Morrison should give her "a few backhanders".It's led to widespread backlash, and big name advertisers leaving his show in droves. But Jacinda Ardern isn't just anyone, she's the Prime Minister, and leads a country, so where does strong criticism cross the line?For this week's Front Page podcast I talked to NZ Herald editor Murray Kirkness, and political reporter Jason Walls. We discussed what sparked the comments from Jones, the political reaction, and where reporters draw the line when covering such stories. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's the worrying financials of Fonterra, and what it means for our farmers. Hosted by Frances Cook.Fonterra's numbers aren't looking good, with the dairy giant saying it expects a full-year loss of $675 million. It's the second annual loss in a row, and comes when Federated Farmers surveys already show farmers are the most pessimistic they've been in a decade. The co-op says it won't pay a dividend for the year to July 31 so that it can pay off debt.The one silver lining is that it seems farmer will still get paid for their milk. Fonterra says its $6.30-$6.40 per kg milk price for the 2018/19 season will remain in place, as will the current forecast for 2019/20 of $6.25 to $7.25 kg.But that doesn't mean it's plain sailing, as the lack of dividend will bite, and Fonterra still needs to prove it's correcting course. For the latest Front Page podcast I talked to Herald business journalist Jamie Gray about where these problems came from, if farmers should worry, and how much blame former CEO Theo Spierings should get. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's the increasing numbers of highly wealthy people, and the problem of how to tax them. Hosted by Frances Cook.The number of super-rich in New Zealand has increased by 75 per cent in the past five years. That means 350 people here are worth more than $50 million. But with these very rich people comes problems with how we make sure everyone pays their fair share of tax. Some of those individuals are currently in disputes with the IRD over more than $85 million in potential tax.It can be a nightmare to solve, with complex trusts, international income streams, and highly powered lawyers and accountants ready to protect it. For the latest Front Page podcast, I talked to investigative reporter Matt Nippert and business editor at large Liam Dann. We discussed why there has been a boom in wealth, if the IRD is outgunned, and how the big multinational companies add an extra layer of tax complication. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookRead more on the Herald investigation into the super-rich and tax, here https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12252697See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's how a lack of money is causing serious health problems. Hosted by Frances Cook.Major problems are bubbling up in our health system, and the root cause always seems to come back to a lack of resources and money. We've seen it within the last week, where a series of Herald investigations uncovered serious issues with maternal healthcare, and vaccination rates of our children. A watchdog found women with a life-threatening condition weren't treated properly because of a lack of hospital staff.The investigations point to capacity problems extending beyond maternity services at Counties Manukau DHB, where problems like a lack of staff contributed to the recent death or stillbirth of three babies.Apex Union has also warned life-saving diagnoses of conditions like cancer could be delayed for South Aucklanders because of a workforce crisis.Meanwhile vaccination rates are dropping across the country as fewer families immunise their babies. But while the debate has been centred around the impact of the anti-vaxx movement, the numbers paint a different picture. Data shows the plummeting vaccination rates are being driven largely by the failure to immunise babies born into poor or Māori families - not by parents deliberately opting out.Herald investigative journalists Nick Jones and Kirsty Johnston came on the Front Page podcast to talk about what's happening, and if there's any political appetite to fix it. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookYou can read more about their investigations here: Sepsis warning for pregnant women: Hospital staffing 'inadequate', watchdog finds https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12251014Counties Manukau DHB rejects 'alarmist' claims about possible X-ray and CT scan delays https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12252300PM Jacinda Ardern on strained Middlemore maternity services: 'consistent underfunding' https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12251667Anti-vaxx debate: Vaccination rates plummet for NZ babies https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12250703See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's the disturbing stories coming out about Oranga Tamariki. Hosted by Frances Cook.Four inquiries are under way into Oranga Tamariki, the organisation that is supposed to keep vulnerable children safe from harm. There was video of a highly distressing baby uplift, and since then, plenty of other worrying stories have come out of the woodwork. Over the weekend, Māori from across the country packed out an Auckland hui for the launch of one of the inquiries into Oranga Tamariki.Organisers said being Māori-led would make it easier for some participants who had been dealing with Oranga Tamariki their entire lives to open up.Meanwhile a Herald investigation uncovered another failing, after a judge strongly criticised Oranga Tamariki for planning to send the child of a drug-trafficking mother back to the country of his birth, despite evidence criminal gangs might sell him to cover his parent's debts.To get to the bottom of what's going wrong, and what's being suggested to fix it, on the latest Front Page podcast I talk to Newstalk ZB's Jake McKee and Herald investigative journalist David Fisher. For more on David Fisher's investigation, click here https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12248199 If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's the government changes aimed at getting you into a greener car. Hosted by Frances Cook.This podcast was first available a week earlier, to Herald Premium subscribers. The Government is making green cars cheaper, and the big polluters more expensive. It's only for newly imported vehicles, and aims to make it an easier choice for people to pick lower emission cars. But New Zealand is a geographically big country, with a small number of people trying to get from A to B.For years, we've relied on cars to get us there. Besides, if cars are switched over to electric, is that enough to solve climate change? There will still be congestion, petrol taxes needed to pay for our roads, and what about other forms of transport like flying? It's a complicated issue, but our journalists have dived into it. There are already changes under way in other transport areas apart from cars, and it looks like the Labour-led Government also has a few more cards to play. I talked to Herald political journalist Jason Walls and energy writer Grant Bradley for the latest Front Page. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's the plastic bag ban, and what really needs to happen to protect our environment. Hosted by Frances Cook.Single use plastic bags are now banned, as the Government tries to crack down on pointless waste in our lives. It's surely one of the smaller changes we'll need to make as climate change looms, but still the fury from some about losing their plastic bags has been intense.The rules apply to any type of plastic less than 70 microns in thickness, that's new or un-used, has carry handles, is provided for carrying sold goods, and is made of bio-based materials like starch.The law also covers bags made of plastics that are degradable, biodegradable or oxo-degradable.It comes as the Government also spends $40 million from its Provincial Growth Fund on crowd-sourcing ideas to reduce the amount of plastic waste in New Zealand.So is this pointless symbolism, or the first step of many needed to change the unsustainable way we're living? For the latest Front Page podcast I talked to Herald science reporter Jamie Morton about what the ban impacts, the science behind it, and what conservationists say needs to happen next. I also talked to Herald lifestyle reporter Rebecca Blithe, who is attempting to go plastic-free, about how that works in the realities of modern life. If you want to know how Rebecca's challenge goes, keep an eye out for the final results in the July 15 edition of Be Well, in the Herald and online. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's how ANZ got into trouble, and how worried we should be about it. Hosted by Frances Cook.ANZ is in hot water lately, with its CEO departing under a cloud. There are questions over how much he enjoyed perks he wasn't entitled to, like filing expenses for wine storage and travel, as well as a strange house sale.There are also issues around whether the bank was operating properly, with the Reserve Bank pulling ANZ's accreditation to run its own operational risk capital requirements back in May.It comes at a time of low trust for the banking sector generally, with a Royal Commission finding disturbing things in Australia. There has been a conduct and culture review here in NZ, but some are now calling for our own Royal Commission. Herald business editor at large Liam Dann has been keeping a watchful eye on the saga, and came on the Front Page podcast to unravel the confusion. We discussed how the controversy could change the banking sector, whether there's a crisis of public confidence, and whether more heads will roll. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's the mood for change in transport, and whether it will actually happen. Hosted by Frances Cook.Emotions run hot over traffic in this country, and it's no wonder when you see how frustrating our transport systems can be.Well the debate is now wide open again, as the Government gave $1 billion for rail in the latest budget.KiwiRail will get the funding over two years, with $375 million for new wagons and locomotives, and $331m earmarked for buying new tracks and supporting other infrastructure.On the other hand, the NZTA is debating lowering speed limits for our dangerous roads.The Agency estimates about 87 per cent of speed limits in New Zealand are too high for the conditions.For the latest Front Page podcast I talked to Herald senior writer Simon Wilson about where this debate is headed. We discussed whether there's a "war on cars", whether the funding boost for rail will be enough, and whether we're giving enough thought to alternative modes of transport. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's whether we can trust polls any more. Hosted by Frances Cook.People love to rag on political polls, and for the latest lot, they might actually have a point. Newshub and 1 News released polls on the same night that showed drastically different results. One where Labour plummeted and National came out ahead, the other where Labour could govern alone. What on earth is going on, and how can two reputable polls have such entirely different results? It's not the first time either, with pollsters missing Brexit, and the election on Donald Trump. Polls have long been a way to check the mood of the nation, and sometimes important decisions are made on the basis of them. But now you could be forgiven for thinking we should give up on them entirely. Herald reporter Damien Venuto has investigated this, and the answers are fascinating. We discussed the many elements that can make a poll go wrong, and how the experts want to change things. To read Damien's full story on the issue, click here https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12238919 If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's what you need to know about changes in our housing market around the country. Hosted by Frances Cook.If you've paid the slightest attention to the news over the past few years, you will have noticed house prices shooting up - causing happiness for those who already own, and anxiety for those who want to get on to the property ladder. The latest OneRoof Property Report sheds light on whether that's still the case, and what's happening now. It finds an interesting two-track system. While Auckland is coming off the boil, and prices going down in some areas, the rest of the country is still seeing prices going up. But you also need to know what to look for beyond the headline figures. Part of the price drop is the boom in sales of affordable homes. First-home buyers seem to have decided that now is their time, making up 29 per cent of new mortgages. While they make hay, those with more expensive properties seem to be holding back, waiting for prices to bounce back in their favour. To break down the figures and what it means for regular people, I talked to OneRoof editor Owen Vaughan, and James Wilson from Valocity. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's the rising fear we're not doing enough to save our planet. Hosted by Frances Cook.Eco-anxiety is on the rise, with a growing sense that we're not doing enough to look after our environment and fight the looming threat of climate change. People are dealing with it in different ways.Some are swearing off having children, convinced we won't do enough in time to save the planet. They don't want their children to face the reality of what we're leaving behind. Others are taking part in direct political pressure, like school strikes for climate.But as movements like the school strikes become larger and more mainstream, the question is when it will be enough to push politicians to act. For the latest Front Page podcast I talked to Herald reporter Michael Neilson and science reporter Jamie Morton. We discussed whether the tide of public opinion is turning, and what options are open to people who want to see change.If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's the movement to tackle our entrenched domestic violence problem. Hosted by Frances Cook.Every year one million New Zealanders are affected by family or sexual violence.It's a shocking number, and one that both the Government and private groups seem determined to bring down. The Government has just pledged to spend $320 million on initiatives aimed at preventing family and sexual violence, and breaking the cycle of violence.The pre-Budget announcement is, according to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, the largest ever Government spend on family and sexual violence and support services.Meanwhile, new research from Women's Refuge reveals a huge number of women delay leaving abusive relationships because they fear what will happen to their pets.The first Pet Refuge is now being set up, removing one of the barriers to people escaping domestic violence. But are these moves enough when the problem is so entrenched in New Zealand? For the latest Front Page podcast I talked to Herald political journalist Jason Walls, and senior crime reporter Anna Leask. If you want to donate to the Pet Refuge, click here https://www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/6092-pet-refuge-shelter-fit-out' target='_blank If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's what needs to come next, after the Christchurch Call to Action summit in Paris. Hosted by Frances Cook.The world was shocked when a gunman went on a rampage in Christchurch, weaponising social media to livestream gunning down innocent people. Now world powers are deciding what to do about it, with the Christchurch Call summit held in Paris. Seventeen countries, the European Commission, and eight major tech companies signed up to a widespread agreement to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. But the accord is voluntary, and in another blow to the strength of the agreement, the United States has opted out. The question now is what more can be done, who should do it, and what further threats are lurking in the shadows of the internet. So for the latest Front Page podcast I talked to Catalyst IT managing director Don Christie. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's the second wave of meth swamping New Zealand communities. Hosted by Frances Cook. New Zealand has been fighting meth for 20 years, and yet it's now more available than ever. A new documentary from the NZ Herald talks to drug users, drug dealers, police and rehabilitation specialists, to get to the bottom of what is going wrong. The result is a gripping insight into the lives of those struggling with addiction, and the frustration of those fighting a losing battle against the second wave of meth.For this week's Front Page podcast, I talked to investigative journalist Kirsty Johnston and visual journalist Mike Scott, about how they gained the trust of vulnerable people, and what it was like to work intensively on such a difficult topic for six months. To watch the documentary, click here https://www.nzherald.co.nz/indepth/national/new-zealands-meth-crisis-documentary/If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's the shocking rise of amputations caused by diabetes. Hosted by Frances Cook.In New Zealand, a first-world country, people are losing limbs when they don't need to. They are suffering from diabetes, and a medical system overwhelmed with patients isn't able to keep up.Crucial preventive care is missed, leading to infection, amputation, and sometimes death. Investigative journalist Nick Jones has found that, in the past four years, New Zealand has had more lower-limb amputee cases from diabetes than were performed on returned soldiers from World War I. The cases have increased 40 per cent over the past 10 years, and are now approaching 1000 per year. On this week's Front Page podcast, host Frances Cook talks to Nick about how he uncovered this story, the balance between sensitivity and the raw truth, and what needs to happen next. To read more from Nick's series, you can see the story of our hidden amputation shame here https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12222478, or read the personal trauma of Pam Abraham's amputation here https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12222501 If you like to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They say a change is as good as a holiday...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sweeping audit has revealed our environment is under attack from virtually every direction – with climate change now also adding to the pressure.The Government's Environment Aotearoa 2019 report gives a largely bleak stocktake of our natural heritage.Problems range from polluted waterways in farming areas and our myriad under-threat species, to our dismally high per-capita emissions and the emerging hand of climate change.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There will be no capital gains tax.Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says Cabinet could not reach a consensus.She says she still believes such a tax would have made a difference, but a Government that reflects the majority of New Zealanders has not been able to find support for this proposal.Ardern says the Labour Party has campaigned on this for three elections, but it's now off the table.She has pledged that under her leadership, Labour will no longer campaign for or implement a CGT.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The growing number of New Zealanders who do not own their homes are in for a tough retirement.That's according to a study out of the University of Otago that argues for a revamp of NZ Super to better protect Kiwis who will still be paying a mortgage when they stop working. Data from the Commission for Financial Capability says that while today 70 per cent of people over 65 are mortgage-free, another 13 per cent are homeowners with some mortgage.But for those nearing retirement, the 55-64 year olds, only one third of them have paid off the mortgage. Another nearly one third of this generation don't own a home at all.And in the plight of a New Zealand nurse kidnapped by Isis, disagreement has broken out between our Government and the Red Cross.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A New Zealand nurse has been held captive by Islamic state for almost six years - but until now, it was kept secret. Louisa Akavi's identity was kept under wraps until today because of fears it would put her life in danger.The 62-year-old nurse was named in the New York Times today with confirmation from the International Committee of the Red Cross.It effectively ends a five and a half year agreement by media around the world to not name her, or her nationality, because of concerns held by the New Zealand Government that she would be killed by her captors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Real Estate Institute data out today revealed a whopping 12.9% drop in sales volumes in the last month. It's significant not only because of the figure, but because at this time of year, sales volumes are normally very strong. In fact, typically the number of sales usually sit well over the 7000 mark - but 6938 sales was the lowest number of properties sold for the month of March since 2011. The median number of days to sell a property increased by two days from 34 to 36 last month compared to March last year.In Auckland, it took five days longer to sell last month.REINZ is putting these figures down to banks, the Government and the prospect of a capital gains tax causing uncertainty. Chief executive Bindi Norwell says mortgage interest rates have never been cheaper, but the legislative changes on the horizon, and the difficulty accessing finance are now starting to impact the housing market, in terms of sales volumes. Also today, a report confirms Chorus failed to prevent migrant worker exploitation by subcontractors, and the gruelling journey that lies ahead for one of the youngest survivors of the Al Noor mosque shooting. Hosted by Juliette SivertsenTwitter: @j_sivertsenSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sports stars and politicians are united in their condemnation of homophobia today, after Israel Folau once again used social media to attack the gay community. Tasmania has just become the first Australian jurisdiction to make gender an option on birth certificates.After the announcement, the Wallabies star took to Twitter to tell people to repent, and "turn away" from their evil ways.The tweet has been widely shared and commented on, with most people having a negative view of his comments.And new gun laws are coming into force, even though some of the details haven't been worked out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most New Zealand fashion retailers are doing a good job of looking after the people who make their clothes, but some brands have work to do.Department store Farmers was among those who got a poor ranking in this year's Ethical Fashion report by relief and development groups Tearfund and Baptist World Aid Australia.Farmers is one of 10 New Zealand retailers to receive an F or D ranking for supply chain transparency, worker rights and policies to prevent child and forced labour. Others include Baby City, Trelise Cooper, World and Merric.One hundred and thirty companies were graded by Tearfund on their ethical supply and manufacturing practices.Also today, an Austrian oil giant has unveiled one of the most ambitious oil and gas drilling programmes proposed in New Zealand, and the Government reveals details of its new gun buyback scheme.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tighter gun laws are now almost reality, and we've have our first look at what the details of that would be.The bill banning military-style semi-automatics and assault rifles was back in front of Parliament today, and the Government wants it to be law by Friday. There are just two exemptions to the tougher rules.But with the country on high alert, Anzac Day services are being cancelled.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Facebook has been labelled 'morally bankrupt, pathological liars', by New Zealand's Privacy Commissioner.John Edwards used Twitter last night to post his most pointed attack on the social network yet, although he has been heavily critical since the platform was used to livestream the terror attack in Christchurch. He says the social network cannot be trusted, as they are 'morally bankrupt pathological liars', who 'enabled genocide' in Myanmar, and allow the foreign undermining of democratic governments. And the Prime Minister has announced new details into the Royal Commission of inquiry into the mosque terror attacks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today was the first High Court appearance for the 28-year-old man accused of the Christchurch mosque attacks. Because he's being held at New Zealand's maximum security prison in Paremoremo, he appeared through audio-visual link from custody in the High Court at Christchurch today. Naturally there was a significant media presence, with more than two dozen reporters from New Zealand and around the world, along with eight police officers and several security staff. He faces 50 murder charges and 39 attempted murder charges.But it was also revealed today, he's getting legal aid - government funded legal representation.Hosted by Juliette Sivertsen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catholic cross-emblazoned knights on horses have been scrapped from the Crusaders' pre-match entertainment, after the Christchurch mosque attacks.The Canterbury team have been considering moving away from the association with the Crusades, a religious war started by the Latin Church against Muslims.Today, they've announced the Crusaders Horsemen won't feature in the rest of this year's games, including this weekend's match.And the team have engaged Research First to look at two options for their future: keeping the Crusaders name, but changing the imagery of knights on horseback - or scrapping the name in a complete rebrand.NZ Rugby boss Steve Tew says maintaining the status quo is no longer an option, as the association with the religious Crusades is too strong.Also today, how the markets reacted to the shock departure of Simon Moutter from Spark, and why are so many New Zealanders still being scammed online? Hosted by Juliette SivertsenSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jacinda Ardern has finished her whirlwind visit to Beijing with a clear message from the Chinese President ... our two countries must trust each other.In his opening remarks to Jacinda Ardern, Xi Jinping spoke about taking an already very good relationship to new heights but also said the two countries had to trust each other.Meanwhile Huawei is stepping up to the plate, saying it would be willing to have its staff banned from Spark's 5G mobile network, or have only a small number of GSCB-vetted engineers tend to it, if that's what it takes to regain the GCSB's favour.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A series of public debates start tonight to discuss moves to legalise euthanasia, as new figures show a huge majority of people are against the idea.More than 90 per cent of Kiwis who made submissions on the euthanasia bill say no to assisted dying.The Care Alliance analysed virtually all of the more than 38,000 submissions made to Parliament's justice select committee on Act leader David Seymour's End of Life Choice Bill.And the Prime Minister has flown almost ten and a half thousand kilometres to Beijing, in an attempt to defrost the relationship with China.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spoken and sung words of unity and hope, have resounded throughout Christchurch's Hagley Park. Event organisers estimate 20 to 25 thousand people attended the National Remembrance service in the city today, two weeks to the day since the March 15 mosque shootings, where 50 people were killed.Another tribute service was then held in Auckland this afternoon. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern received a standing ovation when she declared racism was unwelcome in her country, and suggested New Zealand could become the cure for hatred. Also today, racism has been in part blamed for preventable deaths among some NZ communities, the City of Sails becomes the City of Cranes, and an Auckland village is outraged after thieves stole a much-loved cafe identity - Bozo the clown. Hosted by Juliette Sivertsen. twitter.com/j_sivertsenSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Movement at last from Facebook.It's banning white nationalism and white separatism, in the wake of the mosque attacks.The social media giant says such views, deeply linked to organised hate groups, have no place on its Facebook and Instagram sites.It will ban the praise, support and representation of those views from the start of next week.Facebook has also acknowledged it needs to be better and faster at finding and removing hate from its platforms, such as posts supporting the Christchurch attacks.However, it hasn't fully quietened the worldwide criticism. And a historic pay equity settlement has had unintended consequences, with workers in women-dominated industries saying their hours have been cut or they have been bullied into working longer or harder.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A man has died from stab wounds after a protracted standoff with armed police in a Christchurch suburban street.Police are now investigating whether the dead man had any link to the March 15 mosque attacks.The 54-year-old man had been sought in relation to a firearms incident yesterday.After a tip-off from a member of the public, a search warrant was executed at a St Martins property late yesterday and police discovered a cache of firearms.The man was located by police in a stopped vehicle in the Richmond Park area about 12.30am this morning.The Police Negotiation Team spoke with the man for several hours, and eventually approached to find him in a critical condition. He died at the scene of a suspected stab wound. Also today, tragedy on the West Coast after a woman was washed away in floodwaters, and the New Zealand Defence Forces mourns one of its Navy sailors, who died in a training exercise in Devonport this week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political and business leaders worldwide are turning against social media giants, in the wake of the Christchurch terror attacks. Representatives from Facebook, YouTube-owner Google and Twitter are meeting with the Australian Prime Minister this afternoon, where it's expected they will be threatened with new restrictions and 'significant' penalties. Ahead of the meeting, Scott Morrison said we need to prevent social media platforms being weaponised. Morrison has already said he wants to put a multi-country social media crackdown on the agenda for June's G20 meeting.Meanwhile New Zealand's biggest advertisers are stepping up their boycott of Facebook advertising, writing a joint letter calling on the international advertising community to join the action.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced a Royal Commission of Inquiry will be held into the Christchurch mosques terror attack.She says people are asking how the attack, in which 50 people died and dozens more injured, was able to take place, including how the alleged gunman obtained the weapons, the role of social media and the role of agencies.Ardern says she also has questions.The inquiry will focus on whether security agencies were focused the right way and whether there were any clues that were missed.And an Al Noor Mosque shooting survivor is looking for the woman who saved her and her baby's life, hoping she can thank her.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today at 1.30pm all of New Zealand came to a halt to remember the victims of the Christchurch terror attacks a week ago. It started with a call to prayer, followed by two minutes silence. It was marked in cities around the country, and even some overseas. Fifty people, of Muslim religion, died in the terrorist attack perpetrated by one accused gunman. 48 were wounded, some critically, including a 4-year-old girl who is still fighting for her life.And an industry training body is threatening to go to the High Court and the Waitangi Tribunal to delay a radical shakeup of the country's training system.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.