The Front Page
Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald’s daily news podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what’s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future. Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture.
Episodes
Who has the best plan for our schools?
Children falling behind. Teacher shortages. Classroom disruption. Questions over what our kids are learning, and whether the system is giving every child the chance to succeed. Education is one of the few issues where the consequences of political decisions can last a lifetime. Are our children learning enough? Are schools getting the support they need? Is the curriculum working? And a
Why threats against politicians are a threat to us all
A concerning situation in Australia has sparked warnings of a 'new reality' in politics. Australian Independent MP Helen Haines is in a critical but stable condition after an attack outside her electorate office in Victoria. Her husband has confirmed she has had both legs amputated. A 43-year-old man is accused of ramming his Toyota LandCruiser into Haines while she was unloa
The leaders’ debates are over. Did anyone win?
Three debates. Two major party leaders. And a whole lot of political point-scoring. National’s Christopher Luxon and Labour’s Chris Hipkins have gone head-to-head, trading blows over the economy, the cost of living and who deserves the keys to the Beehive’s ninth floor offices over three debates. Last night’s Stuff leaders debate marks the end of their final fac
India’s doors are open. Can NZ exporters get in?
Today's the day New Zealand's landmark free trade agreement with India enters into force. The deal creates new opportunities for our exporters with one of world's fastest growing markets - by giving us preferential access. Almost 57% of our existing trade can now enter India duty-free and over time, tariffs will be reduced or removed for 95% of our exports. Tariffs are
Why banning under-16s from social media is easier said than done
Governments around the globe are grappling with how to gain back control over social media giants. Labour is the latest to campaign on it – promising to progress the social media ban and giving people more of a say on what they see online. The party says it will get current legislation restricting social media for under 16s through to select committee within its first 100 days.&n
Which party has the best plan to fix New Zealand’s health system?
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
Do you have to leave New Zealand to get ahead?
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 Fr
The high cost of building nothing
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
Can New Zealand cut its way to growth?
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 harde
Can either party afford its election promises?
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 un
How the parties plan to tackle crime
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
Solar could save Kiwis thousands — so what’s stopping us?
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
Why rising diesel prices could cost you at the checkout
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 p
Is New Zealand on the brink of a cocaine problem?
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
What the election could mean for your KiwiSaver
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
Violent crime figures reveal worsening trend for repeat victims
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 o
NZ house prices remain flat as buyers retain the upper hand
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 k
Is NZ’s productivity problem the real economic elephant in the room?
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 ta
Is our economy getting better, or is it just 'less bad' than we thought?
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 r
Why your TikTok feed matters as much as town halls in Election 2026
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
What each party wants to do with your taxes
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 h
Why this election could come down to the smaller parties
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
What Nicky Hager’s Dirty Work alleges about the Taxpayers’ Union
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 a
How Reserve Bank mistakes fuelled New Zealand’s boom and bust
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 iHear
Supermarket owners push back against break-up plans
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 gougi
Why it’s championship or bust for the Warriors
It’s do or die for the Warriors as they head into this weekend’s sudden death match against the Newcastle Knights with a spot in the preliminary final against the Penrith Panthers on the line. Last weekend the Warriors seemed in control against the Dolphins before three late tries saw the visitors take the win, denying the Wahs a direct path through to the next round.  
Is an AI slowdown our next nuclear-free moment?
Should we put the brakes on AI? Well, the bosses of some of the world's largest AI companies say we should. Sam Altman and Elon Musk have both backed head of Anthropic Dario Amodei after he came out and said we need to slow the pace of AI development. He's warned that AI could become capable of "taking over the entire internet" within a year. So if the people developing this tech
How political parties plan to take on New Zealand’s supermarket giants
National and Labour have both unveiled new plans to shake up the supermarket sector. National wants to investigate splitting Foodstuffs into two competing nationwide groups, while Labour is promising to make price gouging illegal – not just for supermarkets, but a range of essential goods and services. Both parties say they want to bring down the cost of living, but t
Is politics costing NZ billions in wasted infrastructure planning?
Infrastructure shapes our daily lives, but some might think that it's too often planned election by election. Infrastructure New Zealand wants to put an end to stop-start funding and shifting priorities, launching "Let's Build NZ". The campaign promises to put choices in front of voters and rate the parties against its eight priorities. Today on The Front Page, Infrastructure NZ
Can’t afford KiwiSaver right now? Labour says your boss should still pay 6%
What we should do with KiwiSaver continues to be a hot topic this election season. The latest party to throw their idea into the ring is Labour, which wants to lift the employer contribution rate to 6% by 2032. They would also introduce compulsory employer contributions, even when employees have paused or reduced their own share and extend employer contributions to workers over 6
‘Auckland deserves this’: CRL to finally open after over 100 years of talk
It's finally here, one of the biggest infrastructure projects New Zealand has ever seen. After years of construction, disruption, and delays, the City Rail Link is finally a reality, which promises to transform the way people move through the heart of the city. So, what does this mean for Auckland? How will it change the city? And will it all be worth the wait? Today, we're on lo
Why the story about Kiwi kids being bad at maths isn’t quite adding up
It feels like we're constantly being told that our kids are really bad at math. In 2023, we were informed kids recorded their worst ever results in something called the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) exams. It was called "disastrous", "disappointing" -- but, we'd heard it all before. In 2020 the 13-year-olds recorded their worst-eve
Why aren’t funders investing in startups founded by women?
New Zealand investment in women-only founding teams has more than tripled in a year, but a huge gender gap remains. Gender Investment Gap University of Auckland Business School data shows these teams are still receiving less than six cents in every investment dollar, while male teams get 70 cents. And while there's been more investment in women-led businesses, it starts falling away at
Is the public service strike about pay, politics, or both?
About 10,000 public servants are set to strike following prolonged pay negotiations. While the Public Services Association says members are walking off the job for fair pay and better service delivery, the move has been accused of being politically motivated. Public Service Minister Paul Goldsmith's pointed out pamphlets that read "change the government"... and Prime Minister Chri
NZ's enrolment problem - where are the young voters?
We’re seven weeks out from the general election, and nearly 190 thousand young people are missing from the roll. Only around 57% of 18-24 year olds have enrolled to vote, the lowest representation of any age group – and by a huge margin. Today on The Front Page we’re talking to Adriana Bird from On a Roll, a nonpartisan campaign which aims to help young people to enrol and vote.
Should your fuel tax and road-user charges pay for roadside sculptures?
New Zealanders spend billions of dollars every year on transport, through fuel taxes, road-user charges, rates and tolls. But the Act Party says we're not getting enough for what we're spending. New Zealand has spent an average of 5.8% of GDP on infrastructure each year over the past couple of decades, towards the highest of the OECD. Yet we rank towards the bottom for getting bang for
Is Auckland congestion charging fair when so many still can’t rely on public transport?
For Aucklanders, sitting in traffic can feel like an unavoidable part of life. But, what if you had to pay to do it? Auckland Council is considering congestion charging, with three options on the table that could see drivers charged between $2 and $7. Supporters say it could get traffic moving and raise money for improvements – but critics are asking whether we have e
What do absent leaders say about the future of the Pacific Islands Forum?
The diplomatic chess board is getting complicated in the Pacific. At least five Pacific leaders have pulled out of the annual Pacific Island Forum in Palau this week. Meanwhile, China's Pacific envoy says there will be consequences for Taiwan being allowed to send representatives to the forum. It's while the US and New Zealand team up to co-fund a Cook Islands port upgrade
Debt vs delivery: the trust problem behind NZ’s borrowing debate
New Zealand’s debt burden has nearly doubled in 10 years. But, there are signs the country’s borrowing habits are becoming more sustainable. New Zealand businesses have boosted their borrowings by more than $6 billion in the last year to $143b, which is a potential sign of rising confidence in the economy. So, is debt really as bad as we think – or are the
‘Meh’: Uni students unimpressed by National's loan plan
National is promising to crack down on people abroad who are failing to pay back their student loans. If re-elected, the party would ease compulsory student loan repayments from 12 percent to 10 percent - and charge those living overseas an extra one percent in annual interest. Arrest warrants could be sought for serious, ongoing defaults. Leader Christopher Luxon has said 93% of
Inside the desperate response to Nepal’s devastating floods
Searches continue through the devastation in Nepal after a catastrophic flash flood. More than 389 people have been killed and there are reportedly 1300 people missing, including at least 700 foreigners from two dozen countries. Our officials understand at least five New Zealanders are believed to have been impacted. Rescuers are battling severe conditions as
Is this finally the economic turning point New Zealand has been waiting for?
Could we FINALLY be at an economic turning point? Westpac economists have forecast the economy will return to growth in the current quarter. They reckon there'll be 2.1% growth across 2026 – even picking up to 3% next year ... with exports and tourism doing the heavy lifting. So, are we out of the woods - or is this just a brief respite before the next shock? To
Can councils deliver more with less under a 4% rates limit?
The Government wants to force councils to keep rate hikes at a maximum 4% from 2029. Councils would be expected to prepare for the change from next July. Local Government Minister Simon Watts has said it'll ease cost-of-living pressures and get councils back to basics. But, what will a lower income coming in mean for our core services? And how do we get councils to spend more wis
Is banning social media the best way to protect children online?
The Government's pushing ahead with banning social media for under-16s. It mirrors rules that took effect in Australia last year - requiring the likes of Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to bring in stronger age verification. If they don't, the social media giants could face fines of up to 10% of their global revenue. But coalition partners Act and NZ First both agree to
Are New Zealanders willing to pay more tax if they see better results?
National is committing to no new taxes if re-elected – but the jury is still out over whether that means no tinkering to existing taxes. This means the party is scrapping both a bed tax and bank tax – something that's disappointed Mayors in tourism hotspots around the country. Meanwhile, Labour's banking on its capital gains tax to get us back to surplus by 2029/30. They released their
Would you want a flu warning system for your region?
Severe respiratory illness rates are now the highest they've been in the last decade, mostly because of the flu. It comes as ambulance services struggle to meet demand, and Health NZ urges people to save emergency departments for emergencies. RNZ reported this week that hospitals have even created dedicated flu wards and some elective surgery is being canc
If the Mount Maunganui landslide risk was known, why was nothing done?
The Mount Maunganui landslide has been described as "preventable". A damning review into the disaster has revealed a litany of failures by authorities who “missed several opportunities” to evacuate campers to safety. Six people died after the slip crashed into the campground on January 22. It's now been revealed that over decades, "one consultant after another" warned
How can NZ businesses grow if people are now a ‘scarce resource’?
New Zealand’s birth rate stats just keep getting worse... The latest show ‘natural population growth’ has fallen to 18,700 for the year to June – the lowest it’s been since WWII. Births are at their lowest since 2003. So should we throw money at people to have babies, or are there some other options on the cards? And how bad is it really? Toda
Trump threatens Oman as Iran ceasefire collapses
A development in the Middle East, with US President Donald Trump turning on a key US ally. He’s threatened to bomb Oman if it interferes in the Strait of Hormuz. It’s all while a 60-day ceasefire with Iran expires – and officials say that there’s been very little diplomatic progress to reopen the key waterway. So, why is Trump lashing out at a key ally? Wh
Can New Zealand stop supermarkets charging ‘excessive’ prices?
Kiwis are constantly wondering why their groceries are so expensive. The Green Party is the latest to promise a fix in the way of a members bill aimed at banning price gouging by the supermarket duopoly, which has a whopping 82% market share. New rules would aim to prohibit supermarkets from charging prices that are excessive when compared to the cost of supplying groceries.&
RNZ cuts jobs as MediaWorks changes hands and Santamaria heads to court
A drawn-out employment legal dispute, the sale of one of the country’s top media companies, fears AI could take newsroom jobs, and RNZ planning to cut roles. The Kamahl Santamaria saga continues as the former broadcaster and TVNZ head to court next week. Meanwhile, do the Aussies have what it takes to shake up our media landscape? And will AI take over our newsrooms? All this while RNZ
NZ’s council shake-up explained: Who could merge?
The Government's working through merger proposals from councils around the country. City and district councils were given until this week to pitch plans to create larger unitary councils, to replace existing local and regional councils. Approved plans are due to be signed off next year and take effect after local elections in 2028. So who’s likely to merge with who? What re
Luxon survives the coup — but is National’s civil war over?
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is staying in the top job. He's emerged from another confidence vote with the support of his caucus. National MPs were summoned to Wellington for an urgent meeting this morning - after speculation about a potential coup. The meeting ran for three hours. But, questions remain... What happened behind closed doors? What will happen to the detra
Is Christopher Luxon about to lose the National Party leadership?
Speculation is mounting over Christopher Luxon’s future as National Party leader, with reports of caucus unrest putting his leadership back under the spotlight. NZ Herald Senior Correspondent Katie Bradford joins Chelsea to examine how serious the threat is, who could be waiting in the wings, and if National can really change leaders this close to an election. See omnystudio.com
Are National's new fiscal rules tough discipline or political marketing?
National has unveiled new fiscal rules promising tighter spending, lower debt and no new taxes on working New Zealanders. But Taxpayers’ Union executive director Jordan Williams argues much of it repackages existing policy and questions whether the Government has delivered on its earlier promises to rein in spending and return to surplus. He joins Chelsea Daniels to discuss government debt,
It turns out size does matter. The AI data centre debate hits NZ
Data centres are not a new phenomenon, but hyperscale AI data centres? Well, that's a whole other conversation. There are currently no AI hyperscale data centres in New Zealand, but that looks to change with plans already approved to build one in the South Island. Not everyone's happy about it, including the Greens who have called for one-year moratorium on consenting new AI data centres. Tod
CRL: The long road to Auckland’s big city future
It feels like Auckland is entering its big city era. New Zealand’s largest transport infrastructure project ever, the City Rail Link will open to passengers on September 13. It’s being touted as being truly transformative for the country’s biggest city ... a city that is rapidly growing. And that’s partly thanks to the Fast-Track scheme – which has meant developers do
Is 5.6% unemployment just the start of a longer slump?
Unemployment has risen again – and it’s worse than everyone expected. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate increased to 5.6 percent in the June quarter. That's up from 5.4 percent in the March quarter and it's slighter higher than most economists were predicting. So, what does that mean? Should we panic? Or is t
Can Luxon repair the damage with small business before the election?
The Prime Minister is in damage control mode after telling struggling business owners in Rotorua to “be adult”. Christopher Luxon made the remarks at a business event, and they’ve sparked a fierce backlash. He’s since had to apologise after being labelled out of touch and patronising. So, is this a gaffe&nb
‘It’s a stupid policy’: Union slams Act’s proposal to remove disruptive students
Act wants to give teachers the legal power to remove disruptive students from the classroom. Staff would be able to use “reasonable force” to do so – and there’d be a mandatory stand-down or suspension for any students who assaulted another student, teacher, or staff member. Parents would be required to attend a meeting – if t
The South Island’s economic power play ahead of Election 2026
It’s a battle of the islands to become New Zealand’s economic engine room. All eight South Island Chambers of Commerce have launched a joint election manifesto highlighting their $100 billion contribution to the economy. They’re calling for more investment and productivity with the goal of lifting South Island GDP per capita to $130,000 by 2035. Representing around 7000 businesse
Do school uniform rules do more harm than good?
Go onto any parents group in the country and you’ll find comments about arbitrary school uniform rules. Socks falling down, no scarves in class, skirts instead of shorts, and no t-shirts underneath despite not seeing them – and that’s just what our team has seen. And that’s all before we tal
The $30b time bomb facing the next Govt
New Zealand’s superannuation problem is something that constantly rears its head. Whether it’s abolishing MPs’ gold-plated super scheme, if we should introduce means testing, or heighten the retirement age – one thing’s always clear... our status quo is untenable. The annual cost of NZ Super has already risen from less th
Should the Government extend fuel support as prices dip below $3?
91 petrol is set to stay below $3 a litre for the fourth week in a row, and that means the $50 weekly fuel payment for working families should be coming to an end. The Government has always said any support would be timely, temporary and targeted — but with so much volatility in the Middle East, should it be extended? Finance
Critics say National's promise of 30 weeks parental leave isn't enough
The National Party has promised to gradually extend paid parental leave from 26 to 30 weeks by 2029 if re-elected. That would see the entitlement lift to 27 weeks in next year’s Budget, before rising again in the following two Budgets. The announcement came days after NZ First candidate Stuart Nash resigned his candidacy after calling National MP Katie Nimon l
Why a narrow strait could tip the Middle East crisis further
The conflict in the Middle East is widening fast. Yemen's Houthi rebels have targeted Saudi Arabian ships in the Red Sea - threatening to cut off a crucial route for the kingdom's oil exports. The price of oil has surpassed 100 US-dollars a barrel for the first time since May. Meanwhile the US has carried out its 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iran.
Is now the best time for first-home buyers to act?
New Zealand’s housing market remains firmly in buyers’ favour. Sales activity is continuing to weaken and property values are showing little sign of a broad-based recovery. But, while first-home buyers remain active, investors are pulling back, with some wary of what a shifting political and tax environment could mean for returns.&nbs
Is the Fast-track Act delivering growth or creating problems?
The Fast-track Approvals Act has been in force since December 2024, and it was sold as a simpler, faster way to get projects moving. Since then, it’s been tied to everything from new homes to aquaculture, farming projects, roads and public transport, but it’s also drawn plenty of criticism along the way. NZ First is still pushing for Ministers
Why inflation is up again and what’s really driving it
Inflation has hit 4.1% - the highest level in more than two years. Economists had expected it surge to somewhere between 3.9 and 4.1 percent. However, the end result is well below some previous forecasts, which reached 4.9%. If we ignored the surging fuel prices, Westpac economists reckon inflation would be about 2.8 percent. So w
Spain lifted the Fifa World Cup trophy - but did controversy steal the show?
Spain have beaten Argentina to win the Fifa World Cup for the second time in history. It caps off a tournament that delivered drama on the pitch – and a long list of controversies off it. From sky‑high ticket prices and visa headaches, to political grandstanding and fresh questions over Fifa’s priorities, many fans are wondering whether this W
Are voters looking for politicians or celebrity in 2026?
The idea of a celebrity running for office is nothing new. All over the world, ex TV stars, movie icons, and comedians try their hand at a new role: politician. This week, Election 2026 has been rocked by the announcement that ex-broadcaster Paul Henry will be entering the fray – running for the Act Party. There have been countless
How H5N1 reached NZ and what it means for our birds
H5N1 bird flu has landed in New Zealand. The positive result from a brown skua found at Wellington’s Petone Beach is the country’s first case of the strain. For months, officials, farmers, and DOC workers have been bracing for this moment, trying to protect our wildlife from a virus that’s already devastated birds around the world. We’ve been on
The part of politics Paul Henry admits he’s not ready for
Ex broadcaster Paul Henry is running for Act in the upcoming election. He stood for National in 1999 but is best known for hosting TVNZ's Breakfast in the mid-2000s. Henry’s long media career has been marked by a string of public controversies, many of which have led to him being criticised for his offensive and inflammatory remarks. So, with Act stagnan
Is NZ’s supermarket duopoly our biggest cost of living threat?
Don’t you think it’s time for New Zealand to have more supermarket options? The Government's announced a new guide for international chains wanting to set up shop here. It’s all in the hope of luring overseas investors to break up our duopoly grocery sector. Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has said the guidelines are like rolling out a red carpet for those looking here t
What Trump's next move could mean for Iran and its neighbours
The United States has unleashed its biggest round of strikes on Iran in weeks. The US has said it struck about 140 Iranian military sites – which prompted Tehran to attack allies in the region, including Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, the UAE, and Qatar. Meanwhile, Washington insists that the Strait of Hormuz is open, despite Iran saying it has closed the waterway amid renewed strikes. Today on The F
Why Modi’s visit is testing NZ’s diplomacy and diversity
This week, New Zealand will host Narendra Modi, the first Indian Prime Minister to visit this country in four decades. It should be a major diplomatic and economic moment, coming as the India free trade agreement edges closer to ratification and the Government celebrates early signs of export growth. But behind the diplomatic spectacle, political tensions are still bubbling away.&
Labour’s SolarSaver plan promises cheaper power - and help for renters too
Labour has unveiled its pitch to make power bills cheaper. If elected, the party’s promising subsidies of up to $3000 to low-and-middle-income households so they can install solar panels. The party is also promising two Government-backed low-interest loan schemes for home energy upgrades, alongside rule changes that would let renters
How the oil shock is keeping the OCR guessing game alive
All eyes are on the Reserve Bank this week, as it prepares to make its latest call on the Official Cash Rate. Just weeks ago, a hike looked likely. But as Wednesday’s announcement approaches, that once-simple story has become a lot more complicated. Fuel prices have fallen, inflation fears have softened, and economists are now sharply divided on whether the Bank s
Inside National's pitch to double exports and target new markets
National has unveiled an ambitious new trade pitch, promising to pursue New Zealand’s “next billion customers”. The party says it’s all part of a plan to grow exports, create jobs and boost incomes, with a long-term goal of doubling export value by 2034. Supporters say that is the kind of ambition a small trading nation needs. Sceptics say the policy may be trying to do too
What the latest ruling means for Kim Dotcom’s long legal saga
Kim Dotcom has spent more than a decade at the centre of one of New Zealand’s most high-profile legal and political sagas. From the dramatic FBI-backed raid on his Coatesville mansion in 2012, to the long-running fight over extradition to the United States... The former Megaupload mogul is never far from the headlines. Now, with fresh developments putting Dotc
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