The Front Page

The Front Page

Keeping up to date with the news just became a little easier. Available every weekday at 5am, tune in as Chelsea Daniels chats with the journalists and newsmakers, going behind the headlines to break down what you need to know on the biggest stories of the day.

Episodes

February 13, 2025 14 mins

A Bill which would give New Zealanders just one avenue to bet on racing and sports online is under the microscope.

The amendments to the Racing Industry Act would make TAB New Zealand the sole legal domestic operator of online racing and sports betting.

The TAB estimates Kiwis lose $185 million a year to offshore operators, with the changes expected to retain this money.

It’s all while the TAB’s operator, Entain, faces ...

Mark as Played

It is Pride Month in New Zealand, with the LGBTQ plus community making the most of the summer sun to celebrate.

But, at the same time it’s a celebration that feels increasingly under threat.

The return of the Trump administration has seen a rise in laws attacking the trans community and limiting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.

It’s even seen one US state look at trying to overturn gay marriage.

And while t...

Mark as Played

The latest Taxpayers Union-Curia poll and 1News Verian poll show the coalition Government is losing ground.

Both show the left bloc of Labour, the Greens, and Te Pāti Māori would have enough support to form the next government.

It’s all while Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s first post-cab of the year was marred by questions about Act’s David Seymour – the man set to become Deputy PM in May.

Opposition lea...

Mark as Played

Tensions have emerged in recent weeks between New Zealand and several Pacific Island nations.

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has been accused of ‘not properly consulting’ New Zealand on the country’s upcoming China deal – which is expected to be penned in Beijing this week.

Meanwhile, NZ aid to Kiribati is under review – and Samoa has sought help from China in the aftermath of the Manawanui sin...

Mark as Played

In the past, overseas investment in New Zealand has been seen as a privilege – rather than a right.

But – could that all be about to change with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s latest push for economic growth?

He kicked off 2025 by announcing the establishment of a foreign investment agency – similar to those seen in Ireland and Singapore.

The Government’s holding a ‘global investment summit&r...

Mark as Played

For better or worse, house prices have been a cornerstone of our economy for decades.

But a rise in prices now put home ownership out of reach for many Kiwis.

Things could be changing though.

Wellington City’s new rateable valuations show that, on average, house values have plummeted 24.4% since 2021.

It comes as the city -- which once made headlines for its hotly contested rental market -- now sees landlords fighting to fill...

Mark as Played

National has kicked off 2025 by diving headfirst into plans for economic growth – and it wasn’t long until Act threw in their two cents.

Party leader David Seymour made privatisation a key focus of his State of the Nation speech.

And while Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he doesn’t want to sell anything off this term – he's suggested it could be campaigned on in next year’s election.

It’s a...

Mark as Played

The Government wants to see tourism numbers increase as part of its economic growth push.

As part of that push, the existing visitor visa scheme will be tweaked to include welcoming ‘digital nomads’.

That will allow tourists from visa waiver countries up to nine months to travel around New Zealand while still working for their overseas employer.

The scheme has already been greeted with expressions of interest from overs...

Mark as Played

Mining has become a key part of the Government’s plans for economic growth.

Resources Minister – and self-appointed ‘Matua of Mining’ - Shane Jones has unveiled a plan to double exports to $3 billion by 2035, alongside a list of 37-strong Critical Minerals List and a national minerals strategy.

While the plan has been met with criticism from environmentalists and the opposition, there has been some positive ...

Mark as Played

If the theme of 2024 was ‘cutting back’, then 2025 is all about ‘growth’.

The word appears 31 times in Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s State of the Nation speech – and for good reason.

 Luxon said it’s the “key to brighter days ahead” after experiencing the “biggest recession since the early 1990s.”

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has been handed a revised Eco...

Mark as Played

Silicon Valley’s been rattled by a low-cost Chinese AI – with the startup claiming their DeepSeek technology can emulate the performance of ChatGPT, at a fraction of the cost.

Its launch shook share markets and spawned allegations from OpenAI that their Chinese rivals used its work and models to make their own artificial intelligence.

This is all happening while the new US administration appoints an ‘AI and crypto...

Mark as Played

Students across the country are starting to head back to school, and there are some big changes coming from our youngest pupils.

As well as 2025 marking the return of charter schools, primary school students will start to be taught structured literacy and maths this year, as part of a curriculum refresh instituted by Education Minister Erica Stanford.

It comes as test results continue to show declines in achievement across all age ...

Mark as Played

Meta – the parent company of Facebook and Instagram – has implemented some changes across its organisation since Donald Trump’s election win.

The social media giant is set to remove independent factcheckers from its service, replacing them with community driven ‘notes’ similar to what X implemented after its rebrand from Twitter.

The company has also ended various diversity, equity and inclusion measur...

Mark as Played

From the ongoing downfall of high-flying developers to promises of Swedish meatballs - this year is set to be one to watch when it comes to property news.

Major developments are getting underway after the passing of the Fast Track Approval Act, while some projects that have been under construction for years are close to completion.

But after a few years of a tough lending landscape and issues in the construction industry, are we cl...

Mark as Played

Security software used widely by retail staff is in the spotlight after an incident involving a former Green MP.

Golriz Ghahraman quit politics last year after being caught shoplifting from boutique fashion stores, and news emerged earlier this month suggesting she had done it again at a PakNSave supermarket.

But the former MP did not steal anything, and the store never reported the case to Police – yet as the incident was lo...

Mark as Played

New Zealand's economic outlook for 2025 is expected to be a recovery from the previous two years of weakness.

With inflation stagnant and the number of Kiwis leaving the country appearing to have peaked, economists are predicting we will see an uptick.

Yet it could be a long road to get to the light at the end of the tunnel – with the Government’s books at the end of December painting a grim picture for the years ahead,...

Mark as Played

The political year is ready to kick off.

While Prime Minister Christopher Luxon may have got an early start with his Cabinet reshuffle, over the next coming days we’ll see a flurry of party caucus retreats, state of the nation speeches, and the annual visit to Ratana as politicians return from their summer holidays.

And while central government has plenty to tend to this year – local politicians are preparing for the co...

Mark as Played

After 15 months and the deaths of around 47,000 Palestinians, the war between Israel and Hamas has ended – for now.

A six-week ceasefire has begun in Gaza, after agreements were reached for the release of Israeli hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners and aid.

The start of the agreement coincides with Donald Trump returning to the White House, with the US President taking credit for the deal – though so did his pr...

Mark as Played

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has kicked off the political year with the first major reshuffle of his Cabinet.

Dr Shane Reti has lost Health to Simeon Brown and has been bumped down Cabinet rankings, while Melissa Lee has been stripped of all portfolios, in favour of first-term MP James Meager.

Today on The Front Page, we’re joined by NZ Herald political editor Claire Trevett to discuss the big winners and losers.

Follow T...

Mark as Played

Donald Trump is set to be inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States.

After four years out of office after losing in 2020, Trump is set to return to the White House with a vengeance – with his ‘Make America Great Again’ agenda front and centre.

His administration has already raised eyebrows for some of his unusual Cabinet appointments, and Trump’s usual bluster has seen him make bold promises abo...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    I Do, Part 2

    From Executive Producers Jennie Garth, Jana Kramer, Amy Robach, and T.J. Holmes. Did you think you met the love of your life and marry him, only to realize it was actually “thank you, next?" Did this jerk cheat on you and leave you feeling alone and hopeless? Don’t make the same mistake twice... Get it right THIS time! Is it time to find true love…again?! If you loved the Golden Bachelor, SILVER just might be your color. Older and wiser, 50 and Fabulous, and ready for a little sex in the city. Everyone has baggage, but you’re not bringing it on this trip. Second Times The Charm. I Do, Part Two. An iHeartRadio podcast...where finding love is the main objective.

    My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

    My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.