The Front Page

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 our buck. 

Today on The Front...

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 enough alternatives to make it work....

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 – a potential blow for China,...

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 numbers telling a more nuanced stor...

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 overdue payments are overseas, and...

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 they race to find survivors. &...

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? 

Today on The Front Page, Westpac chie...

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 wisely? 

Local Government New Zea...

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 disagree with it - and Christo...

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 fiscal strategy at the weekend, ta...

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 cancelled as influenza A hits the healt...

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 Tauranga City Council of the risks...

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?  

Today on The Front Page, Infometri...

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? What does this latest stalemate mean ...

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. 

Breaches could see a company ...

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 prepares to cut up to 30 roles as ...

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 regions are deeply split? How will it...

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 detractors?  

Today on The Fro...