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. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.
Episodes
Illicit tobacco is quietly taking hold across New Zealand.
A Retail NZ report warns the country could soon face the same violent black-market spiral seen in Australia.
It has found more than a quarter of smokers are using illicit tobacco - most sourced from China and the Middle East.
Some cartons are being sold for as little as 15 dollars - with supply controlled by organised crime groups.
So what’s driving this trade, and ho...
The US blockade of Iranian ports has begun.
President Donald Trump is warning any ships that try to disrupt US efforts will be eliminated. Earlier, Iran's parliament speaker said the country would not "surrender under threats".
Weekend peace talks between the US and Iran ended without resolution, with Trump blaming Iran 's unwillingness to end its nuclear ambitions.
Vice President JD Vance has said that it’s up to Iran and...
It’s 208 days until Kiwis hit the polls and vote for the next Government.
And despite campaigning not officially starting, the Prime Minister’s performance has been called into question, time and time again.
Accusations range from Luxon leaning too much into corporate speak and acting like a CEO to dodging questions, and even dodging entire press conferenc...
There are more than 70 Kiwis banged up abroad, according to new data.
But, the true figure is likely higher, with many detainees choosing not to tell the New Zealand government they’ve been arrested.
They’re detained across dozens of countries, from the US and Australia to parts of Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
NZ Herald senior journalist Anna Leask has been looking into New Zealanders locked up overseas, she joins...
Cyclone Vaianu is currently tracking toward the top of the North Island with forecasters warning it could make landfall between Auckland and the Coromandel this weekend.
Heavy rain, high winds and coastal surges are all in play, with officials stating it could be a potentially life-threatening weather event.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has recommended people stock up and get their supplies in order.
Today on T...
Donald Trump has backed down again on threats towards Iran.
In a social media post, the President said he has agreed “to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks” and that this “will be a double-sided ceasefire”.
It’s after Iranians formed human chains along bridges and around power plants after Trump vowed that “a whole civilisation will die tonight”.
On the other h...
Iran has rejected a proposed ceasefire with the US and Israel.
It’s after an expletive-ridden post from President Donald Trump – where he demanded the Strait of Hormuz be opened or else Iran would be “living in Hell”.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister has accused Trump of threatening war crimes, saying strikes on power plants and bridges would target civilian infrastructure...
It’s been revealed that Ardie Savea’s future with the All Blacks hung in the balance.
His push to quit was amid whispers of player discontent and coaching fractures exposing deep cracks in the team’s foundations.
Players apparently openly questions coaching, discipline, and its overall direction.
Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald rugby analyst, Gregor Paul, joins us to break down the inside story, and the deeper ...
The financial year is coming to an end.
It means we’ll see a whole bunch of policies and adjustments from April 1.
Everything from crayfish catch limits and Pharmac funding to changes to the Living and Minimum wages.
Super annuitants, working families, students and beneficiaries are among those who will receive additional support.&nb...
With the word ‘crisis’ now comes talk about working from home.
As oil prices rise and the cost of petrol surges towards $4 a litre, it’s been flagged as a potential voluntary measure in contingency plans.
There’s been no direct government endorsement or mandate for working from home, but it’s been recognised as a possible fuel-saving step if the crisis worsens, alongside prioritising essential sectors.
...Iran is warning against US ground invasion as regional leaders ramp up diplomatic efforts.
It comes as the USS Tripoli – carrying 3,500 US service members – arrived in the Middle East at the weekend.
It’s all while Pakistan said it is prepared to host US-Iran talks after meeting with foreign ministers from Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
But, what are the chances of peace in the Middle East? How do we achieve it? ...
Look around Auckland, and you’ll see a spattering of planned, under-development, or moth-balled building projects.
The city’s ever-changing face often dominates Aucklander’s conversations – for good, or oftentimes, bad.
So as we prepare to ride the $5.5 billion City Rail Link this year, what else should we be excited about?
Or, are there more building sites going quiet than we realise?
Today on The Front Pag...
The Government's confirmed it's going ahead with scrapping the current NCEA system.
Cabinet's agreed to an overhaul of secondary school qualifications - replacing NCEA with new subject-based assessments in Year 12 and Year 13.
Education Minister Erica Stanford says consultation showed strong support for structural change.
- Read more
It’s a trying time for the Government, with fuel prices and the Iran War affecting just about every Kiwi.
It’s something the Opposition knows all too well, handling a crisis not of their making, with Covid.
But, how are politicians of all stripes handling the pressure?
How is the public feeling about their performance?
And, how much weight should we put on polls anyway? Are they nonsense? Or, are we only told to i...
Every New Zealander at the moment is feeling the impact of the price of fuel.
It’s something Finance Minister Nicola Willis has mentioned time and time again.
She’s also made it incredibly clear that this government won’t make the same mistakes as the last – so, any financial assistance must be targeted, and temporary.
That&...
Iran has vowed to close the Strait of Hormuz indefinitely -- if the US follows through on President Donald Trump’s threats.
It’s after Trump gave Iran an ultimatum to open the passage before American forces "obliterate" their power plants.
But, if that happens, there’d be a large-scale blackout, resulting in widespread civilian harm - so, the question then becomes – would that be a violation of international...
Yesterday, Stats NZ released New Zealand’s GDP performance for the last quarter of 2025, and the government tells us things are looking good with gross domestic product rising 0.2 percent.
But the Reserve Bank had forecast growth of 0.5% - so while the latest results show we’re heading in the right direction, are we travelling fa...
A new study is shedding light on the changing landscape of New Zealand’s ‘party drug’ scene.
The annual New Zealand Drug Trends Survey, completed by more than 8000 people nationwide, shows that ketamine is rapidly growing in popularity.
Price data puts it among the more affordable options at around $200 a gram. Overseas, the UK has dubbed young people ‘Generation K’, while ketamine-related deaths rose ...
Labour Leader Chris Hipkins has acknowledged he considered his future in politics, in the wake of his ex-wife's allegations.
She made a series of claims in a now deleted private social media post on Sunday.
None of which alleges unlawful conduct.
Being a politician is one of the most public facing roles in our society, but where should the line be drawn between public and private?
...Inflation could hit 3.7% under Treasury’s ‘worst-case’ inflation scenario.
It’s while petrol prices have risen about 45 to 50 cents a litre, adding about $23 to the price of filling an average car.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has outlined the government's priorities - First a focus on supply chains, then potential and anticipated freight disruptions, an...
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.
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
When a group of women from all over the country realise they all dated the same prolific romance scammer they vow to bring him to justice. In this brand new season of global number 1 hit podcast, The Girlfriends, Anna Sinfield meets a group of funny, feisty, determined women who all had the misfortune of dating a mysterious man named Derek Alldred. Trust Me Babe is a story about the protective forces of gossip, gut instinct, and trusting your besties and the group of women who took matters into their own hands to take down a fraudster when no one else would listen. If you’re affected by any of the themes in this show, our charity partners NO MORE have available resources at https://www.nomore.org. To learn more about romance scams, and to access specialised support, visit https://fightcybercrime.org/ The Girlfriends: Trust Me Babe is produced by Novel for iHeartPodcasts. For more from Novel, visit https://novel.audio/. You can listen to new episodes of The Girlfriends: Trust Me Babe completely ad-free and 1 week early with an iHeart True Crime+ subscription, available exclusively on Apple Podcasts. Open your Apple Podcasts app, search for “iHeart True Crime+, and subscribe today!
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!