The Front Page

Over the coming weeks, many Kiwis will be heading to our national parks and great walks for their summer holidays.

But if you're doing so for a cheap summer break, enjoy the free ride while it lasts.

The Department of Conservation is $1.65 billion short every year on what it needs to cover its responsibilities - and the Government is looking at a number of ways to swell DoC’s coffers.

Environmental advocates say an overhaul is need...

When strippers arrive at work and don’t know how much money they’re taking home at the end of the shift.

Their employer might decide to take a higher percentage of their wages that week, or they could’ve been fined for something inconsequential – with no way of rebutting.

They can’t unionise, negotiate better contract terms, or complain to the likes of WorkSafe or the Commerce Commission.

Fired Up Stilettos is an organisation and s...

There are continued calls to tighten alcohol laws in New Zealand.

The growing trend of online deliveries has made advocates worried, with a study finding a large portion of alcohol deliveries bypassed ID checks.

Meanwhile, Auckland's new alcohol policy, starting December 9, will reduce sales hours and tighten regulations on new liquor licenses.

Across the ditch, New South Wales is looking to introduce new rules to regulate pre-mixe...

New Zealand’s summer is shaping up to be hotter and drier than average.

The country’s forecast has shrugged off the rainy start to summer with temperatures soaring into the 30s in some parts in the coming week.

But, moving through January and February, the weather patterns are predicted to become more La Nina-like, which would bring increased chances of more rain events.

So as the country gears up for a summer break, today on The F...

Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins has told the party it must change if it wants to re-gain the trust it's lost.

The party held its annual conference in Christchurch at the weekend, the first time its members have met since the 2023 election defeat.

The party has inched closer to campaigning on a wealth tax or a capital gains tax, at the next election - after members passed a proposal to move the idea forward.

And it’s made three ma...

Pharmac is now funding a new medicine and has removed renewal criteria for ADHD treatments.

 Advocates are welcoming the move – saying it’s a game-changer that will save the health system tens of millions of dollars.

But, there are warnings it could lead to over-diagnosing and over-prescribing.

Today on The Front Page, co-founder of DivergenThinking and registered psychologist, Anton Ashcroft joins us to discuss.

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It’s Black Friday and many Kiwi shoppers have already begun the hunt for some great deals.

While some retailers promise big discounts – sometimes, all is not what it seems.

Claims of retailers hiking prices before discounting them to make them look like a better deal are becoming more common – making us wonder, are the specials really that special?

So, during a time when Kiwis are counting their pennies – how can we make sure we ar...

The official cash rate has been cut by 50 basis points, bringing it down to 4.25 percent.

This marks the third consecutive cut to the OCR since August and brings it to the lowest level since November 2022.

With inflation also dropping last month to 2.2 percent, stats show an improving economy – but low spending is sparking concerns that we aren’t out of the woods yet.

Today on The Front Page, we’re joined by Simplicity chief econom...

Today marks a year since the coalition government of National, Act and New Zealand First took office.

The coalition hit the ground running, by reversing the previous Labour Government’s agenda in a ‘policy bonfire’, slimming down the public service, and reverting many Crown organisations to their English names.

This, and the scrapping of the Māori Health Authority, kickstarted tensions between this Government and Māoridom – with ba...

Climate change conference COP29 has wrapped up with a significant but controversial final agreement.

Negotiations came down to the wire over a US$1.3 trillion to help finance poorer countries to deal with the impacts of climate change and cut emissions.

But, only about $300 billion of that target will come from direct payments or loans from richer countries – which has sparked backlash from nations in the direct line of fire from r...

New research shows a third of New Zealand adults are obese – and policies focused on individual responsibility are failing.

A Helen Clark Foundation report suggests tackling obesity will require cracking down on junk food advertising, the proliferation of takeaways, and bringing in new levies on unhealthy products.

So, is the era of placing the blame on the individual going to be a thing of the past? And can the government to anyth...

Regional development has been a major focus of the coalition government.

The Fast Track Bill, the return of oil and gas exploration and the Regional Infrastructure Fund is all promised to get work back to the regions and help them thrive. 

And the man running the show is the so-called Matua of Mining and Prince of the Provinces, Shane Jones.

He’s the Minister for oceans and fisheries, regional development, and resources – and there...

The Government’s promised the “free ride” for gangs, is officially over.

From today, gang patches will no longer be allowed to be worn in public, courts will be able to issue non-consorting orders, and Police will be able to stop members from communicating with each other.

Greater weight will also be given to gang membership at sentencing – and repeat offenders continually convicted of displaying their patches in public will be sub...

The war in Ukraine has hit the one-thousand-day mark.

On February 24, 2022 – Russia invaded Ukraine – since then, hundreds of thousands of people have died, many more have been injured, and millions are displaced.

It's been called the largest and deadliest in Europe since World War II.

This week, US President Joe Biden gave the green light for Ukraine to strike Russia with US-made, long-range missiles.

It comes just nine weeks befo...

The hikoi that started in Cape Reinga and has made its way down the country arrives in Wellington today.

While many have taken part in various stages of the hikoi, tens of thousands of people are expected outside the Beehive today, as a protest against the Government’s policies impacting Maori, including the Treaty Principles Bill.

Te Pati Maori have been leading the push back against the Government, notably with a viral haka stunt...

On August 9 2021, the day after the Tokyo Olympics ended, cyclist Olivia Podmore died in a suspected suicide.

Podmore had represented New Zealand in the 2016 Olympics, but was not selected five years later.

Her death sparked shock throughout the close knit cycling community and wider sporting network, and the culture at Cycling NZ was eventually investigated.

Now, over three years later, a coronial inquiry into Podmore’s death is d...

People respond to election losses in various ways, from protesting to legal action to considering moving country.

But, what about adopting a vow of celibacy through something called the “4B movement”?

That’s what some young women in the US have promised on social media in protest of Donald Trump winning back the White House.

No dating. No sex, No childbirth. And no marriage.

In a world where: the next US President was found liable ...

David Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill was introduced to Parliament last week – with its first reading debate scheduled for today.

The bill has sparked fierce criticism since it was included as part of National and Act’s coalition agreement last year. 

Protests are expected outside Parliament today, while thousands of marchers protesting Government policies affecting Maori crossed the Auckland Harbour Bridge yesterday as part of a ...

As votes continue to be counted in the US, President-elect Donald Trump has swept all seven battleground states, confirming his dominant performance in the country’s election.

While many were shocked that the US would return to Trump after four years, many voters have made it clear their feelings about high inflation and the cost of living under the Biden administration swayed them towards the Republicans.

It’s a similar sentiment ...