The Front Page

Not In My Back Yard.

For decades, that has been a battle cry for suburbanites and homeowners unimpressed by changes happening in their neighbourhood.

But, how often are those complaints valid, or are they just people unhappy with change?

With both a 16.5 metre tall Buddha statue in Waiwera Valley, and a helipad in Westmere getting people talking, today on The Front Page we’re looking into the resource management process and w...

Antisemitic sentiment has risen globally since the war in Gaza began, including in our part of the world.

A man has been charged after a Melbourne synagogue was set alight last Friday. The alleged antisemitic attack has seen the country’s Home Affairs Minister describe it as an “attack on Australia”.

The attack’s prompted the country’s Labor party to push for reforming the school curriculum to tech chi...

New Zealand has seen plenty of severe weather in recent years.

Stories about towns flooding when hit with heavy rainfall have become commonplace.

Just in the last month, towns like Nelson, Marlborough and Motueka have been devastated, while other areas like Taranaki have been badly affected as this type of rainfall becomes the norm.

We keep facing these issues and talking about how to fix them, but what are the long term solutions?

Cost of living, crime and supermarkets remain a source of concern for the Government.

The coalition has released its latest quarterly action plan – and it has come with a reiteration from the Prime Minister that they’re going to get on top of the cost of living.

It comes as surveys show that National’s lost voters’ confidence in managing the issue – with many voters now seeing Labour as the better part...

Rates have increased across the country this week, with some cities better off than others.

Auckland Council has confirmed a 5.8 percent average residential rates increase, the same day Wellington’s council struck a 12 percent lift in rates.

Meanwhile, Gisborne residents face an average 9.95% rate increase, which equates to $400 or less for 80% of homeowners.

The increases have come at the same as council valuations in Auckla...

Over the last decade, as New Zealand has grappled with a housing crisis, golf courses have become a lightning rod for controversy.

Auckland Council alone owns or manages 13 golf courses across the Super City, and many campaigners have targeted these sites as being prime land for housing.

Though, as with any major project, there are plenty of loud voices on the other side of the debate.

The recent controversy to hit the green has no...

A warning that today’s episode contains content that listeners might find disturbing. You can find support links below.  

New Zealand police are becoming increasingly concerned about online groups targeting Kiwi children through social media.

Apps like Snapchat have become a breeding ground for sex abuse material, while overseas groups are actively participating in “sadistic online exploitation”.

And it&...

A 24 year old woman has shared her identity in order to talk publicly about an inappropriate relationship she was involved in with a police officer.

Alex McPhail earlier spoke to the Herald anonymously about her relationship with Christchurch-based detective Luke Fazackerley, who she met when she was 22 and reporting a rape to police.

She complained about his behaviour to the Independent Police Conduct Authority, a complaint that h...

Your chance of winning Powerball is 1 in 38 million – and it could be about to get a lot harder.

The Herald has revealed Lotto NZ bosses are keen to increase the number of balls in the Powerball draw - and are already seeking permission from the Government for what has been described as a “matrix” change for the game.

But, how will this affect your odds? And, why do they want to change the game anyway?

Today on Th...

On July 1st, a series of changes are due to be implemented by the Government – and some of them will have a direct impact on your day to day.

Notably, all rental properties in New Zealand must comply with healthy home standards, six years after that became law under the Labour Government.

One Labour law change hasn’t survived though – that Government’s blanket speed limit reducations must all be revered by T...

An investigation by the NZ Herald has revealed concerns with police recruitment.

Over the last several months, we've learnt that prospective cops who didn’t pass fitness or literacy tests were allowed to start training, and dozens of recruits graduated from police college despite not being assessed on their ability to swim.

It’s prompted an audit by police of the process, and promises to change things, but has the damag...

Donald Trump has claimed that a ceasefire has been declared in the war between Israel and Iran.

Releasing a statement on Tuesday morning NZ time, Trump said there’d be a “complete and total ceasefire” in what he’s calling the “12 day war”.

He said the war “could have destroyed the entire Middle East” and “could have gone on for years” but claimed both Israel and Iran came ...

In a move called Operation Midnight Hammer, the US has attacked several key nuclear facilities in Iran.

The strikes mark a significant escalation in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, with President Donald Trump saying “Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier”. He’s also calling for Iran to “MIGA - MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN&rdquo...

Over the last few months, all we’ve been able to talk about when it comes to the economy has been tariffs and trade wars.

Behind a lot of Donald Trump’s talk has been his desire to see more manufacturing done in the United States.

And that includes everything from steel and cars down to smart phones.

But how realistic is it to demand everything moves production to the US? And has Trump perhaps touched on a flaw in how o...

Unity is the theme for this year’s Matariki. 

Today is the fourth year of the public holiday, marking the Maori new year. 

It’s the first holiday to recognise Maori – and the first new public holiday introduced since Waitangi Day became a holiday in 1974. 

Today on The Front Page, Professor Rangi Mātāmua the chief advisor for Matariki is with us to take us through what the holiday means. 

...

A major blaze at an Auckland supermarket this week has once again highlighted the incredible work of our firefighters.

More than 20 appliances and over 80 firefighters spent hours containing the fire at the Victoria Park New World this week, in scenes that captivated audiences across the country.

It’s not the first major fire the city has seen this year, and it’s unlikely to be the last.

So what’s it like on the f...

We are halfway through the year, but there have already been a number of confronting headlines about early childhood education providers in 2025. 

Earlier this year, the Herald ran a number of stories about children “escaping” from centres around the country. 

And in the last week, two coroners reports have come out highlighting tragic deaths that befell two young children. 

The news comes after a review ...

Tensions are high in the Middle East, as Israel and Iran continue to trade strikes.

It comes after Israel launched a surprise attack last Friday against multiple targets in Iran, including nuclear and military sites.

Iran has retaliated, and this back and forth shows no signs of stopping – instead, both sides are threatening to escalate the conflict.

With major international players now weighing in, how big could this get &nd...

It was February 19, 2013.

Maree Schafer was excited to start a hairdressing course at the Eastern Institute of Technology the next day.

That night, three cars - a silver Holden Commodore, a blue Ford Falcon, and a grey Nissan Skyline were street racing near Napier.

The Commodore continued through an intersection, going well over 180km/hour, when the driver lost control, slid sideways across the road, and crashed into a tree.

There ...