The Front Page

You might look on Facebook marketplace for a new couch, a lamp, a rug.

But, what about class A drugs? Or how about a ghost gun?

A Herald investigation has revealed at least 56 listings were circulating on the site offering magic mushrooms, cannabis, and in one case LSD across the North Island and top of the south.

And that could just be the tip of the iceberg of illicit sales on social media.

So how do we get on top of this?

NZ Her...

We’ve all been caught out when using PayWave or contactless payment in stores, where we think we know how much we’re paying and then a surcharge adds a tiny bit more on that final price.

Well, that’s about to change.

The Government is planning to ban retailers from being able to add surcharges to most in-store card payments.

It follows a decision by the Commerce Commission last week to reduce interchange fees paid...

New Zealand’s energy sector is broken.

That’s according to an open letter calling for the Government to do more to keep our power prices down.

Soaring power costs is always a concern – but, we now live in a country where for some it’s a privilege to have power.

We've heard too many stories about businesses closing due to the rising cost of just keeping the lights on, and everyday Kiwis are struggling as well...

From entering Parliament in 2008 – to leading the country in 2023 – Chris Hipkins is no stranger to the spotlight.

During Covid’s beginnings, he was known as a safe set of hands, tackling Education, Health, and becoming the Minister in charge of the Covid Response for a time.

Now, he’s firmly setting his sights on election 2026 – but, is he confident he’ll still be in Labour’s driving seat ...

The National Certificate of Educational Achievement – or NCEA – has been New Zealand’s main secondary school qualification for more than 20 years now.

But, its future could be on the line, as more top schools plan to offer alternatives – and a Government briefing raised concerns about its credibility.

So is NCEA really as bad as it’s been out made out to be, and what would be the benefit of switching y...

Another 1-dollar deal, another big shakeup for the New Zealand media industry.

Sky TV has snapped up broadcast network Three and its associated platforms, and will have control of them by August 1st.

It sees the exit of another international player in the local media landscape, with Warner Bros Discovery retreating a year after it closed down Three’s news outfit, Newshub.

So what does this new media merger mean for the indust...

Have we lost the right to anonymity?

By now we’ve all heard about the couple who went viral after being caught looking embarrassed on a kiss cam at a Coldplay concert in the US.

An offhand, cheeky comment by frontman Chris Martin and a whole lot of internet sleuthing later and it turns out; they were colleagues having an affair.

Details of their personal and professional lives spread across social media like wildfire, and the...

Scams have always been a hot topic.

As technology gets more sophisticated, Kiwis of all ages are becoming more vulnerable to falling for them.

Estimates of how much money we’ve lost varies, though one NetSafe and Global Antiscam Alliance report estimated over 2 billion dollars lost last year alone.

So what is being done to try and solve this crisis, and do banks and the government need to take more responsibility?

NZ Herald s...

From humble beginnings to a rising star in the National Party, James Meager’s journey to the Beehive has been rapid to say the least.

In just two years he’s gone from delivering his maiden speech, to becoming a Minister of the Crown, tackling the portfolios of Youth, Hunting and Fishing, and the newly established South Island portfolio. 

So, how do we make sure every young person in New Zealand gets the best possib...

Could the Government be taking a step back from helping homeowners after the elements make their homes unliveable?

Recent extreme weather events have prompted a rethink of government housing protections.

Billions of dollars have been spent over the years on buying out homes after natural disasters.

But, in a changing world, and climate, where these events are happening harder and faster, is the idea of the Crown stepping in with un...

Nearly six years after disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein died in prison, he has once again become the centre of political controversy in the US.

It’s after the Justice Department decided not to release more detailed records from the investigation into him and his death – with Attorney General Pam Bondi concluding he did not leave behind a so-called “client list”.

But, that hasn’t sto...

Most of central Auckland sits on the remains of 53 volcanic cones and craters.

While there’s no way of knowing when an eruption will happen, it’s been said time and time again that it’s not a case of ‘if’, but ‘when.

New research now suggests that deathly clouds of hot, fast-moving gas and debris could travel much further than previously thought if an eruption happened in Auckland.

But, how likel...

The Trump tariffs are inching closer and closer towards becoming a reality.

While they were meant to kick into gear last week, they've been delayed again – this time to August 1.

Despite being accused of “chickening out”, Donald Trump has reignited the tariff talk through a series of letters and social media posts – announcing new duties on dozens of countries, if they don’t sign trade deals.

In the mo...

Should the ultra-wealthy pay more tax?

It’s a debate that’s continued for decades, even centuries. From Ancient Athens to present day, the idea has been a constant when it comes to addressing inequality.

Yet, no government has been brave enough to impose one.

It’s a staple of the Green Party’s proposed Budget, which promises bold moves to make sure everyone has a warm home, decent kai, and the care and suppo...

The long tail of Covid is still being felt for some parts of our society.

The second stage of the Royal Commission into the Covid-19 response kicked off this week, with public testimony from business owners and those impacted by vaccine mandates and the lengthy lockdowns in Auckland and Northland.

It’s part of the coalition deal between National and both ACT and NZ First, and has prompted criticism over being overtly politica...

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...